Hi,

after reading a lot of messages on the forum, I'm going to go with the Ideal-Lume Panelight for my Plasma, now I've seen people say that they use two lights (2 lights come in kit) and I've seen some that use 4 (2 kits), is there a formula to use to decide if you should be using 2 or 4 lights?

I'll be going with either a 58 or 68 inch Samsung Plasma.


Thank you.

I think one panel light (two lights) is plenty. You don't want it too bright.

Although Alan will probably jump in at some point, rule of thumb as I understand it is usually 1 for a 60" and 2 for a 70".

hi guys!!
It also depends on how much space is behind the display and what color the wall is behind the display.
Ive seen some larger LCD panels look awesome with 4 lights behind them (one light for each side). Other panels will do just fine with 1 light, behind in the middle.

YMMV.

Gregg

Gregg is right, there is no formula. You could start with the 2 lights that come in the Panelight and get another pair later if you find that 2 doesn't fill the bill. This inquiry really fits better in the sticky thread on bias lighting. There are many users of the technique who monitor that thread. It's always difficult to recommend specifics without knowing a lot about a given installation and room.

Best regards and beautiful pictures,
G. Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.

"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"

I use one idealume and the adjustable filter means you can raise/lower the brightness with quite a bit of range. I have it mounted near the center of the back panel on my plasma....and not only do I not have a suitable place for another...it would be overkill. You definitely wouldn't want to have more than one for a panel smaller than 60"..

I use one idealume and the adjustable filter means you can raise/lower the brightness with quite a bit of range. I have it mounted near the center of the back panel on my plasma....and not only do I not have a suitable place for another...it would be overkill. You definitely wouldn't want to have more than one for a panel smaller than 60"..

Ok I thought two would always be recommended as that is the way the package is sold, I didn't even consider that people were only using one. I'm assuming you are using the Panelight.

I didn't see the option on the website, will they sell you just one at special request?

Came back to edit this post because I see they do offer a one light solution, Ideal-Lume Standard.

Now is this the exact same type of fixture and light that comes in the two light version?

This level of confusion is awfull! Please take the time to study the product information that is provided on our web site!

The Panelight model is designed for wall mounted flat panel TVs, where there is not sufficient space between the back of the TV cabinet and the wall for the illumination to spread out unobstructed. The Standard model is for every other type of installation. We have customers that have told us a single light provides the perfect amount of illumination for a 72" diagonal RPTV in front of a white wall.

Since Rockstead mentioned considering one or two Panelight models in his original post, I assumed he was mounting his planned plasma on the wall. After all, that's what that Ideal-Lume model is plainly designed for.

Thanks for clearing that up, I am mounting on a wall so I guess I know what I'm ordering.


To any users of the Panelight here, do you just manually turn the lights on and off of each fixture, or do most people opt for one of those X10 type plugs and use a compatible remote ot turn it off and on?


Thanks

To any users of the Panelight here, do you just manually turn the lights on and off of each fixture, or do most people opt for one of those X10 type plugs and use a compatible remote ot turn it off and on?
I do it the ol' fashioned way m'self. :)

Thanks for clearing that up, I am mounting on a wall so I guess I know what I'm ordering.


To any users of the Panelight here, do you just manually turn the lights on and off of each fixture, or do most people opt for one of those X10 type plugs and use a compatible remote ot turn it off and on?


Thanks

I went to Home Depot, purchased an electrical box, cord, plug and light sensor - the type that usually is designed for outdoor lights (Be Careful, the inside type sometime limit the voltage to 75% to dim lights - not good for floresent type bulbs). Connected the bias lights to it and placed it in the room near windows that lets some natural light in from the pool/lanai area. The amount of velcro supplied with the bias lighting did not work for me, so I had to get Industrial Strength at HD, and used the velcro strips to experiment blocking various amounts of the sensor until I got it reasonably close to turning on automatically when the ambient light goes low enough - either at dusk or during overcast/rainstorms. Once I was pretty sure how much area I needed to block from the sensor, took the velcro strips off and used old fashion typewriter white out to make it permanant, lol.

During the day, there is enough light from this area that they are not needed for me. Not the $200k Multimedia Room solution, but a perfect solution for me in this room. Of course, in a dedicated PJ Theater, I would not have the ambient light to begin with, so I would do it another way.