Landscape & Urban Design Issue 40 2019 | Page 77

READER’S CHOICE - LIGHTING It is available in heights of 400mm or 600mm and diameters of 90mm or 110mm so the option to mount on gate posts or decking is very feasible. There is 240v mains, or 12v plug and play power options meaning full versatility for installer and client. It’s rare in the 12v Garden Lighting world to find a path light of such high quality, and with 12v, installation couldn’t be easier. The 3m cable supplied is capped with a 2 pin plug which simply plugs directly into a transformer (or splitter if multiple fittings are installed), the transformer plugs into a mains socket and it is ready to go. 12v systems are very versatile and perfectly suited to outdoor settings being of low voltage. The 12v post light accommodates a replaceable LED MR16 which are available in a number of wattages and colours. It is often thought that low voltage lights are not as bright as mains voltage – this is not the case. Once an LED bulb is in, the use of a removable dichroic coloured lens can create amazing coloured effects. Coloured Dichroic lenses can really enhance the appearance of plants, trees and garden ornaments. Dichroic glass filters operate on a passive-reflective basis, reflecting unused wavelengths while passing wanted portions of the spectrum. They are high in transmission which results in brighter, cleaner, saturated colours, compared to that of a standard plastic lens with colour films which often fade. Their low cost and easy replacement makes experimentation with different colours an interesting prospect at an affordable price. Simply place between the 50mm MR16 / GU10 lamp and exterior glass lens of the fitting, secure with a spring clip and you have a coloured lamp. Change the coloured lens periodically to create eye catching and unique effects; a colour for every season. There is also a bespoke Photocell dusk to dawn version ideal for security and energy conscious users. The sensor automatically turns the light on when darkness is detected (dusk) and automatically turns off again when it detects light (dawn). Essex based developers MKing and Sons Ltd specified the Airlite for a midlands customer, and simply says ‘Installation of new Airlite garden lights to replace old existing path lights gave the garden a massive lift with their smart appearance and quality – the customer was so happy with the result!’ Find the Airlites and full path light range at www.lumenalights.com Follow us @ludmagazine www.landud.co.uk 77