sitelights
02-25-2004, 07:13 PM
Unique Lighting System's Odyssey series catalog item Starburst B25-35-WB was received via UPS Ground within one week of my request for a sample; at my request Nate Mullen arranged for this promotional sample to be shipped to me without charge.
This is a solid cast brass floodlight with the WB (weathered brass) clear coated finish. The attached image illustrates the complete package: luminaire with stake and 25' of SPT 16/2, a black aluminum hex baffle for glare control, a three lens accessory pack, an Ushio MR16 35w FMW (35 degree) and a 35w Xelogen bi-pin. Both of these lamps mate with the GY6.35 replaceable socket which is an MSD twist-to-lock type; this socket will be reviewed separately. The image is underscaled; the actual size of the floodlight is 5.25" W, 3.5" H and 6.0" D not including the mounting stem; it weighs 1.59 lb. in the catalog and about 3 lb. in your hand (not including the 8.5" PVC stake and 25' lead wire).
The Starburst B25-35 (these non-descriptive names drive me nuts) comes with two different lamps and odd photometrics. A luminaire is merely a lamp holder so the MR16 35w FMV photometrics are readily available and will not be addressed except to state that the Ushio 35w 60 degree lamp (independent of the fixture reflector) would be a better choice as a flood; the 35w Xelogen bi-pin relies on reflector and lens characteristics to generate performance figures. A close reading of the performance specifications in the catalog (that accompanied the fixture) left me a bit confused; the "light distribution" tables gave footcandle (FC) readings at 3', 6' and 10' referring to "level 1" or "level 2" for the four different lens types. Lens/lamp/reflector performance as diagramed eluded me: beam shape was given as a rectangle while FC was shown as an oval. I abandoned these incomprehensible values and did my own rough photometric performance tests; the following numbers are not absolute values but they provide a basis for comparison from lens type to type.
All tests were made at measured distances using the 35w bi-pin lamp at 11.4v to achieve the FC levels shown. Clear @ 12" distance = beam 20" wide = 900 FC; @ 24" distance = beam 44" W = 300 FC (numericaly: 12=20=900 / 24=44=300) thus the spread lens:12=26=890 / 24=52=280; dimpled lens: 12=24=835 / 24=48=210; frosted lens: 12=30=850 / 24=50=250. I think my method of evaluation may be just as murky as the factory specs; it is difficult to put a chart into narrative form. That said, these numbers are within my criteria of distance equals 2 times width i.e. a flood beam should be twice as wide as the distance from the lamp to the object to qualify as a floodlight. Footcandle performance was obtained using the O-S light meter (reviewed) and voltage using the RadioShack multimeter (reviewed). Note that the beam shape was very asymetric:; biased 2/3 left of the filament and 1/3 right. Striations and irregularites of the ideal uniform beam are of no consequence to me and are not noted; this aspect of beam quality is irrelevant unless the beam falls on a smooth surface (then the frosted lens would come in handy).
This is a robust, drive-a-truck-over-it luminaire. The casting is very nicely done with a brushed finish ; the weathered patina on my sample was hand-applied and it looked, forgive me, like a miniature funeral casket. The tapered rectangular body is flared at the front to incorporate the silicone gasketed lens and the 45 degree cut-off shroud. The catalog picture is somewhat different from the fixture in that the shroud that captures the gasketed lens is held in place by knurled brass bolts though the face of the shroud/gasket rather than on the sides; the lower edges of the shroud also differs. The shroud bolts are so close to the inside edge that they have to be backed out with your finger tips 1/4 turn at a time (it took me 12 part turns) to free each non-captured bolt; the lens and bolts fall out of the shroud on disassembly. This is easily avoided by fitting two ASTM 007 O-rings (Hadco style) to the bolt threads which keeps all the parts in one piece and prevents loss of the bolts. This modification eliminated awkwardly juggling the components and made relamping possible (at a cost of about a penny per fixture plus 1/8" longer bolts). The lens gasket is molded silicone configured as a continuous rectangular channel to completely cover the lens edge and provide an wider area on each side for the bolts holes. This gasket allows a quick and easy lens change to any of the three accessory types. The hex glare guard fits between the lens and the reflector in a manner that does not compress it when reassembling. The reflector, of complexly folded mirror-finish aluminum, sacrifices performance for expedience; it is apparent that the reflector shape was not determined for optimum optical results and the twin socket bases (one on the side, one on the back) plus the 2 1/4" X 1 1/4" label on the reflective surface do not help. Of the approximately 20 square inches of surface about 25% is occluded. I consider the lens execution and the lack of O-rings design flaws. This user unfriendly fixture is difficult to service in the field. I disassemble all fixtures completely to scrutinize them thoroughly; it was very difficult reassemble on the bench (don't try it in the field). A better choice (at least for me) in a low watt compact flood would be the Stellar B25-10-WB.
The stem is of a piece with the housing and the knuckle is the adjustable toothed type with a large thumb screw for positive lock-down. Both the housing and the stem are cast to include decorative elements: the housing has 3 circumferential grooves and the stem is ringed with what appears to be heatsink type flanges. Neither of these features improved the appearance or performance of the luminaire. In my opinion the attempt at universality (viz. the innovative use of two lamp types) compromises performance and adds complexity and cost without collateral benefits.
The twin bases for the MSD socket are the most interesting feature of this fixture and will be detailed in a post and image to follow.
This is a solid cast brass floodlight with the WB (weathered brass) clear coated finish. The attached image illustrates the complete package: luminaire with stake and 25' of SPT 16/2, a black aluminum hex baffle for glare control, a three lens accessory pack, an Ushio MR16 35w FMW (35 degree) and a 35w Xelogen bi-pin. Both of these lamps mate with the GY6.35 replaceable socket which is an MSD twist-to-lock type; this socket will be reviewed separately. The image is underscaled; the actual size of the floodlight is 5.25" W, 3.5" H and 6.0" D not including the mounting stem; it weighs 1.59 lb. in the catalog and about 3 lb. in your hand (not including the 8.5" PVC stake and 25' lead wire).
The Starburst B25-35 (these non-descriptive names drive me nuts) comes with two different lamps and odd photometrics. A luminaire is merely a lamp holder so the MR16 35w FMV photometrics are readily available and will not be addressed except to state that the Ushio 35w 60 degree lamp (independent of the fixture reflector) would be a better choice as a flood; the 35w Xelogen bi-pin relies on reflector and lens characteristics to generate performance figures. A close reading of the performance specifications in the catalog (that accompanied the fixture) left me a bit confused; the "light distribution" tables gave footcandle (FC) readings at 3', 6' and 10' referring to "level 1" or "level 2" for the four different lens types. Lens/lamp/reflector performance as diagramed eluded me: beam shape was given as a rectangle while FC was shown as an oval. I abandoned these incomprehensible values and did my own rough photometric performance tests; the following numbers are not absolute values but they provide a basis for comparison from lens type to type.
All tests were made at measured distances using the 35w bi-pin lamp at 11.4v to achieve the FC levels shown. Clear @ 12" distance = beam 20" wide = 900 FC; @ 24" distance = beam 44" W = 300 FC (numericaly: 12=20=900 / 24=44=300) thus the spread lens:12=26=890 / 24=52=280; dimpled lens: 12=24=835 / 24=48=210; frosted lens: 12=30=850 / 24=50=250. I think my method of evaluation may be just as murky as the factory specs; it is difficult to put a chart into narrative form. That said, these numbers are within my criteria of distance equals 2 times width i.e. a flood beam should be twice as wide as the distance from the lamp to the object to qualify as a floodlight. Footcandle performance was obtained using the O-S light meter (reviewed) and voltage using the RadioShack multimeter (reviewed). Note that the beam shape was very asymetric:; biased 2/3 left of the filament and 1/3 right. Striations and irregularites of the ideal uniform beam are of no consequence to me and are not noted; this aspect of beam quality is irrelevant unless the beam falls on a smooth surface (then the frosted lens would come in handy).
This is a robust, drive-a-truck-over-it luminaire. The casting is very nicely done with a brushed finish ; the weathered patina on my sample was hand-applied and it looked, forgive me, like a miniature funeral casket. The tapered rectangular body is flared at the front to incorporate the silicone gasketed lens and the 45 degree cut-off shroud. The catalog picture is somewhat different from the fixture in that the shroud that captures the gasketed lens is held in place by knurled brass bolts though the face of the shroud/gasket rather than on the sides; the lower edges of the shroud also differs. The shroud bolts are so close to the inside edge that they have to be backed out with your finger tips 1/4 turn at a time (it took me 12 part turns) to free each non-captured bolt; the lens and bolts fall out of the shroud on disassembly. This is easily avoided by fitting two ASTM 007 O-rings (Hadco style) to the bolt threads which keeps all the parts in one piece and prevents loss of the bolts. This modification eliminated awkwardly juggling the components and made relamping possible (at a cost of about a penny per fixture plus 1/8" longer bolts). The lens gasket is molded silicone configured as a continuous rectangular channel to completely cover the lens edge and provide an wider area on each side for the bolts holes. This gasket allows a quick and easy lens change to any of the three accessory types. The hex glare guard fits between the lens and the reflector in a manner that does not compress it when reassembling. The reflector, of complexly folded mirror-finish aluminum, sacrifices performance for expedience; it is apparent that the reflector shape was not determined for optimum optical results and the twin socket bases (one on the side, one on the back) plus the 2 1/4" X 1 1/4" label on the reflective surface do not help. Of the approximately 20 square inches of surface about 25% is occluded. I consider the lens execution and the lack of O-rings design flaws. This user unfriendly fixture is difficult to service in the field. I disassemble all fixtures completely to scrutinize them thoroughly; it was very difficult reassemble on the bench (don't try it in the field). A better choice (at least for me) in a low watt compact flood would be the Stellar B25-10-WB.
The stem is of a piece with the housing and the knuckle is the adjustable toothed type with a large thumb screw for positive lock-down. Both the housing and the stem are cast to include decorative elements: the housing has 3 circumferential grooves and the stem is ringed with what appears to be heatsink type flanges. Neither of these features improved the appearance or performance of the luminaire. In my opinion the attempt at universality (viz. the innovative use of two lamp types) compromises performance and adds complexity and cost without collateral benefits.
The twin bases for the MSD socket are the most interesting feature of this fixture and will be detailed in a post and image to follow.