PROPER INSTALLATION OF FLEXTAPE Please understand that the occasional customer reporting FlexTape that won’t stick does not mean that we have a defect. In fact, we will not even entertain the notion unless there are several reported within the same date code. Please do not ask us to explain “why the FlexTape is falling off” for a particular customer. They likely have tried to adhere it to a surface that is too rough, or they did not apply it properly. Or it just a surface that is unfriendly to tape. Here are some installation tips: 1.
Turn lights on for 10 min. before adhering to surface. The heat strengthens the bond.
2.
Clean the surface thoroughly. Denatured alcohol is best.
3.
Firmly press down on the tape to the surface. Don’t press on the diodes, but apply strong pressure on the tape in between the diodes.
Also please keep in mind that we now carry rolls of VHB (very high bond) Tape from 3M. This double-sided adhesive is for adhering FlexTape to rough surfaces when the adhesive backing on the FlexTape is not strong enough. VHB Tape is part of the new Tools Of The Trade Series. The rolls are 34 meters long. Part #: L-VHBTPE-1134-1
DC POWER SUPPLY ISSUE In recent weeks we have discovered a minor defect in some DC power supplies which causes the lights to strobe. Currently the defect rate is only about 1/300, and is mostly isolated to the 60W model. Due to the small defect rate, this does not call for a full recall or quarantine. The supplier has assured us that the issue has been identified and corrected for all future shipments. PLEASE remember, however, that just because lights strobe DOES NOT mean that they are defective! Lights will also strobe if the power supply is overloaded! Everyone is still expected to do their due diligence in determining if a power supply is defective BEFORE replacing it for a customer and attempting to return to Tresco.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE UPDATE Now In-Stock: -
VHB Tape for adhering FlexTape or any other Tresco products to rough surfaces (L-VHBTPE-1134-1)
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Mini Flathead for use with DIY connectors (L-MFSCRWDR-1)
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Pin Extractor for removal of AMP connectors (L-PINEXT-1)
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Adhesive clips for wire management (L-WCLP-WH-1)
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Extra mounting blocks & AMP connectors (L-TRANS-MNT-BL-1)(L-MALE-AMP-10-1)
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Class 2 Wire 50’ roll (L-16CL2-WH50-1) & 250’ roll (L-16CL2-WH250-1) l
Coming Soon: - Wire Mold for wire management - #1 Phillips screwdriver - 17/32” Drill Bit for recessing oval controllers - Tool Bag/Kit
**Entire TOOL KIT will be available by early June ($90/ea) (L-TOOLKIT-1)
DATE CODE LOCATIONS
1.5W/3W Pockit (surface mount ring)
Pockit T2 LED (carton label)
Equiline Pockit (side of fixture)
SimpLED (bottom of fixture)
Elli (bottom of fixture)
FlexTape (roll label)
FineLine (bottom of fixture)
18W/60W Power (below label)
T5 LED (side of fixture)
FLUORESCENT POCKIT LIGHTS - The FPOC (Fluorescent Pockit T2) is now obsolete. Customers can no longer order FPOC fixtures. We do, however, still have replacement bulbs for existing FPOC fixtures. We will not re-order replacement bulbs once that stock is depleted, however. - Customers looking for a 120V puck light should be directed to the LPOC (Pockit T2 LED). - CUSTOMER SERVICE: If a customer asks for a replacement bulb for a model YPUCK-A, they are referring to these FPOC bulbs. The part number is: L-FPOC-7WA-XXX-1
TRESCOLIGHTING.COM UPDATE The new Tresco website is now live and fully functional! While all products are not yet visible on the site, we are uploading data and working out the kinks daily. The goal for the site is to be a great marketing and informational resource for us and our customers. It is also a great way for us to make contact with our customers and provide technical support. We receive submissions every day through the site from both current and potential customers, asking for technical assistance and/or information on our products. Please check it out and let us know what you think!
TECHNICAL SUPPORT CALL TRACKING Tresco Technical Support will now be using SalesLogix to track incoming calls. Details from any calls reporting issues or requiring troubleshooting, whether it be from distributor reps or consumers, will be added to the “Notes� for that contact. This will not only make it easier for us to track issues and customer history, but will also keep you (sales & customer service) in the loop as well.
RECENT QUESTIONS Q: “What does it mean when someone asks if a light is 120 Volts?” A: 120 volts (120V) is the standard voltage that runs through the wires behind the walls and through the outlets that power your home. Our power supplies (aka transformers) convert that voltage down to 12V. So when someone asks if a light is 120V, they are asking if it can be plugged directly into the wall (no power supply required). The only 120V direct plug-in lights that we carry are the Pockit T2, 1W Furniture Light, T5 LED, and the Fluorescent T4 & T5’s. The rest of our lights are considered 12V because they are plugged in after the power supply, where the voltage has been reduced to 12V. 12V is much safer than 120V. 120V can seriously injure or kill you if you touch a live wire. You can touch a live 12V wire and not feel a thing. Think of voltage like water running through pipes – it is like the “force” of the water. The higher the voltage, the faster the water (electricity) and the more pressure it is under. 120V is like a fire hose while 12V is like a garden hose.
RECENT QUESTIONS Q: What is the difference between an LED driver and a power supply? A: Many people use the term "driver" to mean anything that drives an LED fixture. UL does also in some instances. However, technically speaking a driver is a device that controls the voltage and amperage. A driver acts as the circuit board for the diode. The light fixture has zero electronics built-in. Everything is determined by the driver. A power supply, on the other hand, does nothing but pump constant voltage to a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture has a circuit board that takes care of reducing the voltage further and determining the correct amperage. The downfall to drivers is they can't handle very many lights. Tresco does not use transformers (except for the hardwire unit). We use power supplies. A power supply has a transformer in it to reduce the incoming voltage from 120V to 12V. But what makes it a power supply is all the extra electronics that then convert the AC to DC and then also keep the voltage constant (this is the issue with the hardwire unit...it doesn't have these extra electronics which is why we need the resistor for the 3W puck). We use I.T.E. Power Supplies. Information Technology Equipment. These power supplies have to be very exact in order to power things like computers.
RECENT QUESTIONS Q: “I'm working with a contractor but had a question on your Pockit LED 1W lights. I plan on having 8 Pockit LEDs in my bookshelf and want them to all work with my dimmable wall switch. I saw I can use the DCMGT60-CON power supply. What else would I need for this to work? Can the DC-MGT60CON power supply handle 8 LED 1W lights? Not sure what accessories are needed for this to all work. Do I then just plug the DC-MGT60-CON power supply directly into an existing AC wall outlet? “
A:
This power supply can handle up to 60W. You must use a magnetic LED-compatible wall dimmer. We offer Lutron wall dimmers in our catalog- they have been tested in our lab and are guaranteed to be compatible with our system. You will also need to order two extra mounting blocks (L-TRANS-MNTBL-1) which is what all of the light fixtures will plug directly into. If the distance from any fixture to the mounting block is greater than 79” (which is the length of the wire attached to the fixture), then you will need a linking cord. This will not plug directly into a wall outlet because it is a hardwire power supply. It requires an electrician for installation. It is also against electrical code to dim a receptacle. The electrician can remove the receptacle, and hardwire into the power supply.