Leviton aquires Obvius Energy Information Solutions

                                                  This is old news but news to me....  But this is an obvious one, pardon the pun.   This will only help Leviton produce products their clientele demand for energy management solutions.  Obvius' products use web or PC program solutions, wireless integration and plug-and-play hardware.  This will also meet the energy verification usage for the LEED rating program.

Obvius Press Release - Leviton Acquires Obvius

Lighting Recall - Thomas Lighting

Today, there was a lighting fixture recall for Thomas Lighting fixtures.  Please click on the link below:


U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Weblink

The insulation on fixture socket wiring can degrade and become a shock hazard or catch fire.  To see if you might have bought one of these fixtures, call Thomas Lighting at (800) 764-0756 or go to www.thomaslighting.com.

New LED Theatrical Products

Strand Selecon PL Cyc

Since I have last written, there has been few new fixtures that have come onto the market, especially in the theatrical world.  Strand Lighting has come out with a new addition to the PL lineup with the PL Cyc.  This is an awesome fixture that I have seen in person.  The output of the fixture is the same equivalent of a standard incandescent 500w cyc light and can be used in a cyc or ground row application.  The fixture uses the same engine as in the rest of the PL line including the same as the Vari-lite VLX and VLX3.  My only wish is that they can come up with a multi cell for more punch and saturation.  I have heard that in the near future that they will be expanding their LED line including an ellipsoidal with gobo pattern capabilities that could be up to the same output as their Leko and ETC's Source 4.

Source 4 LED

And not to leave ETC out, they have come out with the Source 4 LED in three different flavors: Lustr+, Daylight and Tungsten. Then in each line, it comes in two different ways: engine with a shutter barrel & engine only.  Lens barrels are not included and are purchased separately. This means that if you have Source 4 fixtures in your inventory, you can use the lens barrels from them.  If not, you will have to buy them.  I just think its a little odd for the couple of hundred different configurations that you can come up with that it is a little confusing.  I have seen the fixture in action and I'm impressed.  It had deep color saturation, smooth dimming capability and the size was a little larger than the existing Source 4.  But looking deeper into the mechanics, and I didn't get an answer at the time, but what makes me scratch my head a bit, is that each fixture comes with a soft focus diffuser in a gobo holder.  What is this for?  Pixelation? Color shift with a gobo?  I haven't looked into it to deeply but I'll try to look into this.....  A very good fixture that is the brightest ellipsoidal that I have seen with the least amount of wattage used.

Philips L Prize award

This last Sunday was Earth Day.... And Philips celebrated by showing off their new lamp and award from U.S. Dept of Energy... I say good for them! I hope that this is the start of the new day in replacing the a-lamp for good... And thanks, Thomas Edison, it has been a great run of an 100 year old invention! http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/connect/lprizealert/

LED MR-16 Lamps

LED Lighting is always in the news.  And it is a great thing that it is now here to stay.  I remember about 5 years back that I thought that LED would not hit the mainstream until 2016 but I am glad that I was proven wrong....  This latest press release caught my eye.  MR16 lamps have been a mainstay since the mid-80's and the sales of these lamps remain strong, either line or low voltage.  But there has not been a great equal in an LED lamp.  So when I saw that a company has come up with the World's Most Efficient LED MR16 50-Watt Equivalent Bulb, I had to post about it....  Being only 8 watts and with a 25k lamp life and a direct replacement to the 50 watt tungsten halogen, I am impressed.  I am not an investor nor a marketer for this product but if you are a specifier, it is something to look into....


http://investor.lsgc.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=664829

The beginning... And the next step...

Well, hello...

If you are here then you share a common interest in what I love: Lighting, controls and the technology behind it. I have been in the lighting and controls industry for over 20 years and it is one of my passions.... I am starting this blog to keep people up to date on the latest trends in lighting, new products, new controls, and the direction it's all heading. And it won't only be for architecture but also for the theatrical lighting and controls industry with links, pics and, I hope in the near future, video blogs with interviews with industry leaders and trendsetters. Also, any questions or comments, including any help that anyone may need, is welcome.

I hope you enjoy!

Drew