We get a lot of questions on how to use fiber optic lighting in cove lighting applications. There are a few key things you need to determine before planning cove lighting to help you decide if you want to use fiber optic lighting or led lights in your cove. The first thing you will need to determine is if you want white only cove lights, solid color or color changing cove lights. You will also need to determine if you would like to have your cove dimmable as well. Each one of these choices will change the cost of materials and might actually change the product line you might end up using.

If you choose to have a white light only cove light that is dimmable, we suggest you use the Philips eW Cove Powercore lights. They are brighter than florescent and use energy efficient led light bulbs. If you choose to have a solid color cove light we suggest you use our Flex-Led lights category since it will save you money over fiber optic lighting.

Now, if you want the color changing cove lights, this is where you can choose to use led technology such as is listed in our cove lighting section or use fiber optic lighting. There are pros and cons of using each product and we will try to explain them here. Led cove lighting is typically more expensive, but the led light bulbs are energy efficient and can last a very long time. Led cove lighting is typically brighter, but most people just want to have an accent type of lighting so the fiber optic lighting typically works out fine. Led cove lights can typically change up to 16 million colors and fiber optic lighting can change 4-8 colors depending on the fiber optic illuminator you choose. The led cove lighting requires a power supply and controller that is about the same cost as a fiber optic illuminator. If you want DMX control over your cove, we always suggest using led cove lighting rather than fiber optic lighting. Led cove lighting costs $47-$200 a linear foot where fiber optic side glow cable costs about $15 a linear foot which is quite a bit lower in cost.

Those are the things to take into consideration before making the decision between using led lighting and fiber optic lighting and it is purely up to you when making a decision. So, if you decide to use led cove lights we will be more than happy to assist you in the right kind of led cove lights. If you decide to use fiber optic lighting for your cove, we hope this basic guide will assist you.

You should plan on spending approximately $2000-$4000 for a complete fiber optic cove lighting package. The materials you will need are a 250 watt metal halide fiber optic illuminator and 5/8 inch fiber optic side glow cable and mounting track. You will also need a hot knife for cutting the fiber optic cable when you install it in the illuminator. You will need to plan on where to place the fiber optic illuminator and plan to have a qualified electrician wire power to the fiber optic illuminator. Most people can install the fiber optic cable themselves by either laying it down on a material, using P clips or by using mounting track. You will also need to estimate how many linear feet of fiber optic cable you will need so you can place you order.

If the distance of the fiber optic lighting is 100 linear feet or less, you will need to have one 250 watt metal halide fiber optic illuminator. If the distance of the fiber optic lighting is 101-200 linear feet, we recommend that you use two 250 watt metal halide fiber optic illuminator placed at equal distances apart. If the distance of the fiber optic lighting is greater than 200 feet, then we recommend using multiple 250 watt metal halide illuminators placed every 100 feet.

So in summary you will need to have the following materials:

1. Fiber optic illuminators (250 watt metal halide)

2. Fiber optic side glow cable (SV126)

3. Mounting track for your fiber optic lighting (If applicable)

4. Hot Knife (To make the final cable cut and install the cable in the illuminator)

All of the materials for fiber optic lighting can be found in our fiber optic side glow cable category.