Could anyone recommend a product/method of providing light in a church cross. The cross itself is a metal box structure with an opaque front. It’s a bespoke cross made many years ago, and hence does not have an IP rating. It measures 1.75M tall and 1.5M wide. There are currently car headlamps inside which illuminate the cross when switched on. These existing lamps/lighting are however becoming increasingly unreliable and when they blow cause dark spots in the cross. I would therefore appreciate any advice on the best way to completely rewire the lighting in the cross. My number one priority is reliability/longevity of life. It would be no good providing something that needed lamps replaced every year.
LED lighting, cheap to run, long lasting. LED rope lighting IP68 rating? You buy it by the metre, also get T & X joiners, so you can make crosses easy enough, probabley 'Cool White' would look best. http://www.strictlyleds.co.uk/warm-white-8-metre-led-rope-light http://www.directlight.co.uk/s-304-rope-lighting.aspx
Only IP44 rating, but there loads of brands available & in 12v & 24v versions. https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SK153457.html
Rope lighting was my first thought; however I'm not sure it would be bright enough. Any other thoughts?
I reckon with Cool White it would work ok. Or what about IP68 LED fluroescent strip lights, can get them in various lengths.
Not being funny, but is this strictly allowable, being a church and lit up like that? I mean, I heard of churches/graveyards not allowing small lights(solar eg) around the grounds, as if a church illuminated is not the way a church should be seen! Just asking. Mr. HandyAndy - Really
Well, they have a illuminated cross on our church & at Christmas a huge illuminated star, been done every year, for the last 20 years or so.
This cornish firm does LED church crosses. http://www.jw-eng.co.uk/LED.php And this firm at Blackpool. http://www.sdllighting.co.uk/services/church-led-lighting/
Thanks one and all. Following everyones suggestions, I looked further into the LED option, and there seems to be products that kick out alot more light than the ones I am used to from my usual supplier. I'll therefore go down this route. Mr Handyman - Thanks for your concern reference lights in a church/graveyard - maybe because there is no graveyard, the minister (my customer) doesn't have an issue with lighting up his church. Thanks again all
The amount of light 'kicked out' depends on the quailty of the LED itself & the number of leds per metre. With your cross having a opaque front, I think Cool White would look & have a better overall appearance than Warm White. Hope you post a night photo of the cross when it's up & working.
Can I just pick up on the word 'opaque' and perhaps use 'translucent' instead ? Mr. HandyAndy - Really
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