Topline Group

Category: Lighting

  • Outdoor Lighting Ideas

    Outdoor Lighting Ideas

    Outdoor lighting provides safety and assurance when moving around your property at night, boosts your security by warning off would-be intruders; and illuminates your landscape, showcasing it beautifully.

    Shopping List

    Floodlight | Security light | Lanterns | Bulkhead | Solar powered garden ornaments | Fairy lights

    Floodlights
    The strongest and brightest outdoor lighting option, floodlights are ideal for lighting up large areas well. Ideal for garden parties or working outside, they are a versatile lighting solution. There are many models available with different functions and features, such as motion sensors for instant reaction security lighting, LED bulbs for energy efficiency and fewer bulb replacements, and solar panels. They are also fitted with various types of mounting brackets and many offer adjustable angles to direct the light where you need it, ideal for outdoor uplighting. For lighting large areas well, mount floodlights high up on the nearest wall, pointing downwards. For decorative uplighting, floodlights work great from under trees or along the edge of a driveway pointed up towards the house. Just make sure the light isn’t going to keep you awake in your bedroom at night, make it difficult to drive by, or shine in your eyes as you walk into your house.

    Security Lights
    Built-in sensors detect motion and immediately turn the light on, both notifying you that motion was detected, and scaring away potential intruders by blowing their cover of darkness. They are available in all sizes and levels of brightness to suit any area. Features include: heavy duty covers, extra-long lasting bulbs, high distance infrared motion detectors, adjustable angle mounting brackets, and excellent energy efficiency. Burglars look for homes with little to no lighting, so even seeing this type of light mounted to your property will act as a deterrent.

    Lanterns
    Lanterns combine form and function as a decorative form of lighting. They are the ideal choice for highly visible areas, such as alongside your front door, on the pillars of a gate, or even freestanding on their own poles. They’re also perfect for patios to add charm and comfort for enjoying the long summer evenings. Some lanterns even feature solar panels and movement detectors.

    Bulkheads
    Bulkhead lights are a robust, heavy duty, exterior lighting solution. Often caged and always designed to withstand the elements, a bulkhead light has an industrial look to it. They are a suitable choice for use in areas where other types of lights might be more easily broken, e.g. where sports are played or work is carried out. They are also more affordable than alternative outdoor lights. These wall mounted lamps don’t protrude out as much as other options, making them ideal for areas with limited space.

    Small Garden Accessories
    There is now a wide selection of solar powered garden ornaments that will light up your pathways at night. Providing just enough of a subtle glow to help you find your way, these multi-functional garden accessories range from garden gnomes to glowing butterflies. Some simply sit where they are placed and others are stake-mounted, easily pressed into the soil. Being solar powered, you don’t need to worry about electrical connections and batteries.

    Fairy Lights
    A must at Christmas, outdoor fairy lights can also conjure up a party atmosphere throughout the rest of the year, e.g. at BBQs and get-togethers in your garden. They can be used to make a feature in your garden; wrapped around a tree or an archway for a stylish focal point. You will find our fairy lights in our Home Décor category with Christmas Products.

  • Know Your Light Bulbs

    Know Your Light Bulbs

    Buying a light bulb is not as simple as it used to be. Since 2009, the EU has been phasing out incandescent bulbs in favour of more energy efficient varieties, and technological innovation has also increased the variety available.

    Shopping List:

    • Energy-efficient light bulb

    If you don’t know your watts from your lumens, we’re here to help.

    Cap
    The cap is the metal part at the bottom of the bulb. It connects the bulb to the light fitting and comes in the following four types: Bayonet (BC), Small Bayonet (SBC), Edison Screw (ES), and Small Edison Screw (SES). Before you go light bulb shopping, be sure to check which cap your light fitting requires or bring your old bulb into the store with you.

    Colour
    The colour of a bulb is measured in degrees of Kelvin and you will find this measurement on the bulb and/or its packaging. 2700 degrees Kelvin represents warm white and 3400 degrees Kelvin represents cool white.

    The colour of a light bulb will affect the ambience in the room. Cool white imitates daylight and is most suitable for working environments like offices and kitchens; where as warm white will complement a more relaxing atmosphere, ideal for bedrooms and living rooms.

    Type
    The types of light bulbs available in order of energy efficiency from best to worst are LED, Fluorescent Tube, CFL, Halogen, and Incandescent.

    In comparison to incandescent bulbs, LEDs use 75% less energy and provide up to 25 times the lifespan; CFLs also use 75% less energy while providing up to 10 times the lifespan.

     (excluding spotlights and reflector

    Energy Rating
    You will find an energy rating on the packaging of all light bulbs bulbs). The rating goes from A to G with A being the most efficient, and G the least. CFL and LED bulbs are usually rated A, and incandescent bulbs are usually E, F or G.

    90% of the energy used by incandescent bulbs produces heat not light. Energy-saving alternatives save money by not using up so much energy-producing heat.

    Watts vs. Lumens
    Just a few years ago, the wattage of a light bulb is how you knew how powerful it was and how bright its light would be. This is no longer the case. What the wattage really relates to is how much electricity it consumes, so since the introduction of energy efficiency to the light bulb market, wattage can no longer be seen as a representation of the bulb’s brightness. This is where lumens come in. Lumens are a unit of measurement for the amount of visible light emitted from a source. A 100-watt incandescent bulb will produce about 1600 lumens, the equivalent lumens can be produced from an 18-watt LED bulb.

  • How to Change a Light Fitting

    How to Change a Light Fitting

    You may need to change a light fixture if it has become faulty, or if you are decorating or renovating. It is a simple task once you know the necessary steps. Our step-by-step guide below will help you to safely and easily change a standard ceiling light fitting.

    What you need to complete the job:

    New light fitting
    Insulated screwdriver
    Wire strippers
    Sharp blade (in case there is difficulty removing the old fitting)
    Step ladder

    Step 1: Turn Off Power
    For safety reasons, it is critically important that the power has been turned off at the mains unit before beginning work on your light fitting. Just turning the light switch off is not adequate. Test the light to ensure the power is turned off.
    Ensure that everyone at home is aware of the danger of turning the power back on while you are working with the light fixture.
    Failure to complete this step may result in a serious accident during the installation process.

    Step 2: Remove Light Cover & Note the Wiring Layout
    Remove any light bulb(s) from the current fitting and carefully remove the light fitting cover to expose the wiring inside. Mark each wire so they can be replaced in the same position in the new fitting. Taking a quick photo on your phone is another handy option. This will make wiring the new fitting easier.

    Step 3: Remove Wiring
    Using an insulated screwdriver (also known as an electrician’s screwdriver), unscrew each of the wires from their terminals.

    Step 4: Unscrew Mounting Plate
    If your light fitting is secured by a mounting plate, loosen and remove the plate.

     

    Step 5:. Replace Wiring
    If there is any obvious heat damage to the wire ends, cut off the damaged end of the wire and then strip back a little insulation. This will expose enough of the copper to secure it to the new base successfully. Using your previously marked wires, replace them in the same position as before.

    Step 5:. Replace Wiring
    If there is any obvious heat damage to the wire ends, cut off the damaged end of the wire and then strip back a little insulation. This will expose enough of the copper to secure it to the new base successfully. Using your previously marked wires, replace them in the same position as before.

    Step 6: Replace the Cover & Fit Bulb
    Once the wiring has been replaced, screw the cover back in place and fit a light bulb. Turn the electricity back on at the mains unit and test your work by switching on the light. Well done, you have now successfully replaced your light fitting.