Need help with lighting on diorama (1 Viewer)

[sammy719]

Hi Guys,

I have a 8 ft. curio cabinet that holds my dios in and has one main lighting at the top, but the problem is when the dios were made the base of the dio on the first shelf blocks out the lighting from the one under neith it, so I tried the little round push battery lights under the darkened dio, but it looks tacky, so any ideas if there is a full strip light to but anywhere that would be thin to hide as well as battery operated?? since I can't cut a whole in back of dio to run cord, it's all glass, any help would be greatly appreciated...Sammy

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Hi Guys,

I have a 8 ft. curio cabinet that holds my dios in and has one main lighting at the top, but the problem is when the dios were made the base of the dio on the first shelf blocks out the lighting from the one under neith it, so I tried the little round push battery lights under the darkened dio, but it looks tacky, so any ideas if there is a full strip light to but anywhere that would be thin to hide as well as battery operated?? since I can't cut a whole in back of dio to run cord, it's all glass, any help would be greatly appreciated...Sammy

Good question. It's a common problem with glass shelf cabinets where the shelves are covered by a terrain mat. I am wondering if there are LED strips powered by a tiny battery that can be taped to the underside of each shelf?

Terry

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Sammy, you might want to look at small fluorescent fixtures, designed for cabinets, or also designed to be used in kitchen workspaces, mounted under wall cabinets. Also, you might try the round halogen fixtures, about the size of a hockey puck, that can be mounted under the shelves. I bought a pack at a lighting store, they consisted of three fixtures on one common cord, with a switch. Those have the advantage of being small enough to conceal easily, for the amount of light they can put out.

Hope that helps!
Prost!

Brad

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Hi, Sammy, you might want to look at small fluorescent fixtures, designed for cabinets, or also designed to be used in kitchen workspaces, mounted under wall cabinets. Also, you might try the round halogen fixtures, about the size of a hockey puck, that can be mounted under the shelves. I bought a pack at a lighting store, they consisted of three fixtures on one common cord, with a switch. Those have the advantage of being small enough to conceal easily, for the amount of light they can put out.

Hope that helps!
Prost!

Brad

Are the Halogens battery or plug in?

Terry

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Terry, they came with a plug and switch, and a length of zip cord, about 4'. I suppose it wouldn't be hard to rig some kind of battery pack, though, too.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Currahee Chris]

Great question Sammy!! I am having the same problem myself. I recall seing some fixtures similar to what the Baron said at a Christmas specialty shop. Will watch this thread with interest!!

 

[PJDeluhery]

I had this problem until I met a carpenter that was a train collector! He got me started with minifixtures. They are DC powered (you need powersource somewhere off to the side), and there are many different fixtures you can plug in to light you shelves any way you like, I use mini spotlights. If you are acquantined with outdoor lighting for your house- same principle only smaller. You'll probably need professional installation if your're an electric clutz like me, but its worth it. They're a bit expensive, but considering the value of what they are lighting, they're worth it. You can probably find them in specialty lighting stores - or ask an electrician friend.

I'd cousel against halogen or any other high-heat light source since they can cook (or at least discolor!) your figures in closed cabinets and might (in an extreme case) catch fire if too close to something flamable. We don't need that!

I'll try to find a link to my set online and post it here later.

 

[PJDeluhery]

BTW, you want to light from the side of each shelf and not from the top or bottom of the cabinet. This will prevent figures, mats, etc from blocking the light. My spotlights provide a nice "hot spot" I can direct to the main point fo interest - which I like.

 

[PJDeluhery]

Here's the System I use. It's called under (kitchen) cabinet cable lighting. You string a cable and the fixtures have sharp "V" shaped points that pierce the wire and conduct the current to the bulb. Cable runs the whole right side of my cabinet and fixtures plug into the cable. Whole system is black. The Brand is Ambiance Low Voltage Under Cabinet Lighting by Sea Gull Lighting. If you have opening doors, be sure to allow for room for door to open!!



Link to the system:
http://www.seagulllighting.com/Linear-Lighting.htm

Here's the fixtures I use:
sides: http://www.seagulllighting.com/1549/Ambiance-Low-Voltage-Lighting-9417-12.html
top: http://www.seagulllighting.com/423/Ambiance-Low-Voltage-Lighting-9830-15.html

Cable:
http://www.seagulllighting.com/994/Ambiance-Low-Voltage-Lighting-9469-12.html

Transformer link is also on first link. Bulbs sold separately from fixtures.

OH, BTW, these ARE halogen bulbs, so they DO get HOT. If you plan on leaving them on for a long time, you might be better off with another system.

I've had this system for 4 years or so, and I love it.
Hope this helps.