TIPS & TRICKS.

Sound advice from professional to professional – all in one place. Get extensive advice on lighting concepts at any time – including on site!

Correct selection of luminaire types

The application areas for staub designlight luminaires are manifold. To be sure you have selected the right luminaire for the desired location, be sure to carry out a light test. With our demo case you can try out every luminaire before you buy. If you would like to do a light test under water, we will gladly send you a test luminaire.

Correct alignment of the luminaire types

Position the Spotlight, Ultraspot, Maxispot, Megaspot and Gigaspot models in gardens or ponds so that the light does not dazzle people sitting nearby. This means the luminaires should always be directed in the opposite direction to the seating area. Lateral glare effects can easily be eliminated with the corresponding anti-glare tubes or the honeycomb anti-glare louvre (these can also be combined), which we offer as accessories.

Effect LEDs

The lighting produced by our Effect LEDs is most effective if the surface of the floor or wall is as smooth and even as possible. Rough wall plaster or panels with pronounced surface textures are not suitable. Instead, use the HP-LED version for these applications, as the light from these models is reflected much more widely.

Soft light

For very “warm” or “soft” lighting effects, use our filters or frosted-glass lenses. We can install these directly into the luminaire at your request.

Laying the luminaire cables

1. Route all cables from each luminaire individually to the transformer/power supply unit (star set wiring). This shortens the installation time without significantly increasing the material costs.
2. Lay all luminaire cables inside electrical conduits. This will ensure the cables are well protected in the ground. In addition, the luminaire can be easily removed in the event of a problem.
3. For recessed luminaires, a cable loop should always be included so that the luminaire can be easily opened to change the bulb.

Cable connections

1. Be sure to encapsulate all cable connections and cable connectors. This will prevent loose contacts or drop-outs due to moisture over the long term.
2. Always clean the area of the cables to be encapsulated with acetone first. This prevents poor adhesion of the cable in the potting compound.
3. For quality reasons, always use our 2-component express potting compound. Always follow the enclosed instructions to ensure correct mixing of the potting compound.

Installation wrench

We supply an installation wrench as an accessory for the Ultraspot, Maxispot, Megaspot, Gigaspot, Anglespot, Superspot, Cosmospot and Honeycomb Spot. Using this practical tool, any type of luminaire can be screwed tight or unscrewed easily and with little effort. This helps to avoid leaking luminaires due to loose luminaire housings.

Martens protection

Our standard martens protection is cast directly into the luminaire base and has a length of 40 cm. Order a longer martens-protection hose for all situations in which animals may have access to unprotected luminaire cables. Caution: some animals may also dig up buried electric cables. Therefore lay all electrical cables inside electrical conduits.

Cable lengths

The maximum cable length for a light chain or star set on the 12 V AC/DC/24 V DC side, from the transformer/power supply unit to the last light, is approx. 40 metres. To compensate for the voltage drop over long distances, we can equip the luminaires with different cable cross-sections. Another option in such cases is to position the transformer/power supply unit “closer” to the lights. To do so, however, the mains cable (230 V) must be laid in the garden. This mains cable may only be connected by a qualified electrician.

Cables

To avoid physical damage, all cables must be laid in electrical conduits. This also applies to underwater area inside ponds, etc.

Transformer / power supply unit

For safe storage of the transformer/power supply unit in the garden, use a small cement shaft with a drainage bed or one of our ground installation boxes. The transformer/power supply unit can also be installed in an exposed location in the garden, however in this case the cable connections will be vulnerable to martens or other types of physical damage.

Cleaning your luminaires

The luminaire housings can become dull over time when used above water. Use our cleaning and care kit to clean your luminaires. When used underwater, the luminaire housings will become contaminated by lime, algae, etc. Submerge the entire, closed luminaire in a mild descaling agent for 2 – 3 minutes. Then rinse off the loosened dirt thoroughly.

Leaking luminaires

If moisture or water has penetrated inside a luminaire, the cause of the fault must first be determined. If it was not closed tightly enough, it must be cleaned inside and dried with a warm air dryer. Lightly coat any rusty luminaire contacts with an electrical-contact cleaning spray. Check the connection cable for physical damage and if necessary repair it, ensuring that it is once again waterproof.