Phantom Lighting - Tips from the Manufacturer
Original lighting fixture manufacturer specializing in fine art lighting, art lights, picture lighting as well as custom cabinet lights, shelf lighting, cove lights and low voltage display illumination. - See The Light, Not The Fixture!Friday, June 19, 2009
Countertop Lighting & Undercabinet Lights
Phantom Lighting is a manufacturer of custom under counter light fixtures committed to equipping the architect, home builder, and interior lighting designer with custom-made task lighting fixtures for kitchens that need more than simple functional lighting. The unique aesthetic created by our linear lighting strips contributes an added value to the practical demands of countertop lighting. In addition to a scalability that makes them one of the most concealed under cabinet lighting sources available anywhere, a number of proprietary manufacturer designs also make them the most versatile linear fixtures in a world of highly custom architecture, design, and interior schemes.One of the most unique products offered by our company is a proprietary LED festoon lamp with lumens per watt ratio previously unattainable by any kitchen under cabinet lighting manufacturer. The genius of its design lies in its physical structure and advanced lighting and heat control features. Combining three LED bulbs into one physical lamp structure, the Phantom LED festoon operates at only 1.7 watts—yet it outputs the same level of light as a 5-watt xenon bulb! The Phantom LED festoon also features a proprietary heat sink that draws the forward throw heat away from the direction that the beam is travelling. With these linear lighting fixtures, an architect can furnish the homeowner with a high-end light source that is virtually heat-free and fully capable of illuminating any surface with an equally decorative and functional
Phantom manufactures under cabinet lighting systems to be far more easy to conceal than those made by other manufacturers. Our linear strips are thinner and more compact. They can be concealed behind the forward lip at the bottom of any sized kitchen cabinet. In the event that the cabinet has no such reveal in the front, a trim carpenter can usually add trim pieces that match the color and texture of the wood and thereby conceal the fixtures. This ability to assume a hidden position in almost any kitchen environment actually inspired our manufacturer brand—Phantom—and also inspired our motto, “see the light, not the fixture.”
Not only does this design produce a better quality of light, but it also produces a more controllable source of under cabinet lighting. As a home lighting manufacturer, each individual trim style is engineered with its own unique angle of light distribution. This allows builders to choose an angle of incidence directly proportional to the surface area of the countertop being illuminated. The forward mounted position of the fixtures, combined with a very precise distribution pattern of luminance, sends the light backward across the surface of the counter into the backsplash. This minimizes the reflective glare that is common when lighting marble and granite countertops, and it creates both an aesthetic and a level of comfort for the eyes that unify the dual purpose of aesthetics and function for which under cabinet lighting is intended.
Other manufacturer features that distinguish Phantom cabinet lighting fixtures include low-voltage power and user-friendly dimmability. As low-voltage devices, these luxury lights create an exceptionally chic compliment to kitchen décor without exorbitant electrical consumption. If the builder opts for incandescent or xenon lamps over LED, the dimmability of our strip lights further allows for reduction of power load and heat by reducing the wattage requirements of the lamp proportional to the level of accent lighting that the homeowner selects. This also has the additional benefit of extending incandescent lamp life and creating even more savings through reduced maintenance and replacement costs.
Our xenon under cabinet lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas, which in turn distributes these specialty linear lights through a nationwide network of lighting supply channels, distributorships, and sales representatives in cities such as Rhinelander, WI (RHI), Yakima, WA (YKM), Windsor Locks, CT (BDL), Mason City, IA (MCW), Sault Ste Marie, MI (CIU), Binghamton, NY (BGM), Lawton, OK (LAW), Pasco, WA (PSC), St Cloud, MN (STC), and Hyannis, MA (HYA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to call a contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and Phantom Lighting FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Countertop Light Manufacturer, Kitchen Lighting Manufacturers, Under Cabinet Lighting Manufacturer
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting
Architects and builders order Phantom TL series linear strips anytime they need a source of under cabinet kitchen lighting capable of meeting all the complex demands of custom kitchen cabinet lighting. Our diversity of trim and lamping options makes this unique task light adaptable to the under surface of any cabinet, and its exceptionally small size makes it very easy to conceal behind the front lip of the cabinet.We built this versatility into our under kitchen cabinet lighting fixtures because we know how important countertops are to custom kitchens. Just as they function as much needed work areas, counter tops are also foundational design elements. Builders will go to exorbitant lengths and invest expense to install a marble or granite counter that sets the entire tone for interior kitchen design. Because this is such an important room, the appearance of kitchen countertops often plays a pivotal role in establishing home sale price.
The two greatest enemies of countertop aesthetic are reflective glare and shadow. Glare creates white spots that can irritate the eyes of people handling utensils such as knives. Shadows make it hard to distinguish between shades of color, which in turn makes it hard to see food products clearly. Uneven kitchen undercabinet lighting diminishes the aesthetic of custom stone work that characterizes many modern kitchens. To combat these enemies, architects must use under cabinet kitchen lighting fixtures engineered with better trims and more precise angles of light distribution. They must also turn to any number of both traditional and non-traditional festoon lamp designs in order to find the very best color temperature to match to the particular material and design of the countertop they are illuminating.
Phantom lighting strips are intended to function as linear templates that can be customized to specific lamping and trim requirements on a case by case basis. For example, beam distribution angles range from 88 degrees to 166 degrees, depending on which trim you select. Because our under kitchen cabinet lights mount on the forward under surface of the cabinet, the light shines backward across the countertop. While this does not reflection, most of the light that is reflected travels away from the eyes and illuminates the backsplash. This is a much better method lighting a counter than using puck fixtures, which are notorious for creating white spots beneath cabinets. A concealed source also results in more attractive presentation than one produced by visible fluorescent fixtures. In spite of the energy-saving qualities of fluorescents, they invariably create an eyesore by shining glare toward the viewer, and by visibly protruding below the cabinet surface.
A better aesthetic luminance that also saves on energy costs is the new Phantom LED festoon lamp. It is capable of producing a lumens output equivalent to a 5 watt xenon lamp, yet it operates at only 1.7 watts. Its patented heat sink technology draws forward throw heat away from the cabinet and the counter, making this a truly cool-burning source of illumination. Capable of reducing energy costs by as much as 60 percent, the Phantom LED festoon gives homeowners he option of leaving their under kitchen cabinet lights on as decorative luminaires for extended periods of time. Our warmest color temperature, the 2800K, is a close approximation to xenon, and one that is highly favored by builders who install marble and granite countertops. Cooler counter top colors, such as white and off white, are often lit with our 2950K series LED cabinet lighting.
For architects who prefer color temperature ranges between 2600-3000K, Phantom also installs xenon lamps in its linear strips in order to provide that traditional, luxurious lighting effects that xenon has always been famous for. Although the lamp life is much shorter than that of LED (7500 hours as opposed to 40,000 to 50,000 hours), dimmers on our cabinet lights let users offset normal power consumption, driving down operating costs and extending lamp life as a result. Dimmer controls also offer the added aesthetic matching decorative and task lighting levels to precisely compliment general kitchen lighting.
Phantom under kitchen cabinet lighting strips are custom-made to fit the exact specifications of every cabinet undersurface. Trims and lamping options are based on cabinet surface area, material build, color, and decorative pattern. These options are chosen with the help of a Phantom Lighting specialist who knows your industry and can help you match our technology to functional and decorative expectations of your clients.
Our in-cabinet lighting supply facility is located in Houston, Texas. We then distribute these nationwide through our network of lighting suppliers that encompasses all 50 states into cities like Keahole, HI (KOA), Dallas, TX (DFW), El Paso, TX (ELP), Duluth, MN (DLH), Charlevoix, MI (CVX), Montrose, CO (MTJ), Telluride, CO (TEX), Dubuque, IA (DBQ), Mason City, IA (MCW), and Chicago, IL (MDW). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Kitchen Cabinet Lighting, Kitchen Task Lighting, LED Linear Under Cabinet Lighting, Replacement LED Festoon Lamps, Under Countertop Lighting
Countertop Lights & Counter Top Lighting
The Phantom TL light series under the cabinet lighting fixtures are an exceptional source of countertop light for any task needing to be performed in the kitchen. We aim to provide the architect, the builder, and the lighting designer with complete freedom of choice when it comes to countertop light. Each counter top fixture is custom cut to match the precise dimensions of a cabinet under surface. Due to their impeccable engineering, Phantom under cabinet lighting fixtures can also perform important aesthetic functions beyond their obviously practical purpose.Phantom countertop kitchen lights are dimmable, and they are better able to evenly distribute illumination across counter top surfaces than are standard under cabinet lights. Color temperature options range from the warm LED 2800K up to the cool 5000K in LED, xenon, or incandescent choices. Lamping options range from the traditional incandescent and decorative xenon, to a revolutionary, patented LED festoon lamp that has been engineered to carefully approximate the color temperature and decorative appearance of xenon.
We cannot stress enough the importance of countertop lighting solutions. The kitchen counter is quite possibly the most important surface area in the entire room. Food is prepared here, and many cooking tools and appliances are also showcased here. It is absolutely necessary that we properly illuminate the countertop so that any person who enters the kitchen can clearly see variances in colors and safely handle utensils such as knives. A good many lighting manufacturers advertise all types of fixtures that to give the best and cheapest source of counter top light. Most of these fixtures are energy saving fluorescents that have been designed specifically for the do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement hobbyist. These lights are fine for the smaller kitchens we normally find in homes, hotels, and apartments. In the more sophisticated domain of custom in kitchen cabinet lighting, however, a more contemporary and chic quality of countertop light is required.
This is because of many reasons. To begin with, larger homes have larger kitchens simply because of design proportions. If each room in the home is larger than its equivalent in a much smaller house, then common sense tells us that the kitchen is also going to be larger. A larger kitchen will have considerably more countertop surface area, and light from generic fixtures will not adequately light its entirety. Shadows will still show up beneath cabinet corners and along the corner of the backsplash. If the light is not positioned correctly, or if it has too wide a beam angle (as most retail under cabinet lights do), then it will cast reflective glare back into the eyes of the person working in the kitchen.
There are other considerations that must be taken into account when you choose and undercabinet 12 volt light fixture for a high-end kitchen. Every kitchen countertop in a custom home will be much more than a functional work area. It will be a work of ornamentation in its own right, often crafted from the finest cuts of marble and granite. Both the type of lamps used, and the color temperatures of the lamps themselves, must be carefully chosen in order to match the countertop colors and designs. Otherwise, the multi-dimensional elements of marble and granite often will look as though they have been flattened out beneath the light. Custom stone work also requires illumination that is carefully angled so it will direct reflected light away from the eyes. Ideally too, it will be adjustable to match surrounding general room lighting. This prevents the counter top surface under the cabinet light fixtures from appearing too dark or too light in relation to the rest of the counter. It also makes the room look bigger and much more vibrant for events like cooking parties and family dinners where the kitchen functions as the hub of gathering and entertainment.
When all of these factors are considerate together, architects and builders freely admit that the best source of countertop light installation in a custom kitchens is the TL series Phantom strip light. With special glare shields that shine the light at an angle across the countertop toward the back splash, forward-mounted Phantom fixtures direct light away from sensitive eyes. This better illuminates the intricacies of the rich colors and patterns of stonework. Precision lighting control is also available through our technology through dimmers that allow luminance to be set to levels appropriate to any occasion.
Our undercabinet linear lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales agents fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like San Juan, PR (SJU), Isla De Vieques, PR (VQS), Fajardo, PR (X95), Erie, PA (ERI), Killeen, TX (ILE), Sheridan, WY (SHR), Casper, WY (CPR), Parkersburg, WV (PKB), and Escanaba, MI (ESC). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Counter Top Lights, Countertop Lighting, Countertop Strip Lights, Under Countertop Lighting
Monday, June 08, 2009
Under Counter Kitchen Lights
Fluorescent under cabinet lights have long been used for undercounter lighting sources for many reasons. Originally developed as energy efficient task lights, fluorescents could operate for long hours with lower energy cost and less frequent lamp replacements. It made sense to then adapt these same sources to indoor task lighting applications like under undercounter kitchen lighting. In some ways, they are ideal for this task—provided the lighting is uniform and aesthetic outcome is not the highest priority.
Fluorescent undercounter kitchen lights are segmented fixtures that mount in series underneath the rear of the cabinet. Depending on type and origin of manufacture, these segments vary in length. Ideally, these segments can be lined from side to side, end to end, and evenly distribute light across the countertop.
Fluorescent undercounter lighting can work very well in such a setting if the counter features a matte finish that reflects virtually no light, and provided that the fixtures can completely line the posterior undersurface of the cabinet. You will encounter problems, however, if you are looking to build a custom home with more sophisticated cabinetry and countertop design.
Custom cabinets vary and cabinet light solutions cut to standard lengths cannot precisely match their horizontal surface. A series of fluorescent fixtures can still be installed here, but there will be gaps on one end or both due to the fact that standard lengths, even when combined, may not precisely match horizontal measurements. You will see an immediate, noticeable deterioration in the quality of undercounter lighting. Dark spots will appear under the sides of your cabinet due to the lack of lighting uniformity.
The problem becomes more compounded if you are planning to install a granite or marble countertop. Because these surfaces are so reflective, glare becomes just as much of an enemy as shadow. Fluorescent undercounter lights installed at the back of the cabinet will not work here because they will shine light forward across the counter which will then reflect up into the eyes.
For these situations, LED undercounter lighting with linear strips is much more effective than fluorescent lighting. Because they mount to the forward undersurface of the cabinet, they direct light backward away from the eyes and provide a higher quality aesthetic. Custom made strips are to be preferred above standard-sized linear strips because they can be manufactured to fit the exact horizontal dimensions of the cabinet. Glare shields should also be present, with options in light distribution angles offered by the manufacturer as well. Lights should also fitted with dimmers so homeowners can adjust countertop lighting to match general room lighting levels. Furthermore, multiple lamp options should be made available to the builder who needs freedom of choice in selecting light source and color temperature.
To meet all of these requirements, Phantom Lighting engineered the TM series linear task light for kitchen cabinet lighting. The TM strip light can be fitted with your choice of incandescent, xenon, or LED festoon lamps. This series comes in 5 available trims, each one having a specific light distribution angle that allows you to precisely match beam spread in kitchen cabinet lighting applications. TM linear strips are 100 percent dimmable, so homeowners can easily and instantly adjust light levels. Each strip is also glare shielded to minimize spill light and direct the majority of luminance away from the eyes into the back splash.
We have further developed our technology with the patenting a new LED festoon lamps that can closely imitate the color rendering and luminance output of xenon—at only 60 percent of the power consumption. Furthermore, heat sinks built into our festoons make it a cool-operating light source that can be left on for long periods of time without measurable heat buildup.
You can order Phantom LED festoons in the warm color temperature of 2800K, the slightly cooler 2950K, and the cool color 5000K. You can also order incandescent and xenon lamps in the same color temperatures for special, luxury under counter lighting applications. If this is your decision, we recommend you use dimmer controls to minimize heat and power consumption, which will also help keep temperature down and maximize lamp life.
We manufacture cabinet lighting fixtures in our Houston, Texas facility. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Dallas, Texas (DWF), Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of kitchen and display lighting products. You can also request cabinet lighting literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Kitchen Cabinet Lighting, Kitchen Task Lighting, Low Voltage Cabinet Lighting, Phantom LED Strip Lights, Under Counter Kitchen Lights, Undercounter Lighting
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Kitchen Countertop Lighting Fixtures
Phantom TM linear strip lights are the best choice for architects and builders to use in countertop lighting applications. Particularly in custom homes where the kitchen plays a significant role in home value, it is imperative to use the very best fixtures that can be customized to any cabinet design and countertop surface for maximum aesthetic and functionality. Kitchens in these homes almost always feature a high level of customized interior architecture and a deliberately emphasis on the ornamental. This is because the kitchen in today’s custom home has become much more than a place to cook a meal. It has become the hub of entertainment and home society, where everything from family gatherings to neighborhood dinner parties require the very best kitchen cabinet lighting possible.Countertop lighting in kitchen cabinets is a challenging task in any environment simply because cabinets always block overhead light to a certain degree. Shadows form and make it hard for people to see colors and safely work with knives and other tools. Under cabinet lights have been used for decades now to dispel these shadows and create safer, more attractive work environments. Some, like energy-saving fluorescent, mount underneath the back wall of the cabinet and shine the light forward across the countertop. Other fixtures, such as center-mounted puck lights, shine lights directly down onto the counter from the center of the cabinet above.
Puck lights and fluorescents were not developed for high-end markets, however. Their greatest value lies in energy-savings and utility in small to mid-sized homes in rural areas and suburban subdivisions. They have also found widespread use in many apartments and hotel kitchenettes that require basic countertop lighting. In these environments they often work very well because kitchen counters are usually white, non-reflective surfaces that absorb the majority of light that strikes their surface.
Custom low voltage countertop lighting, on the other hand, is an entirely different manner. Marble and granite surfaces absorb very little light, so anything used to illuminate their surfaces is going to throw out glare in some direction. Linear lighting strips that mount behind the forward lip of cabinets are preferable for this task for two reasons. First, they are concealed in this position and pose no threat to the aesthetic of cabinet design. Secondly, they can direct the light across the counter, sending reflective glare up the back splash. This of course, is provided they are built with the appropriate glare shields that will keep light from shining at a forward angle where it could then reflect back up into the eyes.
Another very important consideration to factor into countertop lighting design is the actual color of the stone work itself. The warmer reds of granite need a cool color temperature light source that will bring out the sharp sense of absolutism that granite has always symbolized. Marble has an even gentler appeal, with swirls and eddies of blue reminiscent of pools of water or even ocean waves. Warm color temperatures work better here because they help differentiate each shade of blue and add an extra golden touch to the white spaces. It helps if the builder can count on having total freedom of choice when it comes to choosing color temperatures.
Phantom TM series linear light strips have been engineered to meet all of the many concerns that architects and builders face when illuminating spaces under cabinets and fine custom stonework. Our TM series strip light is available in 5 different trim styles, with light distribution angles ranging from 88 degrees to 166 degrees. All linear strips have a special patented glare shield that directs illumination down and away from the eyes. Lamping options include incandescent, xenon, and LED festoons in color temperatures that range from the warm LED 2800K lamp to the cool LED or Xenon 5000K lamp.
All linear strips are custom-cut to precise cabinet dimensions, and they can even be painted to match cabinet color on cabinets that have no forward lip on their under surface. Furthermore, all countertop lighting with any of these fixture choices is 100 percent dimmable, allowing the homeowner to control heat output, power consumption, and aesthetics all with one simple control. An added benefit of LED festoon lamps is the patented heat sink that draws forward throw heat away from the lamp, eliminating the need to use the dimmer for heat control. Xenon festoons can be ordered in clear or frosted lenses depending on the sheen, color, and design of the counter top they are lighting.
We manufacture cabinet lighting fixtures in our Houston, Texas facility. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Dallas, Texas (DWF), Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to call a Phantom Agent toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Counter Top Lights, Countertop Lighting, Countertop Lights, Kitchen Task Lights, Undercabinet Lighting Fixtures
Friday, May 01, 2009
Lighting Antique Corner Cabinets
Corner cabinet lighting can present some unique challenges to the carpenter and the designer. On an aesthetic level, one has to precisely match the color temperature of the light to the contents on display to most appropriately showcase their color and form. On a functional level, the designer must select corner cabinet lights that offer some means of controlling heat buildup within the cabinet interior, or install a light source that will produce less heat without sacrificing lighting levels or lighting quality.To better understand how the present generation of corner cabinet lights evolved in the first place, we need to take a look at back in history. In the very beginning, there were only incandescent lights. Corner cabinets were originally built with hand soldered incandescent lighting strips built into the displays themselves. Incandescent was and still is the closest match to natural sunlight, so early corner cabinet lighting solutions produced a luminance that was incredibly “golden” in tone and ideal for lighting fine antiques and rare collectibles. However, these lights produced considerable heat output that was further magnified by glass door enclosure. Also, incandescents only lasted for a short period of time. Even to this day, incandescent bulbs of any kind suffer from the shortest lamp life on the market.
To create a light source with longer lamp life, cabinet lighting manufacturers began to develop a new, hybrid form of incandescent light called xenon. They also developed dimmer controls that would allow display owners to raise and lower lighting levels at will. Xenon still had the slightly golden appearance of incandescent lights, only with a slightly lighter, whiter tone. It quickly became the new standard in custom cabinet furniture lighting, and the new technology of the dimmer control allowed for forward throw heat to be directly controlled for the first time. The only disadvantage to this, however, was that reducing heat meant reducing the level of light. For some very elaborate antique and collectible displays, this meant creating too much darkness for maximum aesthetic.
The ultimate solution to all of these concerns came with the most recent development in corner cabinet lighting-- LED technology. LED allows us now to create much higher lighting levels with less heat. The patent pending Phantom LED festoon lamp, for example, is a 1.7 watt unit that emits the equivalent of 5 watt xenon bulb. However, the heat generated in the production of light is dissipated by a heat sink that draws heat away from the cabinet interior. Additional benefits of LED technology are the longest lamp life of any light source and a power consumption of only 20%-40% that of previous technologies.
Ranging in terms of the warmest to coolest, LED festoons are available in color temperatures 2800K, 2950K and 5000K. Of course, Phantom has a policy never to limit the choices of our clients for display cabinet lighting. Some decorators have already determined specific ambient qualities they wish to create that require xenon or incandescent strip lights. For such clients, we recommend the use of dimmer controls to control heat, and we also suggest that lights be turned off for periods of time. Also, our engineers strongly recommend that for lighting closed corner cabinets with glass doors, one should use xenon bulbs rated at 3 or 5 watts. Anything more than that will generate too much heat buildup to effectively control without sacrificing luminance and aesthetics.
Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas, which in turn distributes these specialty linear lights through a nationwide network of lighting supply channels, distributorships, and sales agents in cities such as Rhinelander, WI (RHI), Yakima, WA (YKM), Windsor Locks, CT (BDL), Mason City, IA (MCW), Sault Ste Marie, MI (CIU), Binghamton, NY (BGM), Lawton, OK (LAW), Pasco, WA (PSC), St Cloud, MN (STC), and Hyannis, MA (HYA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. Feel free to visit our mobile website, lighting blog, read our client testimonials or visit our online lighting showroom to discover which Phantom Lighting products will best adapt to your particular lighting needs.
All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Cabinet Light, Cabinet Lighting, Cabinet Lighting Fixtures, Display Cabinet Lights, Low Voltage Cabinet Lighting
Friday, April 24, 2009
Lighting Cabinets With Fixed Shelves
Do you manufacture fixed shelf lighting fixtures specifically for custom furniture and retrofit applications?Yes. We not only manufacture light fixtures specifically for non-adjustable shelf lighting, but we take it one step further by making each individual strip light custom to the dimensions of the shelf or vertical style to which you intend to mount it. We have engineered the basic components of our display cabinet lights to accommodate a wide range of wiring techniques that allow you to install what amounts to a completely concealed or almost completely concealed hidden cabinet lighting source.
This customization allows you total freedom in a much wider range of cabinet lighting installations. Customization means more application power when it comes to illuminating build outs and retrofits that are characterized by highly stylized cuts of wood and unique construction designs.
This sounds like a very bold claim. Is there any type of cabinet you cannot light with your equipment?
To be honest, there is. Any cabinet with a glass or mirrored backing tends to produce too much reflective glare. However, when it comes to lighting private library cabinets with solid wood backing or panel backing, there really is no style our fixed shelf lighting fixtures cannot be adapted to fit.
I read about your HM series (Horizontal Mount) on your website. How can I install these fixtures on a shelf that has no reveal?
There are two ways we can help you do this. One would be to custom design a trim that matches color of the wood. This would be the equivalent of creating the equivalent of a reveal out of a fixed shelf lighting fixture itself. Another way we could accommodate you is to add a reveal to the front of the shelf behind which we can conceal the lighting strip. Your intentions in design and quality of aesthetic are very important to us, so we will ultimately recommend what both works best—and looks best—for your particular project.
I have another cabinet I’m looking to add fixed shelf lighting to. I do not want to alter the shelves in any respect because it is an antique reproduction that requires minimal alteration.
In your instance, we recommend using vertically-mounted curio cabinet light strips concealed along the interior edges of the vertical cabinet styles. If there is a small space between the shelves and the style interior, we will notch the trims on your fixtures so that one continuous vertical strip light can be installed on either side.
If no space is available, we can cut vertical segments proportional to vertical dimensions between each set of shelves.
What if I light a cabinet that has no vertical styles, but instead has large hinged doors?
Hinges present a challenge for fixed showcase cabinet lighting, but it is never an insurmountable challenge. European-style hinges, even though very effective in function, can be quite large and cause you a great deal of difficulty if you attempt to install a continuous accent light strip. For this application, we recommend you get strip lights with lamps spaced around the hinges. We also recommend that you notch the glare shield in the field to maintain a finished look.
Do you have vertical strips that mount to the door interiors rather than cabinet interiors or shelf bottoms?
Yes, but this is only recommended for fixed shelf cabinets that measure 30” or more in width. It is a very effective accent lighting tool for displaying solid objects such as china, vases, sculptures or books which may block the light and produce shadows. A center mount trim requires special wiring provisions that will give the wiring enough slack to allow for door movement.
Is it difficult to conceal the wiring for fixed shelf cabinet lighting fixtures?
It is much easier to conceal wiring with our cabinet lighting system than with any type of standard or generic fixture available on the open market. Since all of our cabinet lights are custom built, we have evolved our technology to accommodate unique techniques that are custom to both the individual cabinet and the trim of the fixture. Also, our transformers are much smaller than other competing models and are therefore also much easier to conceal.
We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.
Labels: Bookcase Lights, Fixed Shelf Cabinet Lights, Lighting Cabinets, Low Voltage Display Lights, Strip Light
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Under Cabinet Lighting Lights
Phantom under cabinet lights are distinguished by a variety of unique attributes that allow them to be adapted to any custom kitchen. Counter tops appear exceptional when illuminated with Phantom products thanks to a number of patented components and a robust set of options in lamp type and color temperature.To begin with, each under cabinet lighting strips is custom manufactured to the under surface of the specific kitchen cabinet to which it mounts. Because we make our fixtures much smaller than fluorescent under cabinet lights, their low profile design makes them almost impossible to detect. Additionally, under cabinet lighting strip can be adjusted with a dimmer switch that allows for lighting levels to be raised or lowered at will. Traditional xenon lamping options are available for these strips, along with new LED festoon technology that generates a lumens output and quality of light that closely approximates xenon.
If you are an architect, builder, or designer, these characteristics give you a number of advantages over previous xenon under cabinet lighting technologies. To begin with you do not have to worry about chasing down fixtures to fit cabinets with custom dimensions or unique specifications. If you will send us your spec sheets or drawings, we can use these as a template to manufacture your under cabinet lights to match your cabinet out so you can install them directly into its structure at the time of build out.
Because our kitchen under cabinet lights are smaller than competing, standard linear lights, they remain invisible from a normal standing or seated position. Your clients will see the light, but they will not see the fixture. This adds value to the work of the interior decorator, who no longer has to worry about his or her work being diminished by extruding equipment. Additionally, our patented new LED light bulb technology is now able to rival xenon in lumens output; yet it is by nature energy saving, and it offers the additional advantage of a cool operating source that can be left on throughout the night without risk of overheating.
As an construction or design professional, one of the most important benefits you will receive from Phantom’s under cabinet lighting manufacturing process is a complete freedom in design options that allows you to specify what you deem fit without having to worry if you can find fixtures to match. We can make them match. More options than ever before exist when it comes to LED color temperatures, and the continued availability of xenon lamps allows you to opt for traditional linear strip lighting sources with the added value of lighting control that can minimize heat and extend lamp life. Adding the “golden touch” to counter tops and back planes can be done with less heat and with extended xenon lamp life thanks to Phantom dimmer technology.
We do, however, strongly recommend you consider the benefits of new, improved LED lamps that can give you virtually the same results—particularly with the warm color temperature of the 2800K. This, along with the respectively cooler color temperature options of the 2950K and the 5000K, will allow you to illuminate virtually any surface in the kitchen.
Call a Phantom Agent for more information on all of these options. We invite you to call toll free 800-863-1184 to request literature online or visit our lighting blog to learn more about Phantom custom low voltage lighting products.
Our cabinet lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas with professional lighting sales agents located throughout the United States that enable us to service all of Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America and the United States including Washington DC, Nashville Tennessee, Las Vegas Nevada. Portland Oregon, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Tucson Arizona, Orange County California, Atlanta Georgia, Austin Texas and Palm Springs California.
Labels: Kitchen Under Cabinet Light, LED lighting products, Low Voltage Cabinet Lighting, Undercabinet Lighting Fixtures, Wireless Undercabinet Lights
Adjustable Cabinet Shelf Lights
Phantom adjustable shelf lights can be used to illuminate any custom creation of an architect, builder, or designer (provided the cabinet or bookcase has a solid back plane). Our custom shelf lighting fixtures are designed specifically for displays with varying shelf heights that are commonly found in collections and private libraries. Library cabinet lighting levels can be fine tuned through dimmer controls to create both functional and decorative lighting effects. Heat sinks and glare shields help bulbs operate at cooler temperatures, extending lamp life and protecting display contents from excessive IR output. Phantom strips can be made with either xenon or any one of three custom LED color temperatures—giving the interior decorator total freedom of choice in selecting a source that ideally compliments artistic lighting interior designs.The amazing range of our adjustable shelf lighting applications that our fixtures can be used for is made possible by several unique and patented features of our custom technology. Because adjustable shelf lights are specifically designed for new constructions, they can be configured and installed as wireless hidden custom cabinet lighting source. This is made possible through a unique combination of patented buss bars, brass metal shelf supports, and brass contact pads connected to the linear strips themselves. Installing this proprietary technology takes only a few simple steps.
Custom Phantom buss bars are custom cut to the vertical height of the cabinet so they can be installed in routing on either side of the case. Each buss bar has screw holes located a regular intervals so metal shelf supports can be affixed to them at any desired height. The adjustable shelf linear lighting strips attach to the forward bottom of each shelf, concealed behind the reveal. Contact pads connected to the lighting strips complete the circuit when they are laid on top of the shelf supports. This wireless, low voltage circuit is thus completed using a few pads and screws making simple touch contact with one another—completely replacing the need for internal or external wiring with ingenious Phantom innovation.
If you are a collector, this gives you a tremendous freedom for setting up your display any way you choose to do so. For example, if you are collecting antiques of different types, you will no doubt need to vary shelf height to create variable display spaces to accommodate differently sized objects. The same could also hold true if you are an avid collector of hardback books. Rare prints and first editions will invariably feature different spine lengths, forcing you to adjust your shelving height accordingly. With in cabinet lighting strips that do not require rewiring the entire cabinet, you can do this in minutes without the help of an electrician, and at no risk of electrical hazard to yourself.
If you are a contractor responsible for building display cabinets and libraries for custom homeowners, consider the benefits you can pass along with adjustable LED shelf strip lighting that is not only easy and safe to manipulate, but also generates a superior quality of light than competing, standard fixtures. Our patented strips are made with glare shields that direct light downward and backward from a concealed location beneath the front of the shelf. This creates a more even distribution of light on book spines and collectibles, and it more effectively fills cabinet space with a warm, decorative, luminous aura.
Color temperature ranges include new 2800K LED festoon lamps, which emit a warm color tone that very closely approximates that of xenon. Adjustable shelf lights can also be built with the slightly cooler color temperatures of 2950K and 5000K. Xenon is also still available through special order, and even though it represents a traditionally shorter-life lighting source known to generate a great deal of heat, these negatives can be offset with heat sink technology that dissipates the heat away from contents, and from dimmer controls that allow wattage to be reduced to conserve both power and lamp life.
Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. Feel free to contact us toll free at 800-863-1184 for assistance on strip lighting or fine art lighting projector equipment.
A network of nationwide distributorships and Phantom lighting sales reps fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer sales representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Labels: light shelves low voltage, Phantom shelf lights, shelf light, shelf lighting, shelf with adjustable lights
Friday, April 17, 2009
Private Library Display Shelf Lights
Library shelf book lighting is often very different from display and cabinet lighting. Private libraries tend to feature shelving units that are much taller than collectible displays and storage cabinets. They also tend to be highly decorative in nature to better showcase collections of books. Only the finest woods, staining techniques, and finishing methods are used in their construction. Shelves must be easy to adjust, because different groupings of books may feature different spine lengths that require library shelving heights to be adjusted to their dimensions. Lighting such an environment effectively requires a shelf lighting strip that will compliment the aesthetics of the bookshelf and facilitate unencumbered repositioning of shelves at will.Mill workers can more easily achieve these objectives with library shelf lights that are built into the bookshelves at the time of construction. Attempting to retrofit fixtures to a cabinet that has already been constructed seldom generates satisfactory results. Finding a fixture that will precisely match the dimensions of custom library display bookshelf often proves a time-consuming challenge. Even if such a match is located, lights and wiring are also difficult to conceal, and the value of the presentation is diminished as a result.
Phantom library shelf lighting fixtures are engineered in anticipation of all these concerns and provide a flexible alternative to the cumbersome challenges of forcing a generic fixture fit on a high-end cabinet build out. These cabinet lighting systems are built to the exact dimensions of each library shelf and are powered by wireless technology built into the bookshelves themselves. Rather than requiring our clients to devise time-consuming and awkward strategies for concealing long wire runs, we use buss bars that are installed in the vertical walls of the cabinet to deliver power to the strip lights. Each buss bar is cut to match the vertical height of the bookcase on either side and is made with multiple screw holes that allow metal shelf supports to be mounted at any desired height. Contact pads affixed to the under surface of each shelf complete the circuit when the shelf is laid on top of the supports.
Because our library shelf lighting solutions feature a low-profile design that operates on an adjustable, wireless platform, the aesthetic results our fixtures can produce are far superior to competing, generic cabinet lighting fixtures. The fixtures are small enough to be concealed behind shelf reveals, providing a hidden light source that emanates light downward and backward over book spines. They are also completely dimmable, allowing collectors to raise lighting levels to search for books, and then reduce illumination when low-level, decorative lighting is desired.
Phantom library shelf lighting can be ordered in a variety of color temperatures that compliment a wide range of wood types and finishes. Our patent-pending festoon lamp design enables us to replicate the quality of xenon lighting with LED 2800K lamp technology that is much safer than incandescent technology when it comes to lighting old and rare books. As a light source the outputs no heat and no ultraviolet radiation, an LED lamp can be left on indefinitely with minimal power consumption and no risk of damaging book collections.
Call us today for more information on cove lighting design in commercial and residential interiors. Our lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and United States lighting sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL), Orlando, Florida (MCO), Santa Monica, CA, (LAX) Columbus, Ohio (CMH), (LGA) New York, NY, (JKF), St. Louis, MO, Detroit, Michigan (DTW), Madison, WI (MSN), San Francisco, California (SFO), and Omaha, Nebraska (OMA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
We invite you to contact us at 800-863-1184 to obtain more information. You can also visit our mobile website, lighting supply page or read through the many informative summaries and frequently asked questions located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products.
Labels: Bookcase Cabinet Lighting, Illuminating Bookshelves, Library Shelf Lighting, Lighting Book Collections, Private Library Display Lights










