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Advancements in illumination technology have opened a whole new world of options to interior designers seeking to show their work in the best possible light.
by Mark T. Masciarotte
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08/01/2005
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Despite the long fascination designers have had with light, in
the yacht building world, where electrical issues tend toward the pragmatic, two
primary sources of artificial light ruled the seas for decades: hot-cathode
fluorescent (HCF) and incandescent. In general, HCF fixtures were installed in
the galley, machinery spaces and stores; incandescents were used everywhere
else. With no other attractive options available, designers made do, often
having to compromise between oversized but reasonably good-looking architectural
fixtures and homely utility offerings. During the last 15 years, alternatives
have proliferated, but not all of them are equally appropriate aboard
yachts.
Top: Cordless, battery-operated lamps are no longer limited to
camping lanterns. Bottom: Today, they are stylish and employ LEDs for bright and even
lighting. (Click images to enlarge)
At first, halogen looked to be a panacea. These small,
low-voltage tungsten fixtures originally designed for retail store displays were
embraced by interior designers and their clients, but shipbuilders and
crewmembers soon discovered that halogen lighting has significant drawbacks. The
first is heat, which, in certain cases, elevates room temperatures to a level
that requires increased air-conditioning capacity. A more serious consequence is
the potential for fire unless adequate space is provided between decks to
allow lamp heat to dissipate. As if this was not enough, fixtures need to be
placed carefully in relation to surrounding joinery or upholstery. Locker doors
left ajar in the path of a halogen ceiling fixture, for example, can – and
occasionally have – erupted into flames.
Interior designers can overcome this problem easily by placing
the halogen lamps appropriately in their deck layouts. No amount of space
planning, however, can get around the fact that halogens hate vibration. This is
especially true in high-speed powerboats, where momentary shockwaves migrate
through the interior. The need to replace dozens of bulbs routinely after a
rough voyage becomes annoying and expensive.
A more recent problem plaguing halogens – and their near kin,
xenon bulbs – surfaced with the advent of computerized lighting controls:
Halogens do not tolerate dimming as well as other lighting sources. Experts note
that only by using electronic lighting control systems that employ soft-start
circuitry can halogen and xenon lamps be powered up slowly enough to protect
their filaments. Limiting power to 0.5 volts below the optimal 11.2-volt level
will potentially double the life expectancy of 12-volt lamps.
Top: Most lighting designers "layer" lighting, using a combination of
uplighting, down-facing recessed lighting and lamps, as in Phoenix’s
dining area. Photograph by Stéphane Bravin. Bottom: Note the LED rope lighting used on the staircase of
Asean
Lady. Photograph by Kevin Miller. (Click images to enlarge)
One of the newest applications finding favor aboard yachts is
cold-cathode fluorescent (CCF) lighting, which employs tube-style lamps that
operate much like common hot-cathode fluorescents, but with significant
advantages. CCF can be obtained in a variety of colors. In addition, these lamps
can be dimmed and will tolerate shock and vibration, giving longer service life.
CCF does not require high voltage ballasts like those needed
for neon or metal halide. For this reason, CCF has found its way into a number
of applications where it has replaced neon’s colorful glow. Indeed, one of these
applications, known among computer gamers as "modding," has helped push the
technology to the extent that options such as sound-operated lighting are now
readily available. If you are having trouble conjuring an image, think Van Halen
concert-style light show changes produced from systems small enough to fit in a
computer case, giving a whole new meaning to the term "mood lighting."
Fifteen years ago, fiber-optic lighting made its entrance into
yacht design circles, quickly becoming the darling of the interior design
industry and appearing in carpets and overheads. Recently, however, except for
lighting nameboards, fiber-optic lighting has been under-utilized despite having
numerous benefits. First, one projector – a very high intensity halogen lamp
safely mounted in a ventilated case – can provide light to a number of fixtures,
which can be quite small and easily hidden. Second, except for the projection
lamp, there is no heat from the fixtures. Third, the fibers can be arranged to
provide a variety of configurations, ranging from pinpoint sources that can be
woven into textiles to larger bundles that can be used in place of incandescent
rope-lighting for use under toe kicks or behind valences or shoji screens.
Fourth, because the fibers do not conduct electricity, they are extremely safe
for use in wet environments.
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