What do the specifications D1/A1 mean? The dimesnions of a light cone cannot be defined exactly. So the given specifications will always have some tolerance. However, you can use the information to compare the individual spotlights with each other and thus find the perfect spotlight for your aplication. Please take into consideration, that A1 and D1 always indicate the biggest possible dimension. Of course, you can place the light closer to the surface to be illuminated, which will result in a smaller and brighter light cone. D1 indicates the maximum diameter, which is bright enough to illuminate the advertising surface sufficiently. For rectangular spotlights it indicates the corresponding average value A1 indicates the distance between the light source and the surface to be illuminated. The values for narrow spots and wide beam spots differ widely. All dimensions are in meters!  For all information it is assumed, that the spotlight position is as shown in illustration 2. In case of a different spot light angle the dimensions will of course also be different. Practical hint for wide-beam floodlights: Angle A should be not less than 20 °, or in other words, distance A3 should be at least one quarter of A, but not less than 0.6 m! If your application seems to be unclear, please feel free to contact our customer service to find the perfect solution.
The shelf life index How often should I replace the bulbs? This is one of the most important questions when selecting the illuminated advertising. The values of the manufacturer's specifications for the bulbs' shelf life are rather of a more theoretical nature, as they were determined under laboratory conditions. Hence Lichtloesung.de has developed the shelf life index, including the following facts: 1. The shelf life of the used illuminants according to manufacturer's specification. 2. The illuminant's sensitiveness in an outside application 3. The lamp's construction. Whether the light source is well protected against temperature variations, humidity, heat-build-up and vibrations. The value 20,000 e.g. is the shelf life in hours specified by the manufacturer. Lichtloesung.de adds up to 5 plus signs to this information. Many plus signs mean that the lamp and the light source are constructed in a way, that the real shelf real life achieves a value as close as possible to the manufacturer's specification. This may vary up to 40%. Theoretically also minus signs are possible. However, for outside applications, we do not offer any lights, which reduce the illuminant's shelf life due to imperfect processing.
The shelf life of high-voltage halogen illuminants can be clearly increased by reducing the rated current. We did not take this effect into consideration in the shelf life index.
Conclusion: The index value shows the shelf life in hours. The plus signs at the end indicate how probable it is, that this value really will be achieved.
Light Quantity in Lumen
Mostly the wattage is used to compare the brightness of different illuminants, which can lead to completely wrong decisions. The wattage only informs about the energy consumption of a lamp, but in no case about the brightness, which the lamp can generate.The differences between the individual lamps are quite big (up to factor 20)
The lumen value is much more significant to get an idea about the brightness of a lamp. That's why we at Lichtloesung.de always give the additional information about the brightness value in lumen. Hence it will be much more easy for you to compare the different products.
Different lighting techniques, which are used to illuminate advertising spaces
High-voltage halogen:
It is a quite simple technology featuring a little higher quality than a standard light bulb. The essential advantage is that no transformer is required and that the illuminants therefore can be produced easier and in smaller dimensions and that they are comparably cheap. As a disadvantage turns out the high power consumption in proportion to the generated light and the short shelf life. Due to these facts the high-voltage halogen lights are only used for smaller advertisement spaces which can be easily maintained. High-voltage halogen lights generate approx. 15 lumens from 1 watt.
Low-voltage halogen:
Perhaps one level better than high-voltage halogen. A 12 volt transformer, is connected , so that the illuminants do not get such hot, resulting in a much longer shelf life. However, this technology canot achieve a big light amount. The brightness generation is not more than 28 lumens per 1 watt.
Compact energy saving light bulbs:
These actually are fluorescent tubes in miniature format with a comparably long shelf life and a good energy balance. The disadvantages are, that again a ballast unit is required and that the illuminants are quite big. From 1 watt these bulbs generate approx. 60 lumens.
Fluorescent tubes:
Very good energy balance and shelf life. A ballast unit is required. Due to the tube-shaped form you will find them in our product range only in the light tube systems. From 1 watt these illuminants generate approx. 80 - 105 lumens.
Metal halide lamps:
The "most noble" lighting technology. Very high light efficiency, low power consumption and long shelf life. Disadvantage is the requirement for big ballast unit and the comparably high purchase costs. However, this technique is the standard for large advertising spaces. From 1 watt these iluminants generate approx. 100 lumens.
Information about LED, which you will not find everywhere
In our everyday conversations with customers we recognise again and againt hat the LED technology is quite often overestimated and that the imagined possibilities are just wishful thinking.
If LEDs really were so bright, favourable and economical, as it is often assumed, there would be no other illuminants anymore. But the reality is exactly opposite. Based on current estimates no more than 0.2% of the artificial light is generated by LEDs.
As a serious supplier of lighting technology, we want to be honest even if it is inconvenient. That is why we have collected some facts which might be interesting for you as an LED consumer.
1. Shelf life
Sure - in average the LEDs have a longer life span than most other bulbs. The manufacturer's specifications range from 50,000 hours upwards. However, this information usually is based on the optimum operating temperature. And this does not necessarily mean the outside temperature but precisely the temperature on the control board. If the LED supplier tries to get as much light as possible out of the product (what most customers demand) and therefore mounts many LEDs closely on the board, the operating temperature rises rapidly, which results in a much shorter shelf life.
Additionally, each LED requires a power supply.The shelf life of this power supply also has to be considered when planning the construction. An AC adapter is an electronic device that can break down.
2. Power Consumption
Again, the LED is sometimes overrated. For all illuminants it is not only the power consumption, that has to be taken into consideration, but also at the amount of light that is generated. Usually, the ratio of light mount and power consumption is taken for a comparison. This ration is determined in lumens per watt. For your information we give you here some values for comparison:
Ordinary light bulb, 15 lumens per watt
Halogen low volts: 25 lumens per watt
LED: starting at 45 lumens per watt, depending on light color and operating environment.
Energy saving lamps or compact fluorescent lamps:75 lumens per watt.
Fluorescent tubes: up to 105 lumens per watt
However, one advantage of the LED has to be taken into consideration for comparisons: while other light sources are radiating the light in all directions, with LED the light direction can be defined. Thus it can be directed - according to application - only where it is required. Hence the overall system's efficiency can be highly increased.
3. Price
Often it is assumed that the LED generally is cheaper. But it is not. Even regarding the constant price decrease over the last years, the purchase of a reasonable LED lighting system is most often more expensive than expected. Aditionally there are the operating costs. We would never claim that the higher purchase costs can be amortised in any case. In our opinion it always depends on the object and must be individually determined under consideration of all factors.
4. Technology
If you want to know it more detailed, we would like to recommend to read the corresponding entry in Wikipedia.
There all technical details are described in a neutral and really well substantiated way. Our compliments to the authors.
Centre to centre distance
 The maximum distance between two advertising lights is determined by the lamp itself and by the height of the ad surface. The higher the ad space is, the closer the advertising lights should be mounted. The specified centre to centre distance is an average value, which can vary depending on the desired brightness and the advertising surface height. The border distance always should be half of the centre to centre distance. Please use our calculation tool to find out the exact values for your ad space.
Quality index
As for all technical products a more elaborate workmanship is always profitable. It often (but not always) means higher quality, which mostly is reflected in a longer shelf life but also (mostly) has its price. 
We, as a supplier of all types, cannot make the decision in favour or against a cheaper product for you. However, with the indication of the quality stars, we want to make the decision easier for you. This is why we have awarded these quality stars for every product. They briefly reflect, what hides behind the technical descriptions.
Optimum In-Floor Installation of Recessed Luminaires
Needless to say, that recessed luminaires of Lichtloesung.de are waterproof, as long as they are correctly installed. To reduce the risk of ingress of water, we recommend to consider the following upon the installation:
1. Do not place the floodlight into a sink, but make sure that water can drain off from the top.
2. When inserting enough coarse gravel below the spotlight, you can avoid, that the floodlight will stand in the water, as the water can drain off downwards.
Hint:
Recessed luminaires never illuminate a surface as optimal as headlights or advertising lights. Because the light - due to the construction of recessed luminaires - the light emission is never in the same favourable angle. Depending on the distance to the surface to be illuminated the lower part of the surface will not be completely illuminated. (Often it is no problem, as there are no relevant objects to be illuminated.) Or the light intensity can heavily decrease in direction to the top.
If you follow these simple installation hints, you will certainly have no problems with your recessed luminaires.
Information about the distance from the wall / advertising space, which we specify for every ground installation recessed luminaire:
As every surface reflects the light in a different way, our specification for the value D shall be deemed as an approximate value only. We recommend to check once more the correct distance between the light and the surface (D) before the final installation. Switch on the luminaire and place it, preferably in the dark, in front of the surface, take a few meters distance and visualise the lighting situation. If necessary, move the luminaire to or from the surface to be illuminated in order to find the optimal position.
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