Forums >> Revit Systems >> Technical Support >> custom light fixture, Revit 2009

sms74

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Joined: Mon, Jun 30, 2008
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I am trying to build a custom light fixture in Revit 2009. No matter what I try I cannot get the light to render at all. I am not using one of the light  sources that Revit offers (point, line, plane, etc) but rather I am trying to create an object that is a light source itself. I create an extrusion, define the parameter as a light source, and have tried making the material glass, a light source, even one of the LED's, yet when I try to render it, nothing shows up.

 I made sure to put the light into a group of working lights as well, all the other lights work, my custom one does not.

 Also, when I try to use a generic light source behind the fixture, I don't get the desired result - a line source, and even a plane source produces what appears to be a point light. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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jlights

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Joined: Tue, Dec 18, 2007
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I'm doing custom fixtures too, and here's what I've learned that may help:

1. You should start with the lighting fixture template that comes with the program. From what you are describing, it sounds as if you are trying to reinvent the wheel- perhaps not, but make sure you start here, as these templates come with the light source built into them. When you assign the ies file to the fixture, it will "know" what kind of light source it is.

2. right click the light source object, go to element properties, and make sure you have photometric web selected. That's the only type that will render.

3. In your fixture family, make sure you assign your fixture the correct IES file. If you don't have the manufacturer's IES file you can use another one from a similar fixture. No ies file, no light from the fixture. The ies file tells Revit how to distribute the light.

4. you need to extrude the different parts of the fixture separately- if you make one extruded solid, your light source will not be able to shine outside of the fixture. You don't have to draw a lamp (light bulb)- the ies file is a "virtual" lamp in the fixture family. You do have to have a translucent lens or open face on the fixture- some place from which the light can emanate.

5. Look at different views of your fixture family to make sure the light source is pointing in the right direction. If you have a troffer with the light source pointing up or to the side (Revit isn't smart enough to figure this out without you telling it which way to send the light), that can cause problems as well.

Hope this helps. 

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jlights

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jamaicabraden

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Joined: Fri, Mar 11, 2011
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im not very techy when it comes to custom light fixture, but thanks to jlights for the complete info since i'm experiencing the same problem with sms74, thanks for the info!

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Hinkley Lighting 

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