Solar Tube...Anyone have them???

[Birvini]

I'm building a house. In my search for new things I found a model home with this Solar Tube. It looks like a can light, but throws off an incredible amount of sunlight through a 12" opening in a ceiling. It works with a dome on your roof, flashing, mirrors, and reflects the light through a tunnel to the room of your choice.

I'm really impressed with the looks, but don't know anyone who has ever used them.


Example:

Before-

[image]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v105/mgmsrk/HPIM0680.jpg[/image]


After-

[image]http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v105/mgmsrk/HPIM0785.jpg[/image]

Anyone have any experience with them???

[McGuireV10]

No experience, but the builder for our new home was suggesting we consider them. I went to a model home they built and was shocked at how much light they produce from such a relatively small tube. (The ones I saw were the largest, I think 18 inches in diameter.)

We'll probably use them in places like the guest bathroom. If they turn out to suck, it's actually not that expensive to have a regular skylight cut into the roof.

[Denny Wagner]

I wsaw one in a model home in Florida....and it really put out a lot of natural light!!

[sundiego]

I have 3 of them, recently put in. They are great, especially for bathrooms, hallways and dark rooms.

[_Mark_]

What's it look like on your roof though? It sounds like light is being condensed down into the tube - sort of like ants under a magnifying glass.

[sundiego]

I have them on the back of the roof, just clear plastic domes. The light is reflected and then goes through a diffuser, so it isn't harsh.

[Roadkill]

My friend has em.. they work great!