Thorlux Smart Lighting

Hants-Spark · Jul 5, 2013

Do any of you have experience in the installation of the above lighting systems??

Rampantchilli · Jul 5, 2013

Yep, not loads but I've done some

Andy78 · Jul 5, 2013

Piece of cake to install, just all plugs in to each other. Thorlux designed, supplied, and comissioned for us, so nothing to do apart from install.

Hants-Spark · Jul 5, 2013

I'm in the process of putting together a quote, they have priced to supply and commission, I was wondering about the wiring, do you loop to each light and come back to a control box from each area and everything is done from their or is it wired as standard 3 plate with the lights having all the components built in and controlled remotely via a controller? Cheers for any advice

Rampantchilli · Jul 5, 2013

The latter in my experience, will need key switches on the perm feeds so you can test the emergencies. In my experience they are simple to install if they are grids, if the are strips, they can be difficult to do on your own, so allow 2 people and probably a tower to be safe. There isn't any remote boxes, unless specific design requires it. The commissioning is expensive so ensure you get it all set up before they come, last job I'd did it was 450 for a day, and the man never did more than walk to each light and aimed his remote programmer, took him about 4 hours, then he told me how easy his job was, I could tell, his PPE was in perfect nick

Darkwood · Jul 5, 2013

I did loads of 600/600 grids the cabling is special design and you can lay it across the grids all loop in and out with plug and socket kits, so all you need is a joint on the wall to wire the first trailing socket from and all subsequent fittings on same switch just link together on second fix.

What fitting are you using?

Hants-Spark · Jul 5, 2013

They have spec'd Viva smart, Jubilee LED smart and some circular recessed LED types. Looking at their quote the commissioning is around £200 but that maybe per day. It could be as you've mentioned Darkwood as they are providing 2m & 4m leads, will be a nice job if we get it, fingers crossed

Darkwood · Jul 5, 2013

They usually come in after job and set up and commission the controls thats what the 200 quid is for ....was several years ago since i did it long before the LED revolution so cant comment any further but the lights with emergency back-up were self testing to reduce maintenance costs in our case.

Hants-Spark · Jul 5, 2013

Sounds like it's reasonably straight forward, onwards and upwards

MDJ · Jul 5, 2013

Hants-Spark said:
Do any of you have experience in the installation of the above lighting systems??

yes so much experience it is coming out of my ears, I have installed hundreds of thousands of pounds of the stuff, whats the first question?

Hants-Spark · Jul 5, 2013

MDJ said:
yes so much experience it is coming out of my ears, I have installed hundreds of thousands of pounds of the stuff, whats the first question?

Hi MDJ, Thanks for the reply, as above I'm I the process of completing a tender for a reasonable sized project, they have spec'd this system type and was wondering how the systems are wired etc so I had an idea on materials and labour costs. Darkwood has mentioned that it maybe wired to on point then they supply joining leads between the lights, looking at their quote for supplying materials this could be the case as they have included a fair few 2m & 4m leads. Is this along the same experiences you have come across??

MDJ · Jul 5, 2013

Yes Darkwood is totally correct, I tend personally to wire to one light via a plug in ceiling rose from 20 amp rated switches, it is usually an emergency and closest to the switches and a 3 core and earth supplied to it from the switch, you may also require a 2 core for a retractable switch for dimming, so 5 cores may be required, keep the 3 core and twin apart as the voltages will be different, and then the other lights do plug into from that first light in sequence, you will need to allow 2 things not mentioned, your time to spend with the Thorlux engineer when he commissions, and your time spending with the client which I call staff training. Otherwise it is actually very simple, it is very likely remote controls will be supplied for the system too, allow for extra batteries and for fixing the bracket for the remote to the wall, silly little things but training the staff and fixing the remote may get you some brownie points, the after service from Thorlux is incredible, but then it should be at their prices ha ha