The Domus SHADOW 2LT Path Spike is a twin-head 12V path and plant spike light 1metre tall, IP65, taking two MR16lamps, in textured black aluminium or 316 stainless steel.

It takes MR16 lamps, not GU10. Our record said GU10 andthat is wrong in a way that matters:

• MR16 is a two-pin 12volt base. GU10 is a twist-lock 240voltbase. They are different fittings at different voltages, and a GU10 lamp will not go into thisproduct.
• If you have already bought GU10 lamps for it, they are the wrong ones talkto us.

And it needs a 12V DC driver, wired in parallel, which is notincluded. This cannot be connected to mains. Tell us how many fittings are on the run and wewill size the driver with you.

What a path spike with two heads actually does

The datasheet describes the intent precisely lighting pathways and plantssimultaneously and that is the reason to choose this over a single-head spike:

• One head down at the path so you can see where you are walking.
• One head into the planting so the bed beside the path is part of thescene rather than a black void.
• Two effects from one spike, one cable run and one position, which is materiallycheaper to install than two separate fittings.

Aim it at night. The split between path and planting is a judgement you cannotmake in daylight.

Choosing the MR16 lamps the whole design decision

Two MR16, 20W maximum each, not supplied.

• Beam angle decides the effect. A narrow beam (2436)into planting gives a defined, dramatic cone up a shrub or a trunk. A wider beam(60) down at the path gives a usable pool. You can put different lamps in the twoheads, and on this fitting you probably should.
• Warm 27003000K in a garden, on both heads.
• LED MR16, not halogen 20W of halogen each is a heavy load on alow-voltage run; a 5W LED MR16 does the same work.
• Check the lamp is rated for 12V DC and for outdoor or enclosed use. SomeMR16 LEDs are AC-only and will behave badly on a DC driver.

Black aluminium or 316 stainless and this one is not just a colour

• Textured black powder-coated aluminium disappears into planting at night,and is the usual choice inland.
• 316 stainless steel marine-grade. 316 containsmolybdenum, which is what gives it chloride resistance, and it is the specification for acoastal garden, a pool surround, or anywhere irrigation water is bore or recycled.A powder-coated fitting in those positions fails at the coating edges first.

IP65, on a metre-tall spike

Dust tight and protected against water jets. Sprinklers, heavy rain and hosing thepath are all within rating. At 1metre tall it stands well clear of a gardenbed, which also keeps the heads above mulch and splash but check it will not be in the way of amower or a wheelbarrow.

The warranty is contradictory. Our record saysthree years; the manufacturer’s own sheet says two. We have notpicked one. Ask us and we will confirm with Domus before you order and we willhonour whichever term is correct.

1,000mm tall, 100mm wide. 12V DC, parallelwiring, driver required and not supplied.

Where it works

• Path edges with planting beside them the job it was designed for.
• Garden beds, borders and shrub groups.
• Coastal gardens and pool surrounds in 316 stainless.
• MR16 lamps, not GU10, and not supplied.
• Needs a 12V DC driver, wired in parallel, not included.

Specifying it

1,000mm tall, 100mm wide, twin head, intextured black powder-coated aluminium or 316 stainless steel.Two MR16 lamps to 20W each, NOT supplied MR16, not GU10; we suggest warm 27003000K 12V DC-rated LEDMR16, with different beam angles for the path and the planting. 12V DC a driver is REQUIRED, wired in parallel, and is NOTsupplied. IP65 dust tight, protected against water jets. Warranty: our record says 3 years, the manufacturer’s sheet says 2 askus.

Supplied and supported by Lights For You.

Questions

Does it take GU10 lamps?

No MR16. Our record said GU10 and that is wrong in a way that matters: MR16 is a two-pin 12-volt base and GU10 is a twist-lock 240-volt one. They are different fittings at different voltages, and a GU10 lamp will not go into this product. If you have already bought GU10s for it, talk to us.

Can I wire it to mains?

No. It runs on 12V DC and needs a driver wired in parallel, which is not included. Tell us how many fittings are on the run and we will size the driver with you the Domus DRIVER-12V-IP67 range is what most of these installations use.

Why two heads?

So one spike does two jobs from one cable run and one position: one head down at the path so you can see where you are walking, and one into the planting so the bed beside it is part of the scene rather than a black void. That is materially cheaper to install than two separate fittings.

Which MR16 lamps should I buy?

Beam angle is the whole decision, and you can and probably should put different lamps in the two heads. A narrow 2436 beam into planting gives a defined cone up a shrub or trunk; a wider 60 down at the path gives a usable pool. Warm 27003000K on both. Choose LED rather than halogen, and check the lamp is rated for 12V DC and outdoor use some MR16 LEDs are AC-only and behave badly on a DC driver.

Black or stainless?

This is not just a colour. Textured black powder-coated aluminium disappears into planting at night and is the usual choice inland. 316 stainless is marine grade the molybdenum in 316 is what gives it chloride resistance and it is the specification for a coastal garden, a pool surround, or anywhere the irrigation water is bore or recycled. A powder-coated fitting in those positions fails at the coating edges first.

What is the warranty?

The two sources disagree: our record says three years and the manufacturers own sheet says two. We have not picked one. Ask us and we will confirm with Domus before you order and we will honour whichever term is correct.

Can it sit in a garden bed that gets watered?

Yes IP65 is dust tight and protected against water jets, so sprinklers, heavy rain and hosing the path are all within rating. At a metre tall it stands well clear of mulch and splash, but check it will not be in the way of a mower or a wheelbarrow.