General:
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How does a Solatube work?
Solatube captures light through a dome on the roof and channels it down through our patented internal
reflective system. This tubing is far more efficient than a traditional drywall skylight shaft, which can
lose over half of the potential light. The tubing will fit between rafters and will install easily with
no structural modification. At the ceiling level, a diffuser that resembles a recessed light fixture spreads
the light evenly throughout the room.
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How does Solatube's light output compare to electric lights?
Light is measured in lumens and energy usage in watts. A standard 100 watt incandescent lamp
produces 1200 lumens. A 40-watt, 48" (1.2m) fluorescent tube produces 2300 lumens.
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Product
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Relative Light Output (lumens)
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Electric Lamp and Fixture
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| 14" (350mm) Solatube Brighten Up Series (a) |
6,000 Avg. Lumens(b) |
Up to 9,100 Approximately equal to usable light output of 1 fixture using (3) F032T8 fluorescent lamps.(d) |
| 10" (350mm) Solatube Brighten Up Series (a) |
3,000 Avg. Lumens(b) |
Up to 4,600 Approximately equal to (3) 18W quad-tube compact fluorescent lamps. (d) |
a. Solatube relative light output based upon 30" (76cm) tube run for the 21" (530mm) Open Ceiling SolaMaster product. Maximum and average values achieved over the peak 2,400 annual daylight hours for San Diego, California TMY2 Weather Data.
b. Solatube relative light output based upon 6' (1.82m) tube run for 10" (250mm) & 14" (350mm) Brighten Up and 21" (530mm) Suspended Ceiling SolaMaster products. Maximum and average values achieved over the peak 2,400 annual daylight hours for San Diego, California TMY2 Weather Data
c. Assuming a typical high-bay fixture efficiency of 90% and a mean lamp lumen output of 25,000 lumens.
d. Assuming a typical loss factor of 0.75, excluding additional efficiency losses.
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What is a tubular skylight and how does it compare to a traditional box skylight?
Traditional skylights have their place, as do tubular skylights. There are a few key
benefits of tubular skylights, however, including flexible location options, low cost of
installation and better lighting performance.
- Location
Tubular skylights can be installed in places where a traditional skylight wouldn't be an option,
such as rooms without direct roof access or small areas like bathrooms, closets and hallways. The units
are compact in design (as little as 10 inches, or 250mm in diameter) and feature adjustable tubing with
angle adapters that allow for installation around attic obstructions.
- Light Output
Tubular skylights are able to accomplish better lighting performance results than a
similar size box skylight, because they don't use a skylight well (in which light is lost
through absorption into the drywall shaft). They capture light more effectively on the
rooftop and efficiently transfer more of it down the reflective tube and into the room.
Additionally, a tubular skylight provides better light diffusion. Instead of lighting
only the space directly below the skylight, a tubular skylight uses optics to spread the light
out, often lighting the entire room.
- Lighting Enhancements
Traditional skylights do not offer any optical enhancement devices to help increase performance. On the
north side of a sloped roof, the light output from a regular skylight is significantly reduced without these
devices.
The Solatube tubular skylight, for example, features several proprietary enhancement devices, which
work in concert to capture more light from all angles and reflect it down the tube for higher light output
during early morning, late afternoon and in the winter months when the sun is low on the horizon.
The Solatube transfers the maximum amount of ambient light into a room with minimal light loss,
allowing it to provide great performance even on cloudy or rainy days. In fact, it captures ambient light
so well, on a full-moon night, you can actually see a nice glow.
- Cost
The cost of a tubular skylight is more affordable than most traditional skylights. Remember,
the cost of the traditional skylight is only a portion of the total materials cost. One must also
add in the cost of framing members, paint, drywall, etc. Then, labor becomes a very large portion
of the cost because a contractor must frame out the skylight shall, drywall it, tape it, then paint
it.
- Leaks
Traditional skylights have a reputation of leaking. Many times this is an issue of incorrect
installation, but their square design invites problems. First, the fiat up-slope side collects
branches, leaves and other debris, which interferes with proper drainage. As the water dams up,
it migrates under shingles or tiles to find an escape route, causing leaking.
The round design and one piece flashing system of the tubular skylight allows water and
debris to flow past unobstructed. The entire unit is sealed to lock out any moisture.
- Options
Tubular skylights can also be multi-functional. Tubular skylights like Solatube can be
equipped with options like an integrated electric light (for night-time lighting), A Daylight
Dimmer to turn the natural light off, as well as a ventilation fan, providing a two-or three-
in-one unit from a single ceiling fixture. Again, traditional skylights can't offer you these
features.
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- How large an area does the Solatube light?
A 10" (250mm) Solatube will provide light for up to a 150 square foot (14 sq meter) residential area. A 14"
(350mm) Solatube lights up to a 250 square foot (23 sq meter) residential area. A 21" (530mm) Solatube lights up
to a 400 square foot (37 sq meter) residential area. For Commercial Building applications, please consult a
Solatube design professional, since acceptable illuminated areas will greatly vary due to ceiling heights and
space uses
These estimated lighting areas are based upon an average 6' (1.82m) tube length and 8' (2.4m) ceiling
height, with the dome being in direct sunlight.
Light output will very depending on the intensity of the sun. For example, there will be more light at
mid-day than in the morning or evening. Light output may also decrease as the length of tube increases.
- Do Solatubes leak?
Solatubes' circular one piece seamless flashing design allows rain and debris to bypass the
skylight naturally.
Solatube flashings have no joints or weak points that may separate and allow water to
enter.
- Is a Solatube difficult to install?
Both 10" (250mm) and 14" (350mm) Solatubes fit easily between roof rafters with no structural
changes, so there is no need to build a skylight shaft. Our adjustable tubing design includes two
Spectralight® Delta angle adapters that allow installation around attic obstructions and
Spectralight® Infinity extension tubing in 16" (400mm) and 24" (600mm) segments. All designed
to telescope together for easy installation with no cutting necessary.
Zip Ties: Probably the most appealing and time saving feature. This patented system
locks the ceiling ring to the ceiling. This allows for the entire lower component and the
Solatube to be installed without needing to enter the attic.
- Can I install a Solatube myself?
Installation of a Solatube is very easy. An experienced contractor or handyman can do it in a few hours.
Solatube is designed with a patented fastening and telescoping tube system that virtually eliminates
the need to enter the attic. Additionally, many components are pre-assembled at the factory for minimum
assembly time.
- How long does it take to install a Solatube?
Approximately two hours or less on shingle asphalt roofs, while other roof types may take slightly longer.
Solatubes feature factory assembled parts for faster, easier, more professional looking installations.
- Will my clothing or furniture fade?
Solatubes will not cause fading. The acrylic dome filters all but 0.1% of UV, then all but 2.4% of
that is filtered by the diffuser. So over 99.9% of UV is filtered out.
- What is Spectralight® Infinity?
Proprietary Spectralight Infinity tubing provides up to 99% total reflectance and 99% specular
reflectance. It is the most reflective material on the world market today and is used on all
Solatube skylights.
- What is the LITD® and Raybender® Technology?
The 10" (250mm) and 14" (350mm) Brighten Up® Series Solatubes feature the patented Light Intercepting
Transfer Device (LITD). Working in concert with the Raybender Technology (a Fresnel lens system) they capture
more light from all angles and reflect it down the tube for higher light output during early morning, late
afternoon, and in winter when the sun is low on the horizon.
- Will I save energy with a Solatube?
With Solatubes operating during daylight hours, electric lights are off which means no energy consumption.
Solatubes have insignificant heat gain, so air conditioning or heating are not affected. In fact the electric
lights a Solatube displaces add more heat to a room than a Solatube. Alternatively, more heat would be lost
through a small closed window.
- What does the ceiling fixture (diffuser) look like?
All diffusers are designed to be highly attractive and unobtrusive on the ceiling. They
feature a sleek dress ring that transitions the lens to the ceiling with a beveled edge.
The dress ring is injection molded with highly durable white ABS that is also paintable.
The ceiling diffuser lenses. All are made from acrylic and designed to effectively
diffuse the natural sunlight throughout the room.
Flush (Frosted) Diffuser: Is the most popular and comes standard in all Brighten
Up® Series single pack kits. The lens is flat with a small frosted pattern that allows
natural highlights to be transferred into the room.
OptiView® Diffuser: Allows a view of the sky through a series of high-tech radial
lenses. This high-tech lens is highly effective at diffusing light and minimizing glare. The
OptiView diffuser not only looks great but also adds some additional features to the Solatube
skylights that no other product can match. This revolutionary diffuser lens bends the light
exiting our Infinity optical tubing upward approximately 85 degrees which provides much better
light dispersion. The other wonderful feature is that when you look up through the lens you see
miniature views of the sun, moon and sky and of course is Energy Star approved.
- Will I save energy with a Solatube?
With Solatubes operating during daylight hours, electric lights are off which means no
energy consumption. Solatubes have insignificant heat gain, so air conditioning or heating
are not affected. In fact the electric lights a Solatube displaces add more heat to a room
than a Solatube. Alternatively, more heat would be lost through a small closed window.
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