I will go out on a limb here (pun intended) and suggest that I have more tree mounted downlights installed than any other contractor who participates on this forum.
I have tried so many fixtures for this application it would make your head spin. For the most part they ALL have failed for one reason or another. The CAST Treelight CCTL1C is the best product I have found yet.
Alan, I would strongly recommend you do not remove the lens from your planned tree light. Around these parts we cannot use an open fixture as we get all sorts of bugs, esp. catapillars, moths, and other cocoon type insects that love to establish themselves in the fixture / shroud if they can. Also, if someone wants to use LED MR16 lamps in the fixtures they really need to be kept as dry as possible. An open fixture will allow rain / snow that is whipped up by the wind to contact the lamps. (this will also shorten the life of Halogens)
As for lamps, I have only used 35W FMW on a couple of occasions when the ambient light dictated the need for a brighter effect. 20W BAB and 3000K45 Deg LED MR16s are my lamp of choice for over 95% of my installed fixtures.
Remember guys... "the higher the light the closer to God" I try to stay above 30 feet always.
If you would like to pick my brain on your new fixture, give me a call when I get back to my office.
I have tried so many fixtures for this application it would make your head spin. For the most part they ALL have failed for one reason or another. The CAST Treelight CCTL1C is the best product I have found yet.
Alan, I would strongly recommend you do not remove the lens from your planned tree light. Around these parts we cannot use an open fixture as we get all sorts of bugs, esp. catapillars, moths, and other cocoon type insects that love to establish themselves in the fixture / shroud if they can. Also, if someone wants to use LED MR16 lamps in the fixtures they really need to be kept as dry as possible. An open fixture will allow rain / snow that is whipped up by the wind to contact the lamps. (this will also shorten the life of Halogens)
As for lamps, I have only used 35W FMW on a couple of occasions when the ambient light dictated the need for a brighter effect. 20W BAB and 3000K45 Deg LED MR16s are my lamp of choice for over 95% of my installed fixtures.
Remember guys... "the higher the light the closer to God" I try to stay above 30 feet always.
If you would like to pick my brain on your new fixture, give me a call when I get back to my office.
