Fibre Optic Lighting
Hello and welcome to Fibre Optic Lighting. At this site you will find information about all types of fibre optic lighting. Fibre optic lighting covers a wide range of things, so please browse until you find what you need. Basically, it can be divided into two distinct sub-sections, one is home/commercial lighting, this is for general purpose lighting. The second is for decorative lighting.
Fibre optic lighting is an interesting and relatively new technology. It uses less energy than most other light sources, making it greener. They also tend to last far longer than traditional lighting fixtures. However, it does tend to cost more money upfront.
Fiber Optic lighting is the technology of transmitting light from a universal element (illuminator) via an acrylic cable solid or standard core) to a fixture or feature.
Fibre optic lighting does not heat up like most other light sources. It consistently stays cool. Because of this, fibre optic lighting is great for things like commercial freezers or museums, where the items being lit cannot get too hot or they will be damaged. This light also does not fade objects at all.
Most other lighting sources use an ultraviolet light which emits harmful rays. Fibre optic lighting uses a bright white source, making it safer to use in the home and in a business.
This lighting also works well outside or in wet/damp places. It will not shock or electrocute you like electric lighting.
It is important not to confuse fiber optic lighting with services like Verizon FIOS, which uses a different type of fiber optics, in a cable form.
Utilitarian fiber optic lighting:
Residential Fiber Optic Lighting
There are many uses for fiber optic lighting within your home. It gives a very unique look for your interior spaces. The light given off from fiber optic lighting is generally described as a ‘glow’. It is not harsh, but soft, white light, which allows you to see comfortably. These also will save you time and money as they last forever and need little maintenance.
Fiber Optic Chandeliers
These are a great combination of both utility and decoration. Although these can easily light up a room, they are generally used to enhance a space. This is due to the color changing abilities these have. It is very eye-catching to have a chandelier which changes colors nice and slowly. This will make yours a home or business to remember!
Decorative fiber optic lighting sources:
Fiber Optic Lamp
This is probably the form of fibre optic lighting which you are most familiar with. These can be found at many specialty stores and many people keep them in their homes as a decoration. The fiber optic lamp usually has the ability to change colors slowly, which can give a room a great feel. These lamps come in a range of colors (or multi), and the lighting implements are usually LED (light emitting diode).
Fiber Optic Table Lamp
The fun of a fiber optic lamp, on your table! These are available in many different colors, plus the color changing ones. They are available in both battery operated and plug-in models, sometimes both. These are generally inexpensive. Most of them feature hundreds of optic fibers which extend out from a base, creating a fan-like shape which lights up and changes colors. Some of the bases also include clear crystals which react to the light and add to the show.
How Does Fibre Optic Lighting Work?
A Fibre optic lighting system work a bit differently then the lamps and lights that we are used to in our homes and offices. They run on a completely different technology and although it is not too complicated to understand, many people don’t know how it works simply becuase it is a new technology.
A firbe optic lighting system is all lit by one single light source, which is usually kept in an easily accessible, yet unobtrusive space, such as an attic, or closet. This light source will have a single bulb in it, or however many are needed for a larger system. The only time you should ever have to access this after installation is to change the bulb.
The light source changes electricty into light. The power of this light is measured by Watts. The higher the Wattage, the brighter the light.
This source will also have any effects contained in it. This includes color wheels, twinkling, and any other effects available. These are usually ordered seperately.
This is the only part of the fibre optic system which needs to be kept dry all the time. This is becuase itis the only part which uses electricity.
This is attached to a fibre optic harness which is basically cables which are run to the ‘end fittings’. The end fittings are simply where you want light to appear in your home/space. The harness is used to transmit the light from the source to these end fittings. This is the part of the fibre optic lighting system which is the fibre. It is, as it is named, an optical fiber.
No electricity runs through the harness, making it completely safe to leave in a wet or moist area. However, if it will come into contact with garden equipment or other dangerous items, then you should protect it using armoured conduit.
The end fitting allows the light to actually beam out into the room or space you want.
This is the absolute basics of how a fibre optic lighting system works. I highly recommend you read more about it if you are interested in it, as it is economically and ecologically friendly and easy to use. Imagine only having to change one bulb for your entire home, or business? It is a great and interesting idea, and totaly foriegn to most of us.
Fiber Optic Lamps
Fiber optic lamps are usually used as decoration only, not really for actually lighting up a room. These generally come in either table top or floor lamp styles.
The lamp part has many optic fibers which lay out like a fan. These can either be one of many psychadelic colors, or you can get them to be color changing.
The bases in fiber optic lamps sometimes have clear crystals in them. These reflect the colored light which comes from the optic fibers to add to the light show.
These lamps make a great decoration for many different moods. In some lamps, you can slow down and speed up the color changing. Slow color changing is great for a dinner party, or just around the house, fast color changing is good for a dance party.