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VOLT Lighting vs AMP Lighting

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2.8K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  starry night  
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#1 ·
I'm a homeowner looking to install a small color changing system (6 spotlights). I've already engaged a contractor who uses CAST Lighting. The output on their spotlights are too low and super expensive!

He says I can purchase any system and he will install. I've settled on VOLT's RGBCW line. Are there big advantages of going with an AMP system over VOLT? I hate to abandon someone I've already engaged, but if an AMP professional is going to give me a better overall system, I might consider.

If this is proprietary information and you can't share, that's fine, I just thought it was worth asking. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
No real advantage. The one thing I'll say in defensive cast as they make a really good product and I'm not familiar with their color change system, but when one of their lamps goes out, it's just a matter of changing the lamp and when volt or amp integrated lights go out you have to cut the fixture out and replace the whole fixture which will not be as much fun as just changing a lamp. If cause this an issue, there's lots of other brands too that are not as expensive as cast. Cast is 100% American made and I would say they're on the high end of things. Good product though.
 
#3 ·
Gosh. Lots to unpack here. There is so much more to your questions than you know. Volt and Amp products are mostly alike with exceptions. The newest generation of Amp color-changing fixtures have replaceable modules so you don't need to throw away the whole fixture if you have a lamp failure. The beam spreads are only two... 38* and 60*. You didn't say what you are lighting but you may want something wider. I dispute you stating the Cast spotlight is not as bright as the Amp or Volt. If you haven't seen them "in action", how are you making this comparison. Do you know that different colors have different "brightness" with the same input? Do you know the Cast has adjustable lumen output.?

And finally, I may be wrong about your contractor but most self-respecting landscape lighting contractors would not install lights provided by the client.
 
#4 ·
This forum was intended for discussion by professionals and that's how it operated for many years. There was an occasional homeowner question and , depending on how it was phrased, some pro might answer. In recent years, most of the pros have left the forum due to a clampdown on any discussion that even bordered on personal controversy.
Which brings me to my post today. This thread started with a reasonable question by a homeowner. So two of us pros answered and then there was no reply from the OP. No further comment. No thank you. No nothing.

Speaking for myself only, I vow never again to offer advice or information to a homeowner on this forum.
 
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#6 · (Edited)
I apologize for the late response. Sometimes I like to wait a few days to see all the answers before responding and make a meaningful response. And I didn't get an email notification either. Not an excuse, I should have checked in anyway. I apologize if you thought this meant I lost interest or was wasting your time. I do appreciate all the feedback!

I also realize this is a forum for professionals (Yes, I read that entire "Do-It-Yourselfers Please Read" pinned post!). Which is why I stated that if you could not offer any advice I would understand.

Back to my questions..

@BrandonV I don't doubt CAST makes a great product. That's what I found in my research and was pleased to see it was American made. However, the spotlight (SBLBTC1) and transformer are significantly more expensive than the VOLT system I was looking at (G5 Infiniti). The SBLBTC1 white peaks at 342lm while the VOLT is 780lm. I may not even need that, but it's nice to know it's available.

@starry night I am lighting two trees out front and the front facade of my house (two 12' sections to the left and right of the porch). The house is 16' tall. You're right, I have not seen them in action. I was going on the lumen output and yes I see that varies by color. In general, the G5s are about twice the output of the CAST. Like I said, maybe I'll never need that much output, but it's nice to have. Both systems can dim.

Feel free to write back, or not! No worries. I'm a tech and DIY guy so I used this project to learn something new and be educated when working with my contractor.

I appreciate you!
 
#7 ·
My experience with volt/amp is they make an OK product but I experience a fairly high failure rate on things so I've stopped buying them. I really wanted them to work but it just didn't. Another issue is that it's seems like they design a product line, buy a few containers of them from China and then start a new product line and repeat the process.
 
#12 ·
My experience is that Volt and Amp products are identical and generally sourced from the same warehouse, just that Amp is advertised as the contractor line and is marginally cheaper while Volt is geared toward the homeowner. I have often mixed an matched both Volt and Amp fixtures on a job when Amp was out of stock or limited stock and there was no notable difference.
If my clients want to do their own research on selecting fixtures I always send them to Volt's website because it is much more user friendly for the elderly clientele. Then I just purchase what they want on the Amp website...
 
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