sitelights
03-24-2006, 08:31 PM
After an 8 week wait for this fixture it arrives just as we are getting busy. This item was forwarded from Vista through their mid-Atlantic rep. It was not intended as a purchase; it is marked "sample" and will be returned after this review is written. I did not obtain prices (which I would not disclose anyway) but it is probably more than we want to pay.
Those unfamiliar with the 5272 inground should reference the post "Vista's new inground vs. Hadco's IL516" in this forum. Since I put lowvolt.org online in July 2001 initially to avoid repeating myself, I will include only information not covered in the original 5272 review posted in August 2003. I used to get hundreds of technical questions from visitors to sitelights.com; now I can answer each question once. I often refer a question to an existing post.
The 5752 has for some time been shipped with the cast glass (not flat) lens and O-ring so the LED version is identical to the MR16 version except as follows: the LED version omits the stainless steel gimbal and the MR16 socket because the 3 LED array is too large to accomodate the gimbal and is hardwired.
The fixture comes in a carton marked "Inground Light 5272 Black w/3 LED array and Flood Optic". The item shipped with the standard 5272 data/install sheet that did not mention the LED light source. I suspect that this generic insert indicates that Vista does not expect to move any volume of their LED-equiped fixtures and is avoiding the expense of printing different sheets.
A comparison of the photometric data lists the LA10FL as LED10FL; the "LA" indicates a group "A" type (directional) "LED Assembly". Vista's 2005 catalog (LT0501) [$15.00!] has 166 pages of which 3 are specifically about their LED applications. Pages 14-15 cover details on the advantages of LED technology including the interesting "...Vista LEDs operate at the intended Lumen output while receiving voltage as low as 5, and as high as 15VAC ...". Page 142 has photometric data for 22 LED assemblies in both directional and non-directional types ranging from 5w to 30w and directional beam spreads of 12 to 45 degrees. Only six of the array outputs (three 5w and three 10w) are diagrammed as 12, 30 and 45 degree spreads. These beam spreads are achieved with an optical lens rather than reflector design.
There are many LED luminaire types illustrated on page 15 of the 2005 catalog and probably many more added since it was printed. Contact Vista at www.vistapro.com for up-to-date information.
The 30 degree beam spread of the array gives footcandle (FC) outputs very similar to the 36 degree 20w MR-16 BAB at the same distances from the point source: LED 20'X6' = 1.2 FC; BAB 20'X 7.5' = 1.3 FC. The BAB lamp does not show a significant advantage until the distance is 2' from the lamp: LED 124.8 FC; BAB 210 FC.
As with the Hadco LED review I accept the results of their photometric test as "real world". The very rudimentary test equipment available to the layman must be much less accurate than light lab results. I would characterize the output as equivalent for the 10w 30 degree LED and the 20w 36 degree BAB.
Cost adder aside the lack of the gimbal in the LED-equiped 5272 seriously compromises the apparent performance since the LED mounting is straight up while the MR lamp gimbal allows about 15 degrees of tilt. To achieve 15 degrees of tilt with the LED version would require that the housing be canted just like the Hadco IL516; a circumstance that looks accidental. Vista giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other.
There is no label on the LED array pictured below merely an identifying sticker printed "LA-10FL" repeated 6 times. Some minor observations:
The lead wires transition from 18 ga to 22 ga within a woven and coated soft tube that covers the splice; since I could not feel butt splices the connection is most likely soldered. The metal base plate of the LED housing (all in one piece) and the "business end" is either press fit or joined with epoxy; there are no bolt heads exposed anywhere on the complete assembly.
Notches that were punched out to form "U"-shaped openings for the screws fastening the array to the body of the 5272 have been widened by retro-clipping (roughly) one edge of the "U" to allow the unit to fit into the loosened but not removed hold down screws for ease of assembly. Obviously an after-thought but who cares since this not readily apparent and the assembly would never be removed under ordinary circumstances..
Do the advantages of LED technology (and there are many) justify the higher initial investment? My opinion is expressed in this forum as a post in the thread "New Hadco LED fixtures" titled "LED spotlight from Hadco".
The attached image is (on my screen) approximately the same size as the 5272 which is 5" diameter and 4.5 " deep.
Those unfamiliar with the 5272 inground should reference the post "Vista's new inground vs. Hadco's IL516" in this forum. Since I put lowvolt.org online in July 2001 initially to avoid repeating myself, I will include only information not covered in the original 5272 review posted in August 2003. I used to get hundreds of technical questions from visitors to sitelights.com; now I can answer each question once. I often refer a question to an existing post.
The 5752 has for some time been shipped with the cast glass (not flat) lens and O-ring so the LED version is identical to the MR16 version except as follows: the LED version omits the stainless steel gimbal and the MR16 socket because the 3 LED array is too large to accomodate the gimbal and is hardwired.
The fixture comes in a carton marked "Inground Light 5272 Black w/3 LED array and Flood Optic". The item shipped with the standard 5272 data/install sheet that did not mention the LED light source. I suspect that this generic insert indicates that Vista does not expect to move any volume of their LED-equiped fixtures and is avoiding the expense of printing different sheets.
A comparison of the photometric data lists the LA10FL as LED10FL; the "LA" indicates a group "A" type (directional) "LED Assembly". Vista's 2005 catalog (LT0501) [$15.00!] has 166 pages of which 3 are specifically about their LED applications. Pages 14-15 cover details on the advantages of LED technology including the interesting "...Vista LEDs operate at the intended Lumen output while receiving voltage as low as 5, and as high as 15VAC ...". Page 142 has photometric data for 22 LED assemblies in both directional and non-directional types ranging from 5w to 30w and directional beam spreads of 12 to 45 degrees. Only six of the array outputs (three 5w and three 10w) are diagrammed as 12, 30 and 45 degree spreads. These beam spreads are achieved with an optical lens rather than reflector design.
There are many LED luminaire types illustrated on page 15 of the 2005 catalog and probably many more added since it was printed. Contact Vista at www.vistapro.com for up-to-date information.
The 30 degree beam spread of the array gives footcandle (FC) outputs very similar to the 36 degree 20w MR-16 BAB at the same distances from the point source: LED 20'X6' = 1.2 FC; BAB 20'X 7.5' = 1.3 FC. The BAB lamp does not show a significant advantage until the distance is 2' from the lamp: LED 124.8 FC; BAB 210 FC.
As with the Hadco LED review I accept the results of their photometric test as "real world". The very rudimentary test equipment available to the layman must be much less accurate than light lab results. I would characterize the output as equivalent for the 10w 30 degree LED and the 20w 36 degree BAB.
Cost adder aside the lack of the gimbal in the LED-equiped 5272 seriously compromises the apparent performance since the LED mounting is straight up while the MR lamp gimbal allows about 15 degrees of tilt. To achieve 15 degrees of tilt with the LED version would require that the housing be canted just like the Hadco IL516; a circumstance that looks accidental. Vista giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other.
There is no label on the LED array pictured below merely an identifying sticker printed "LA-10FL" repeated 6 times. Some minor observations:
The lead wires transition from 18 ga to 22 ga within a woven and coated soft tube that covers the splice; since I could not feel butt splices the connection is most likely soldered. The metal base plate of the LED housing (all in one piece) and the "business end" is either press fit or joined with epoxy; there are no bolt heads exposed anywhere on the complete assembly.
Notches that were punched out to form "U"-shaped openings for the screws fastening the array to the body of the 5272 have been widened by retro-clipping (roughly) one edge of the "U" to allow the unit to fit into the loosened but not removed hold down screws for ease of assembly. Obviously an after-thought but who cares since this not readily apparent and the assembly would never be removed under ordinary circumstances..
Do the advantages of LED technology (and there are many) justify the higher initial investment? My opinion is expressed in this forum as a post in the thread "New Hadco LED fixtures" titled "LED spotlight from Hadco".
The attached image is (on my screen) approximately the same size as the 5272 which is 5" diameter and 4.5 " deep.