Exterior LED lighting guru's

[drcoastline]

Any body here have exterior LED lighting experience?

I am looking to replace the Halogen spot lights that light up the signs on my building and the high hats that wash the building. I would like to be able to change the color of the lights that wash the building. Say one red one green, one red one green for Christmas. One red, one white, one blue for 4th of July, all green for St. pats, etc. and of course just white for every day use.

I have seen some lights that have remotes but it would be a PITA to have twenty remotes and change each one individually. Any way to do it with just one remote or some kind of controller?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

DRC

[Tervuren]

Most of my knowledge is studio/theater.

RGBW are the initials for Red, Green, Blue, White, which sounds like what you might want.

You can get lighting boards that will store presets, takes some time to setup, but once done all you do is tell to load that preset and it will be simple to use.

They do make wirelessly controlled fixtures, but since you'll be running power might as well run signal as well.

[drcoastline]

Thanks Tervuren

RGBW , may be what I want. No need for wireless that's just what I have seen on the internet. I'll look into a light board.

[CalPersFatCat]

This is an interesting topic. I should consider buying a "portable" setup that I can move from house flip to house flip. Buyers frequently drive by houses in the evening...

I guess I should do some research.

DL

[dad911]

Smarts in the bulb, app for your phone.

I don't have experience, but there are bluetooth & wifi led bulbs that need no other controller than your phone.

https://smile.amazon.com/Changing-Compatible-Assistant-Multicolor-LUMIMAN/dp/B07DLSNNDS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1533514967&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=amazon+wifi+color+bulb&psc=1

[biosurfer1]

FYI, if this is a commercial building, you probably have rebates available from your electric company to switch... worth looking into

[Jims5543]

I have these, you change the color with a remote pointed to a sensor in the front. They are very very bright and waterproof. I replaced my 8 incandescent bulbs in my front planter with 4 of these.

The bulbs were constantly blowing and making me nuts, these do not.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XJ5QH9T/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[dad911]

Jim - If those are on a switch, do they remember settings like color/intensity when switched on and off?

[drcoastline]

Biosurfer1- This is a commercial building, rebates would be a bonus.

Jims5543- I have been looking at the lights with a remote. As I said in my OP if I had to change each light with a different remote that would be a PITA. Also if they reset everytime the light goes off. Which happens every morning that would also be a PITA. Looking for a way to be able to prgram set and forget until the next time I want to program set and forget.

Tervuren has the right idea with a light board. Any thoughts on where I can locate one and will they work with those RGBW lights?

EDIT: this just needs to be a simple program a light for a given color end of story. Not looking to be able to fade, have the lights dance or switch colors. Set for a specifc color and for get it.

[Tervuren]

What sort of spending limit do you have in mind?

How many fixtures?

[dad911]

dr - hope Jim confirms, but per the specs in the add they "Will stay at your last setting, while turn on again."

There is a sensor at each fixture for the remote, It might be safe to assume the same remote works. Probably low tech IR. I like these, and cheap enough with no extra control wiring

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Biosurfer1- This is a commercial building, rebates would be a bonus.

Jims5543- I have been looking at the lights with a remote. As I said in my OP if I had to change each light with a different remote that would be a PITA. Also if they reset everytime the light goes off. Which happens every morning that would also be a PITA. Looking for a way to be able to prgram set and forget until the next time I want to program set and forget.

Tervuren has the right idea with a light board. Any thoughts on where I can locate one and will they work with those RGBW lights?

EDIT: this just needs to be a simple program a light for a given color end of story. Not looking to be able to fade, have the lights dance or switch colors. Set for a specifc color and set it.

Small remote sets the color for each light via an IR signal, you have to be pretty close to and in front of the lens for it to work. I would say depending on the angle you are at anywhere from 3' to 7' from the light. Wear sunglasses, if you stare into the light it really burns into your retina.

Once you set the color you want, it remembers it. Mine are all wired to one switch inside the house. I will turn them on in the evening, and they all light up to the last color I programmed them for.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by dad911

dr - hope Jim confirms, but per the specs in the add they "Will stay at your last setting, while turn on again."

There is a sensor at each fixture for the remote, It might be safe to assume the same remote works. Probably low tech IR. I like these, and cheap enough with no extra control wiring

Yes, the questions in amazon in the link all verify that. It is low tech IR and not a very strong signal, that needs a direct line to the sensor to work.

If the units are being mounted up high, it might be a PITA to change colors on them. If you can get to the front of them with ease these will work nicely.

[drcoastline]

Tervuren- I got an estimate to replace all the existing lighting with LED fixtures wired into existing timer for $2,500.00. That would be six spots for the signage and 13 high hats. The RGBW fixtures we are talking about would replace the high hats. I am thinking I may need a few extra fixtures thats why I am saying twenty fixtures. The spots would remain plain old white.

Dad911- If the stay at last settling that would be the way to go. It would alsmost make individual remotes tolerable. The lights wouldn't get changed on a daily basis. Christmas they may remain red/green for a month or so. july 4th would be a few days at least. Most of the time they would be white.

The wall height from ground to soffit is 10'. The lower 3' of the wall is red brick. The upper 7' is an oyster color board and batten siding. This upper section is what will be washed in light. There is a 3' overhang (soffit) which is where the fixtures would mount. If I take a tape measure from the top of the brick out to the edge of the over hang that is 8'. The fixtures need not be mounted out at the edge of the overhang they can move in toward the wall. Below is a pic of a section of the wall. You can see three of the old Halogens and the open wires where a halogen was removed. You can also see two of the old high hats. I am thinking on sections of the wall that do not have signage I may want to place an addional high hat between the exisitng fixtures.

[biosurfer1]

Looks like you should qualify for rebates:

Direct Install | NJ OCE Web Site

Several LED options available

[jcommin]

Make sure you apply for any rebates before you start the work.

[Tervuren]

I did a little asking on this at work.

A pre-programmable DMX board with calendaring function is a little north of $800.

On/off from an offset of sunset/sunrise and setting the colors for the days of the year you want would be pre-programmed. No need to change it for the seasons as it would take care of it automatically.

We're perhaps six months out from having a less expensive 30W RGBW fixture. $300 per fixture. Yoke mounted light with power supply above in the ceiling. 100 degree beam. The lights are made in the USA, and I'm darn sure you can find a more cost effective option.

[Jims5543]

I just realized it is October, save the boobies month. I decided to change the planter LED lights. I am making a difference with my slacktivism.