Phantom Lighting System

Just a few years ago, LED Lamps changed the world of decorative lighting. Previous to the rise of LED lamps, décor always came with a rather hefty price tag. Incandescent sources simply used too much power and cost too much to operate. They also burned very hot and increased cooling costs.

Linear lighting with 5-7 watt lamps will overheat a room quickly. Just one watt of power emits 1 BTU in heat. Multiply that by 5 watts per lamp, and you can see how hot your room gets, and how much extra you have to pay to cool it down.

This all changed when  Phantom LED lamps emerged. LED made decorative lighting affordable. LED lamps use less than 60% as much electricity as incandescent lamps. LED cove lighting fixtures, for example, did not produce heat, but the printed circuit boards that operated them did. Heat was still an issue—even with lamps of less than 5 watts of power.

Phantom Lighting’s new LED replacement festoon lamp now introduces a new generation of decorative luminance that requires less than 1 watt of power. The heat output is negligible and offsets the cost of cooling the room. Phantom is able to create this savings curve without sacrificing quality. Our 6-bulb design emits plenty of light in a 120 degree pattern of distribution and a better blend of color temperature.

Phantom lamps are engineered to retrofit a wide range of linear strip lights made by a diversity of lighting manufacturers. You only have to remove your original festoons and replace them with Phantom LED lamps. Our technology will adapt to 12V or 24V magnetic transformers, so you do not have to rewire your existing book lighting, cabinet lighting, or cove lighting system. You can also use our LED strip lighting lamp technology for certain nautical lighting, aviation lighting, and under the cabinet lighting applications.

The light output from our festoons is unrivaled in our industry. Most competing festoon designs rely on 5mm, “Toppled” LEDs. A single one of these bulbs only emits 1-1.5 lumens. The most you can expect is 10 lumens total output. This is far weaker than incandescent and xenon and often causes a homeowner or procurement manager to invest in older technology that is inefficient—just to have more light.

You don’t have to make this compromise with Phantom. Our LED festoon lamp emit 5 times the light as other festoons-- equivalent to traditional lamps. With our LED lamps, you can have the same lumens output as incandescent and xenon without the additional costs.

Phantom energy saving LED lamps operate at a CRI of 80 and range in superb color temperatures of 3500K, cool white 5000K, and 2700K. They also have a 50,000 hour average lamp life as compared to 7,500 hours for incandescent lamps and up to 20,000 hours for Xenon festoon lamps.

We have knowledgable lighting sales representatives in the following regions:

United States Lighting Agents - Lighting Sales Representatives

Mexico Lighting Agent - Lighting Sales Representative

South America Lighting Agents - Lighting Sales Representatives

Central America Lighting Agent - Lighting Sales Representative

Canada Lighting Agents - Lighting Sales Representatives

Our LED lighting fixture manufacturing facility is located in Houston Texas. We invite you to contact us direct at 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on our LED lamping options. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed, view an LED brochure, check out our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our Phantom Lighting blog.

What types of businesses benefit the most from LED cove lighting?
Generally speaking, large hospitality businesses with tall ceilings, long operating hours, and massive square footage receive the greatest financial and decorative returns on their investments. Hotel lobbies look superb with any number of Phantom LED lamp color temperatures. Light output from any of our lamps is equivalent to xenon and incandescent, so the luminance has a good, robust distribution that fills the ceiling area all around the room.

Casinos need both bright lights and specialty lighting to keep the excitement levels high. The money saved on cove lighting with superb color rendering goes a long way to cutting overhead in the gambling industry.

Restaurants, of course, are all about atmosphere and really have to watch their overhead to maintain profits. With new Phantom LED light bulbs, they can count on having the very best in décor, lower cooling cost, and spend less money overall on specialty lighting. All of this ultimately means greater attraction factor for customers as well, because these lights are practically indistinguishable from previous generations of luxury cove lighting lamps.

How are businesses able to save money with LED cove lighting?

There are several ways. The first and most obvious is reduced power consumption. LEDs use less than 60% the amount of electricity than incandescents. Furthermore, the new LED festoon lamps by Phantom Lighting now only require .6 watts of power per lamp. This means there is less than one BTU of heat for each lamp in operation. This drastically reduces heat and lowers electrical cost on air conditioning. Finally, each festoon’s 50,000 hour lamp (that is the equivalent of just under six years of non-stop use), sees to it that you will not have to replace them any time soon.

What types of residential properties can benefit from LED cove lighting?

Any home with decorative ceiling architecture can theoretically benefit from warm, ambient lighting at the top of the wall. The luxury nature of these linear cove lighting strips places them more in the custom home marketplace than the home of average size.

Where can I use these lights?

Places in such homes that can always be enhanced by LED cove lighting include master bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, foyers, and media rooms. Media rooms especially gain a certain magic from the presence of ambient lighting near the ceiling—especially those that are used as home theaters.

What if we already have cove lights?

That’s where Phantom comes in and offers you and advantage other competitors cannot offer. You see, we are not here to insist that your fixtures. Instead, we are offering you LED cove lighting lamps than can be retrofitted to almost any linear fixture you already have in use.

Will these replacements still cost me a small fortune?

No. Provided that you already have more than 100 linear feet of strip lighting, the savings that our LED cove lighting lamps will immediately begin accumulating for you will very quickly pay for the cost of your upgrade. After that, all the money you save will go right back into your pocket.

Do you only sell retrofits?

No. We specialize in custom linear strip manufacturing, so if this is your first time ordering this type of fixtures, let us custom design you an LED cove lighting system that will enhance the ambience of your general lighting throughout your home or business.

Our LED linear 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 subscribe to our RSS feed or call a contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of our accent lighting fixtures for art and display applications. 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 LED cove 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.

What makes Phantom LED Cabinet Lights the best choice for illuminating custom cabinets in new homes?
Three features make linear LED cabinet lights the ideal choice for new home build outs and custom cabinet illumination. For one thing, they are almost completely heat less and can be left on for extended periods of time. Secondly, they require only 20% the amount of power needed by incandescent and halogen light sources. Third, led energy saving cabinet lights have the longest lamp life of any fixture of their kind on the market—approximately 50,000 hours. On the average, they can be expected to last up to 10 years, negating the annoyance and needless expense of ongoing replacements and unattractive dark spots in your kitchen.

LED cabinet lighting is also some of the safest illumination you can use in a custom home. These linear lighting strips feature a unique, patented adjustable shelf wiring method that uses brass shelf supports and buss bars instead of visible, external wires. This system delivers low-voltage current safely and allows the shelf to be adjusted without the risk of short circuit or shock.

Can LED cabinet lighting offer the same quality of luminance and color rendering as fluorescent, incandescent, or xenon bulbs?
Phantom has engineered a replacement LED festoon lamp that is light years ahead of earlier LED technology. Our patented festoon design uses three bubs in close proximity to one another to produce 45-50 lumens of light per lamp. This makes them equivalent in brightness to xenon lamps, with only a fraction of the power requirements. Phantom LED festoon light bulbs operate at 1.7 watts, whereas xenon lamps operate at 5 watts—a clear savings in power for the energy conscious custom home owner.

Additionally, Phantom LED cabinet lighting strips provide a full spectrum of color temperatures that range from the warm white of the 2800K festoon lamps and the slightly cooler 2950K led festoon light bulbs on upward and to the more a more bluish, daylight white at 6500K.

Can Phantom LED Cabinet Light Fixtures be used to retrofit existing kitchens and remodels?
Absolutely. We manufacture a total of six different linear strip models to provide lighting design companies and interior decorators the full gamut of choices when it comes to replacing outdated and worn-out equipment. Phantom Agents, located throughout North, Central, and South America, provide everything from product information and demonstration to customization and ordering services.

For custom homeowners looking to “go green”, or California residents facing legislation that requires replacement of all incandescent strip lights by 2010, Phantom LED cabinet lights offer yet another LED lighting advantage. Generally speaking, most LED lamps are DC-powered lamps. This presents a problem for some users when it comes time to replace an incandescent or Xenon strip powered by an AC circuit. The extra costs of AC to DC conversion equipment, plus additional labor fees, are a needless expense for the client and a nuisance for consultants to justify. Phantom led cabinet lighting strips; however, solve this problem with AC low voltage transformers that power the lamps along existing circuitry.

How aesthetic are the actual lighting fixtures themselves?
Custom home builders must always pay attention to aesthetics as much as function. Since design considerations are paramount to winning a contract, many builders have found that the AC Series (Adjustable Concealed) provides their proposal with both them a leading technical and decorative edge over the competition.

The AC series uses custom buss bars that conduct power to each adjustable shelf, resulting in complete concealment of the wiring. Contractors can custom order an AC linear cabinet lighting strip products with either solid metal trims for horizontal applications that require additional decorative highlighting, or with a variety of specialty trims for custom undercabinet lighting or applications above eye level.

These led cabinet lighting strips lights offer a low profile, near-invisible source of illumination that allows the new homeowner to see the light, but not the fixture.

How much lighting control does the homeowner have over these lights?
All Phantom Lighting fixtures of any kind are completely dimmable and come in many popular trim colors. Regardless of the specific LED cabinet lighting are further engineered for superior optics with advanced glare shielding that directs the light toward the intended subject and away from the viewer’s eyes.

With a generous 120-degree beam spread from each light emitting diode, the resulting illumination easily homogenizes or converges to achieve a continuous linear light source. Ultimately, therefore, wine cellar lighting strips with LED Lamps offer not only an equivalent luminosity to linear incandescent strips, but an infinitely superior distribution system that minimizes the fixture and emphasizes the light.

How can I learn more about your lighting products?
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.

Are your LED lighting strips made in the USA?
Yes, our 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, San Antonio TX, Tucson Arizona, Orange County California, Atlanta Georgia, Austin Texas and Palm Springs California.

A large percentage of lighting users must still rely on AC lighting fixtures because of tight budgets. A progressively minded led lighting manufacturer recognizes this reality when proposing any type of upgrade. Certain key design features have to be incorporated into LED bulbs, lamps, and fixtures in order to create the lighting fixture equivalent of “backward compatibility” that will not impede forward motion and industry evolution. It is by striking this delicate balance with innovative, proprietary, and patented engineering that Phantom Lighting has emerged as a leading contender in an industry that is rapidly expanding its service offerings and adding value to multiple global markets.

These lighting strips advance both decorative and task lighting by leaps and bounds without leaving the end user behind.
There are several key points of differentiation that resolve this apparent paradox, and a brief understanding of how led lamps work will clarify them immediately.

LED festoon light bulbs normally function on Direct Current only and require DC power inverters to make them compatible with AC wiring systems.
This, of course, presents a burden for the end use, which must user now must purchase additional equipment and try to figure out just how to install it without creating a visual nuisance. Phantom coordinates the manufacturing of led lights and linear strip lighting that resolve both of these issues by engineering its products with design features found nowhere else in the world. We design our linear strips with low voltage magnetic transformers that are fully compatible with 120VAC current and eliminate the headache of AC to DC conversion. We also manufacture our led lighting strips to work independently without exposed wiring. Our AC Series adjustable shelf lighting concept is one of the most sophisticated forms of commercial cabinet lighting. It also enables us to manufacture led light strips that are easier for us to have custom fabricated and simpler for our clients to adjust.

We also work very hard to accommodate those who do not have the budget to replace entire lighting strips.
We have perfected a special design that enables us to manufacture led lighting lamps capable of completely replacing incandescent, fluorescent, and xenon festoons on previously installed linear lighting systems. This has resulted in a tremendous cost savings for commercial clients who are looking to obtain LEEDS certification by reducing their wattage per square foot. In most instances now, it is only necessary to replace the lamps without throwing out the strip lights. We not only made this solution possible—we actually patented it. The keys to this LED strip lighting design are the quality of the bulbs themselves and the combined output of three identical bulbs placed in close proximity to one another. This results is a combined output of approximately 50 lumens (the same as that of xenon and incandescent lamps) that easily outperforms the lamps of other led lighting manufacturers that can only produce 10 lumens each on the average.

To our knowledge, we are the only manufacturer of led lighting lamps in the world that can effectively replace incandescent, fluorescent, and xenon festoon lamps with equivalent lumen output. We use the world’s top commercial grade led's and have them installed in our unique festoon lamping design.

Click here to read how our lighting agents offer in-depth consulting for our clients at the point of initial purchase—at no additional cost. Customer service agents are standing by at 800-863-1184 X 125 to answer any questions or assist with your LED Phantom lighting installation.

Without exception, the replacement costs of LED bulbs are much less than those of retrofitting entire strip lighting systems. LED festoons are easy to install and snap right into place without the need of a technician. They will upgrade any linear strip light that operates on 12VAC current. In most instances, it makes more sense to keep your existing lighting strips and simply upgrade them with LED lamps. The following FAQ represents a number of key benefits led replacements pass on to display lighting users.

What is the most important benefit Phantom LED replacement bulbs offer upgrade clients?

The primary advantage Phantom holds over competing manufacturers is our technology’s compatibility with AC incandescent and Xenon strip lighting system. We engineer our LED replacement lamps to work on existing AC linear strips with a compact, easily concealed metal transformer. We also engineer these lamps with a higher quality LED bulb replacement than the type normally found in other lamps. Many low-grade diodes made by our competitors produce dimmer levels of light that sacrifice quality to achieve cost savings. On the other hand, Phantom manufactures a much higher-grade lamp with an output range of 42 lumens on the low end to 50 lumens on the high end. This is 5 times higher than any lamp fitted with LED replacement bulbs.

How do lighting levels produced by led replacement bulbs compare with incandescent and Xenon luminescence?

If you use our technology, the light output will be the same. This is due to Phantom’s unique method used to manufacture low voltage LED lamps. Each unit consists of three diodes placed in close proximity to one another that generate a combined, radiant field of high intensity, low-voltage light. These LED’s are engineered to operate at minimal amperage levels and ultimately replace 5-7 watt incandescent and Xenon festoons altogether. In effect, each Phantom LED bulb replacement constitutes a synthesis of high intensity lighting and low-profile equipment. At only 1.7 watts, a Phantom LED lamp generates the same luminosity as a 7-watt festoon while at the same time reducing power consumption by 400%! This makes Phantom bulbs the preferred LED replacement favored by lighting design firms who wish to maximize aesthetics by minimizing fixture visibility using strip lighting products.

In general, what are the main cost benefits of LED replacement upgrades?

LED’s use less power than all other lamps and produce no harmful UV rays. With only trace signatures of heat, they have become a favorite for commercial lighting displays that showcase sensitive items. A Phantom LED replacement bulb will use only 20% of the energy required by an incandescent bulb-- a significant decrease in power costs for homeowners and businesses alike. At 50,000 average hours, LED replacements reduce lamping cycles over incandescent festoon lamps by 500% and xenon festoon lamps by 200%. It is common for our units to perform consistently at optimal levels for up to ten years.

Are there any other benefits I can expect from led bulb replacement?

If you own a business and are seeking to obtain LEEDS certification, you can lower your watts per square foot calculation by upgrading incandescent and Xenon festoon lamps using Phantom LED bulb replacements. These lamps snap easily into place and do not require a technician to install.

Phantom Lighting Systems is a Houston based lighting manufacturer who specializes in LED cabinet lighting and lighting projectors for the illumination of art. Phantom technology is the ghost of the lighting machine for both commercial and residential clients who prefer to see the light, not the fixture, when showcasing their fine art and prized collectibles, products, and rare books. Phantom manufacturer representatives and lighting agents are available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America. US customers can call toll free to learn more about Phantom Lighting at 800-863-1184.

Is it true that LED’s cost approximately 5 times as much as other forms of lighting?
The initial, front-end cost of LED lamps is indeed 4-5 times higher than other lamps, and they are worth every penny you spend. When you consider the extremely low power requirements of led lamps (only 20% of other lamps) and their extremely long lamp life (50,000 hours), the accrued back-end savings quickly returns the initial investment. Phantom LED cabinet lights can last up to ten years, so you will not need to worry about replacing them any time soon. They are also the safest form of lighting you can use. They produce none of the UV radiation emitted by fluorescent lamps and only trace amounts of heat. This makes them ideal for illuminating any number of sensitive materials and/or items.

I have heard that LED lights are not as bright as other bulbs. Is this true?
It is not true with our LED cabinet lighting strips. While it is true that many generic LED lamps produce only 5-10 lumens each, Phantom lamps produce up to 50 lumens of safe, brilliant light. Phantom LED lighting strips also provide a full spectrum of color temperatures in order to accommodate both functional and aesthetic lighting demands. Warm white (our incandescent equivalent) begins at 2950K and ranges upward to a more bluish, daylight white at 6500K. The mainstay colors that defined the earliest LED’s---green, red, and blue---are also available in similar temperature colors.

What can Phantom LED cabinet lighting strips be used for?
Phantom Lighting technology is designed to add value to both residential and commercial displays across the board. Works of art, exquisitely tailored clothing accessories, and even rare documents in museum displays can all be brilliantly showcased using Phantom LED linear lighting strips. You can decorate virtually any cabinet, cove, or bookcase with our lighting strips. The added benefit of adjustability offers you the freedom to periodically change displays without altering the intensity of the light or damaging electrical components.

Do Phantom Lighting Strips make dependable, retrofitted upgrades for fluorescent, incandescent, and Xenon strip lights?
Yes, and Phantom even offers an entire series of LED cabinet lights specifically engineered for retrofitting. The AE (Adjustable Exposed) series is manufactured to custom fit exposed metal tracks and to use them as power conductors in a complete circuit. This provides the seamless equivalent of a tailor-made product in spite of its function as a retrofit component!

With the growing push for LEEDS certification, and California’s recent ban on incandescent lamps, now is the time to start thinking seriously about retrofitting antiquated lamping technology. Call us for more information, or click here for details on two important considerations you need to take into account when retrofitting any display lighting product.

Do you offer anything for new construction builds?
Yes. Our AC series is the preferred strip light for new cabinet build outs. “AC” stands for “Adjustable Concealed” and combines a low profile, near-invisible source of light that enables the new homeowner or commercial tenant to see the light, not the fixture. Because the AC series employs custom buss bars that conduct power to each adjustable shelf, the fixture itself is completely concealed from the eye of the average viewer. It has become a fast favorite among custom homeowners who prefer pins and drilled holes to exposed metal supports. The AC series can also be special-ordered with either solid metal trims for horizontal applications that require additional decorative highlighting, or it can be custom cut with a variety of specialty trims for custom under cabinet lighting or applications above eye level.

To learn more about Phantom LED cabinet lighting strips, click here to read the full article on the LED Lighting Section of our main website. Likewise, you also contact a Phantom Lighting Sales Representative or contact the Phantom Customer Service Department toll free at 800-863-1184 X 125.

What are some power-saving benefits of Phantom LED lamp technology?
Phantom LED lamps produce far less heat than other light sources and provide a tremendously longer lamp life than their incandescent and Xenon festoon lamp counterparts. Clients with sensitive materials will find an even greater value in the cool burning temperatures of LED lamps. Phantom LED lamps are also extremely versatile and can be used for custom cove lighting, under cabinet lighting, sensitive and/or high-end display lighting, and any other high performance linear strip lighting project.

What wattage low voltage festoon lamps are Phantom LED's designed to replace?
Our LED lamps have been designed as the ultimate technological replacement of 5 to 7 watt incandescent and Xenon festoons. In California, legislation has already mandated incandescent light bulb replacement by 2010, and other states may soon follow suit with similar laws of their own. In the meantime, commercial clients may serve themselves now by investing in Phantom low voltage LED lamps to obtain LEEDS certification in their respective industries. Requiring only 1.7 watts of energy, the Phantom LED lamp will operate on 12V AC and is completely dimmable. This gives it market versatility from a lighting designer’s perspective.

How can Phantom LED festoon lamps be used in residential applications?
Residential clients consistently praise Phantom Strip Lights as the best source of linear strip illumination they have ever utilized to adorn collectible displays, coves in vaulted ceilings, rare books and ornate shelving, and even certain forms of antique furniture. Each Phantom LED lamp in actuality consists of three ½ watt, tight color binning LED’s with a CRI of approximately 80. The combined, resulting output is 45-50 lumens depending on color temperature.

How much heat is created by Phantom LED lamps?
Sensitive objects are perfectly safe when illuminated with Phantom LED lamps, so displays may be left on for extended hours without risk of overheating. This is because Phantom technology is amazingly self-contained. A ribbed thermal design dissipates heat on the backside of the circuit. This not only prevents forward radiation of heat, it also produces the superior conductivity necessary to produce high lumens of output at extremely low wattage.

Can I use Phantom LED lamps in my existing linear lighting system?

Yes, Phantom LED lamps can be used in any 12 VAC low voltage linear lighting system that is designed for use with Xenon or Incandescent festoon lamps. Because the Phantom LED lamps have such a low amperage draw modifying the existing wiring is rarely an issue. As long as you have a 12 volt system with a magnetic (alternating current) transformer, the Phantom LED lamps function as a simple plug and play option.

Where can I purchase Phantom LED lamps in my area?
Phantom lighting is sold through traditional marketing channels throughout the United States, Mexico and Central America. I would recommend that you contact a lighting representative in your area or contact the factory toll free at 800-863-1184 X 125 for a color brochure.