This picture is straight off their website.

We’ve been doing a lot of work on AirBNB’s this last year for one customer and they are working hard to make these properties look like high-end resorts. That’s what appeals to many of their clients and brings in the best ROI.

 

Treat yourself to some books.

Illuminations Engineers Society Lighting handbook
Well the link doesn't look like my search.

type in and Use the same above and you might see.

There's 3 main main books two under $25 and one above $500.00
if you search yourself, and review.

I'm sure ones like a machinist handbook and one is a more friendly show and tell overview,
and then their bible.

Seems you've been illuminated about the subject for a while, excuse me if I misspoke.

 

I'm working with a designer who has specified Targetti and Lightcraft. Lightcraft is new to me but the bids came in very reasonable. This project is going to involve about 400 fixtures and they want everything dimmable on 9 different switch legs. I'm requesting to use the FX Luxor series. Has anyone had any experience with them?

 

I’ve used LightCraft. They are good quality. Very reasonably priced and there outdoor strip lights are great.

Never heard of Targetti.

 

Anybody use ClaroLux or FX much? Looks like I can get both of them locally.

 

Volt has a wide selection of brass fixtures and large transformers. For simple white lighting great option. What I have.

FXLuminaire is a high end flexible zone and color control. Link multiple controllers. Completely customizable with laptop. They have fixtures as well.

 

Landscape guy who's often on the same jobs uses Volt Lighting. Reasonably priced and never had
a problem with their controls and transformers. I just provide an outlet and maybe a switch, and
landscaper takes care of all the low voltage. I think they're in Nevada, and ship quickly to
where I am in California. Never had a problem.

 

Just an FYI - Volt lighting and Amp Lighting are the same company. Volt lighting is geared towards the public and Amp is designed more for the contractors.

The money savings is worth getting. But the selection is pretty much the same. With AMP, if your job is big enough, they will do a design for you for free. Not sure what the requirement is but I would think it would need to be more than 50 fixtures for them to offer it to you.

And just a side note - I am really pleased with Amp. All their ordering is done online, they ship out of Florida so I can have it within 3 days, their warranty is good and their products are solid. But I just want to look at other options as well. Seems like when your in these things to win it, you’ve got to know what products work best in what situations.

 

I don't care for Volt's fixtures, I've only used them when the customer supplies their own fixtures. No complaints on their transformers, they seem customer friendly with ease of use. If it's a budget job I use the Architectural line of Corona. For the higher end projects I try to use B-K lighting. They have a patented anti-wicking technology that keeps the fixture dry. This is important when you mount the fixtures in trees. I've used the Lumiere 203 (Cambria)bullet light for decades but since they were bought out the fixture is not readily available. I can't wait 6 weeks to get fixtures. The same goes for Hadco, I loved their mushroom fixture that has a hinged top (MUL-4) that you could flip over for lamp changes but now the price has doubled, and they are special order since the company was acquired by Signify and they charge for shipping. I use Vista Pro for well lights and Focus as well. Focus makes the AL-06 path light. I call that fixture dog proof. It's the sturdiest pathlight I've ever seen, I use them for the backyards of clients with rambunctious Labradors or kids. SPJ will custom make a fixture for which is handy when you need to use a specific type of lamp, or match existing. It's a pain when your install requires 6 different types of bulbs and wattages. I maintain all my projects, for the most part. Hevi-lite makes a nice line of fixtures that you can mount on patio post and other structural elements.

 

Did you just start using different brands for each job until you found what you liked? Cause there’s 100’s of manufacturers out there and its hard to know who’s got what.

I also want to sell maintenance agreements with our installations too. Just haven’t got that far yet

 

On the larger projects the landscape designer has specified the fixture, so I've been exposed to most everything on the higher end scale. I find there is no one brand that makes the best of everything, so I mix and match as needed. Also I am always looking for that one unique fixture that will give the job a special flair. So I am constantly switching brands within the same project. I was blessed when I started out to have a local supplier, California Landscape Lighting, that would have most everything from the major manufacturers in stock and on the showroom floor. They are long gone now, but I wonder if landscape warehouses do anything like that now adays?

 

Do you guys have SiteOne suppliers in Ca? I just heard about them recently. They’re the massive landscaping supplier that covers the east coast and mid west.

A friend of mine has told me to start using them instead of online suppliers. Sounds like they have everything stocked in the back on their shelves. Sounds like they carry FX, Vista and some no-name house brand.

I haven’t shopped there yet, but I probably will at some point. Right now, being able to order all my stuff online from Amp has been incredibly convenient….. that is until I need something right away!

 

I just checked them out, they have branches all over my area. They stock Vista Pro and FX, helpful. I use a local supply house called Volutone for my AV equipment jobs and they were bought out by SnapOne, a national wholesaler. I wonder if their owned by the same hedge fund? Or something.

 

Just wanted to follow back up on this -

I made a last minute stop at SiteOne today right before closing time and they had a pretty good stock of bulbs, fixtures, transformers & wire on the shelf. They carry FX, Vista, Unique & Pro-trade. None of which I’ve used before, but will probably start to try out.

Right now if we can get a decent budget brand, a good high-end brand and some type of transformer that is pool/spa rated, I think things will start working a little smoother for us.

 

Side note for anyone who’s interested - seems like the aluminum fixtures get destroyed over time by the rain.

Brass seems to hold up quite a bit better.

 

Have you tied Corona? I use their Architectual line when I need something fast, their local for me. I have had the path lights sockets go bad and the stakes they provide don't hold up well at all. But the bullet lights are stout. They make a beefy 10" stake that works well if you can get the fixture on without cross threading the plastic. Once the plastic is cross threaded, forget it.

coronalighting.com

I just ordered a dozen FX Luxor line lights from Siteone. They were willing to sell me the fixtures as samples so I can return them if the customer goes with something else. Siteone's price was high compared to my usual supplier. But they got the stuff promptly which is usually half the battle.

 

Have you tied Corona? I use their Architectual line when I need something fast, their local for me. I have had the path lights sockets go bad and the stakes they provide don't hold up well at all. But the bullet lights are stout. They make a beefy 10" stake that works well if you can get the fixture on without cross threading the plastic. Once the plastic is cross threaded, forget it.

coronalighting.com

I just ordered a dozen FX Luxor line lights from Siteone. They were willing to sell me the fixtures as samples so I can return them if the customer goes with something else. Siteone's price was high compared to my usual supplier. But they got the stuff promptly which is usually half the battle.

Ive never heard of Cornona. Just looked on their distribution list and it says City Electric in town carries stock, but I’ve never seen any landscape lights in there. And I go there at least once a month.

What are the factors that make your decide what brand(s) to go with when you guys don’t have designers picking the fixtures out?

 

There's a guy in Virginia named Patrick Harders. His company is Sterling Lighting. They sell landscape lighting to contractors in pretty high volume.

Then there's Volt Lighting. Pretty big. Several US locations. Never done business with them.
Heck of a warranty: VOLT® extends an industry-best lifetime warranty on our brass and copper landscape fixtures, LED outdoor light bulbs and low voltage transformers.

And AMP Lighting too. Offices nationwide & lifetime warranties.

 

Nice! Had not heard of Sterling, despite being in VA myself. I may have to check into them and see about using more "local" products.

 

I judge a fixture first by the sealing method of the lamp. I still mostly use MR-16 based fixtures because it's easy to adjust the beam spread without having to order a completely different fixture. Does it have double gaskets, and fat ones, not those tiny gaskets that break when you over tighten it? Does the knuckle have good teeth so the fixture doesn't get knocked out of aim by the gardener? How well is it sealed where the wires come out? Some fixtures use a rubber cork that doesn't stay in very well. This is important when mounting them in trees aiming down. If the fixture is in the dirt than brass or copper is king. Aluminum fixtures need to have a quality coating. B-K is one of the best and Hadco is one of the worst.

 

I think the quality of the fixture is (of course) massively important. But of equal importance is an ongoing maintenance program to keep these high-end fixtures properly aligned and clean. Why would someone invest so much into a system and then not maintain it? IT just doesn't make sense to let them think that way to me.

 

Jason, what brands are you currently working with?

 

@Jason A. Welcome to the forum. And for filling out your profile.

 

I think (for me) the best training is doing. I have spent years reading lighting design and engineering books but until I actually bought the fixtures and every conceivable beam pattern of bulb and lens I could find and started experimenting at night the books were of little use. Landscape lighting is a great gateway to lighting design. The fixtures are relatively inexpensive, are easy to upgrade, and to relocate. It's not like lighting art in someone's house where if you don't place the fixtures correctly you have to rip open the drywall. Leave a 3' loop at each fixture, use MR-16 based fixtures so you adjust beam spread and add filters to tailor the light. Once you learn some basic stage lighting techniques you can go out into your mother's backyard and experiment with a few hundred dollars of equipment. High quality fixtures are important from the client's perspective. But you can put a quality bulb in a crappy fixture, and it will look the same at night.

 

Home - CEDIA Expo

Here is a link to the Cedia Expo in Denver. If you go to the directory tab and jump to the L section of the vendors list there are some interesting new landscape lighting manufactures that will have booths this year. I have been spending hours researching how to attach bullet lights to a historic home where we are not allowed to screw into the structure.

 

Home - CEDIA Expo

Here is a link to the Cedia Expo in Denver. If you go to the directory tab and jump to the L section of the vendors list there are some interesting new landscape lighting manufactures that will have booths this year. I have been spending hours researching how to attach bullet lights to a historic home where we are not allowed to screw into the structure.

Some type of high-grade sealant? I’m in several different Facebook lighting groups and those guys use that stuff to attach small mini-puck lights in all kinds of crazy places. I’ve seem them do it on roofs, stucco walls, underside of rock waterfalls, ect.

 

Here is a fixture that caught my eye, so to speak, for recessed lighting...
Ario Basic - Verozza

I have been looking for a canless recessed light that has the LED tucked up into the ceiling and that tilts. Most canless fixtures use a gimbal that sticks below the ceiling to tilt and are very glary.

 

For anyone who's curious

 

Do you install in Orange County? I'd love to get a quote from you. Dayne Scott 949-690-9407

 

To say you're from Orange County will make you unique in the state of California, but not in the United States. For there are seven other Orange Counties in the nation. Travel to Florida, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont or Virginia, and you'll find an Orange County.
Source: LA Times via Lord Google

ETA:
A little detective work says @DScott11 is in Orange County, California

The 949 area code covers most of the southern part of Orange County, California, including major cities such as Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, and Newport Beach.

 

Pretty close to my home.

Exterior Lighting - Beachside Lighting Honolulu | Maritime & Exterior Lights

 

I recently checked out some Haven Lighting fixtures because a client wanted better color options, and they’re definitely a step up in terms of brightness and color rendering. If you want something to offer a bit more premium, they’re worth a look. Also, if you’re ever looking for some good garden pros in London, https://lookdevisservices.uk really knows their stuff.