Lighting for menage?

[jonpeters]

Hi all

I've been looking into options for putting lighting into my 60x20 school (when I finally move!).

Various options have been suggested but I quite like the idea of 6 lights per side at the level just below the top fence rail. I like this idea because it is discreet and will be easy for maintenance.

The only question I'm not getting answered is what power rating the lights should be. I'd imagine that 150w is about right (1800w total).

Does anyone have any idea what they use/what I should use?

Regards

 

[Shazzababs]

Don't forget you need planning permission for the lights.

We had real trouble with ours, they insisted on having lights which didn't cause any light polution apart from te area of the arena we wanted lit.

In the end the cost of the ones they insisted we had was going to be more than the cost of the arena, so we never installed them. Instead we have a 'security light' on the end of our barn (doesn't need planning permission) which just happens to light up the arena enough for flatwork.

BTW we have a 25 x 50 and the electrician we consulted recommended 4 down each side.

 

[miller]

Be very aware that lit like that if 2 people in the school together it can make it hard to see

We have floodlights on telegraph poles - Planning were very accomodating as arena next to an unclassified road - shining down - lights only along one side and plenty of visibility even if your wanted to jump

 

[CBFan]

As others have said, it might be better to have say 4 along one side but at a higher level to 'flood' the arena with light... depending on how and where the arena is situated with regards to roads and houses...

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

there was a very thorough article in H&H recently about this, there are about 3 different types of lights with very diff characteristics so try to get a copy. PP often not easy!

 

[NeilM]

Lighting arenas is a very technical thing to do, if you want it done safely.

Planning issues aside you have a couple of technical issues to overcome. The first is the lighting level, or the amount of light that is on the ground, as a comparison, a typical office desk is lit to 500 lux (never mind what lux are) which is the same as an arena used for International level competition. An arena designed for National level comps should be lit to 200 lux and regional comps can be lit to as little as 70 lux.

The next technical tripwire, and one you will come across with very low mounting height is uniformity. An arena on a bright but cloudy day enjoys pretty much perfect uniformity, in other words, everywhere you look, the lighting level is the same. The reason lighting is normally installed at 8, 10 or 12 metres above the ground is because this height allows the light plenty of space to spread out and mix with the light from the flood light next to and opposite it (think shower heads and water as an analogy). If you move the fittings close to the ground, you end up with very bright spots of light and very dark patches between them.

Look to road lighting for a solution. If you travel through roadworks on motorways these days, you will see the side of the road lined with small, low powered fluorescent light fittings. These fittings give a relatively low level of lighting, but the uniformity (which is most important) is very good, so there is an even spread of light.

If you put a 150 Watt flood light at the height of the top rail of your arena, you will just end up with a very bright spot on the ground and you won't be able to see the ground either side, as it will be black. This is because the iris in your (and your horses) eye will adjust for the bright spot, effectively making the ground in the dark spot invisible.

If you want to light from a very low mounting height, I would suggest a little experiment first: Get a couple of five foot fluorescent garage type fittings (just a tube and the gear), put them on a long lead and see how much light they throw across the arena when held at different heights.

Sorry to get so technical, and hope I have not lost everyone, but outdoor lighting is a very technical subject and from my observations, most arenas are appallingly badly lit, both from the users, bystanders and neighbours points of view.

 

[jonpeters]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I now have a much better plan, although whether I'll be able to afford it is a totally different matter.