Arcade Lighting Advice

kentmurphy

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Ok guys, I need some advice on where and what type of fluorescent fixtures to place in my arcade. My arcade is about 600 square feet and I intend to install four 2'x2' lay-in fluorescent fixtures in the locations denoted by the red circles on the diagram below.

http://cid-4127ea3a33b50049.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Arcade/basement/basement^_v2^_bl.jpg

The fixtures will contain 2 T8 U-bent fluorescent lights.

Now for the questions.

1. Can you purchase T8 U-bent fluorescent blacklight lights? My Internet searches are turning up nothing. Yes, I will be installing black light carpet.

2. Do you think four 2x2 fluorescent lights will disperse enough light to properly illuminate the carpet?

3. What do you think about the locations I intend to place the fixtures? The locations are primarily dictated by a soffet which runs in the center of the room. Below are some pictures of the room with the drop ceiling installed. I am still waiting on the carpet to arrive.

http://cid-4127ea3a33b50049.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Arcade/basement/IMG^_5534.jpg
http://cid-4127ea3a33b50049.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Arcade/basement/IMG^_5535.jpg
http://cid-4127ea3a33b50049.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Arcade/basement/IMG^_5536.jpg
http://cid-4127ea3a33b50049.office.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Arcade/basement/IMG^_5537.jpg

All feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,
Kent
 
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No advice to give. Just a "wow, that's gonna be a cool place when done" salute to you.
 
My advice would be to avoid the lightning if possible, and if not, then unplug your all your games and electronics, preferably before it hits your place.

No need to thank me.

:cool:
 
ha ... :) ... good call ...

My advice would be to avoid the lightning if possible, and if not, then unplug your all your games and electronics, preferably before it hits your place.

No need to thank me.

:cool:
 
My advice would be to avoid the lightning if possible, and if not, then unplug your all your games and electronics, preferably before it hits your place.

No need to thank me.

:cool:

Damnit, Jim, you beat me to it!

OT: I don't believe they ever made U-shaped blacklight florescents... :confused:

I put 4X 24" blacklight fixtures from Walmart in mine - only $10 each! And it lights it great... And they only take 17 watts. $10 is cheaper than the replacement bulb, hehe.
 
Hey Kent... Room is looking great! I needed the recessed because I'm already dealing with a 7 foot ceiling, but I hated to do it because it would have created a lot of extra work for me. I think the general opinion was that the bulbs for can lighting didn't give off enough light.

I'm actually trying one of the LED panels set up in the corner of the room. It basically looks like about a 15" flat screen TV. I have the light, but can't tell you how well it works yet. The shape of your room would require more than 1, so it might be too pricey of an option for you. Your placement with standard double tube fixtures in place of ceiling tiles would probably be great, and I didn't want to sidetrack you, but just putting another option out there.

I kept adding to my room plans as I went and what started as a 3 week room "freshening" project has turned into a 3 month white whale. ;)

EDIT: I just realized the T8's are standard bulbs (guess the coffee kicked in). I initially thought they were the little ones for the cans.
 
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Damnit, Jim, you beat me to it!

OT: I don't believe they ever made U-shaped blacklight florescents... :confused:

I found one, but it won't fit any of the 2'x2' lay-ins I discovered. It seems these are really designed for bug zappers.

http://www.lightingsupply.com/U3-15T8BL.aspx


I put 4X 24" blacklight fixtures from Walmart in mine - only $10 each! And it lights it great... And they only take 17 watts. $10 is cheaper than the replacement bulb, hehe.

Hmmm ... I couldn't find anything on Wal-mart's site ...
 
Hey Kent... Room is looking great! I needed the recessed because I'm already dealing with a 7 foot ceiling, but I hated to do it because it would have created a lot of extra work for me. I think the general opinion was that the bulbs for can lighting didn't give off enough light.

I have two sets of lights in my arcade. The first set is 9 can lights and the second set is the four 2'x2' lay-ins. Originally I intended to put the blacklights in the 2'x2' lay-ins, but I may decide to put blacklight bulbs in the cans. What do you think about installing the bulb below in the cans? Will it put off enough light?

http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp?intProductID=48356

My ceilings are about 7 1/2 feet high so height is not a problem. I am just trying to avoid surface mount fixtures as I prefer the look of the lay-ins.

I'm actually trying one of the LED panels set up in the corner of the room. It basically looks like about a 15" flat screen TV. I have the light, but can't tell you how well it works yet. The shape of your room would require more than 1, so it might be too pricey of an option for you. Your placement with standard double tube fixtures in place of ceiling tiles would probably be great, and I didn't want to sidetrack you, but just putting another option out there.

I'm not familiar with LED panels. Do you have a link?

Thanks,
Kent
 
... Hmmm ... I couldn't find anything on Wal-mart's site ...

Tell me about it... I was going to post a link, with no luck at all, from their site... Even after searching for the frigging actual part number.

But they do sell them. At least in Phoenix. They are in their general lighting / bulbs section, a complete 24" blacklight unit for $9.89 or thereabouts. And they put off a decent amount of light.

Lowes: Same small florescent tube blacklight type unit: $20. Just a T12 bulb: $20. Walmart wins the "cheap" award that we all love. :D

(And, I couldn't find a decent-looking T12 type fixture with only one bulb.)
 
You need to build a mini stage around that pole in the middle of the room. STRIPPERS!

I actually leave the main lights off and have beer neons all around the room on the walls. Lights it up nicely.
 
I'm not familiar with LED panels. Do you have a link?

Its available on the page you linked, but thats not where I got it. Price is around the same. http://www.blacklight.com/items/CHTFXUVLED

Says it covers a 20'x20' area and my room is like 16x21. I really want the carpet to glow, so I might wind up getting a second one if its not bright enough.
 
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Its available on the page you linked, but thats not where I got it. Price is around the same. http://www.blacklight.com/items/CHTFXUVLED

Says it covers a 20'x20' area and my room is like 16x21. I really want the carpet to glow, so I might wind up getting a second one if its not bright enough.

Interesting ... Let me know how they work out for you ...
 
Will do. I painted today. Carpet is my last major chore. Monday is usually the only day where I have a solid block of time (5+ hours) to work on the room, so progress is painfully s l o w...
 
I got one word for you dude.

NEON!

Just a couple good signs should do the trick.

I have a couple of neon beer signs and do love the glow they put off, but I had the silly notion that I wanted my gameroom to be more like an actual arcade than a bar. I don't recall anything neon in the arcades I was in.
 
I have a couple of neon beer signs and do love the glow they put off, but I had the silly notion that I wanted my gameroom to be more like an actual arcade than a bar. I don't recall anything neon in the arcades I was in.

Do they have black lit neon lights?
 
I have a couple of neon beer signs and do love the glow they put off, but I had the silly notion that I wanted my gameroom to be more like an actual arcade than a bar. I don't recall anything neon in the arcades I was in.

Neon reflects off bezels and pinball glass something fierce too. Gotta watch where you put it.
I know a guy with a sweet Williams pin collection and he buys the later non-neon lit beer signs for this exact reason.
 
Do they have black lit neon lights?

Mine are not... I think its more just the glow the put across the room. I have a red and white Pabst neon that pretty much lights up a room by itself. Just seems to bring out the colors in everything with the lights off, but its a bit overbearing!
 
Mine are not... I think its more just the glow the put across the room. I have a red and white Pabst neon that pretty much lights up a room by itself. Just seems to bring out the colors in everything with the lights off, but its a bit overbearing!

hmmm ... Wasn't planning on one but maybe I should reconsider ...
 
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