Solid copper is the one that changes the most. Havit’s own datasheet does not describethe colour as copper it describes it as “copper (will age over time)”, which is unusuallyhonest for a spec sheet. Out of the box it is bright and pink; within months outdoors it deepens to awarm brown, and given years and moisture it heads towards the green-grey of an old roof. If thatprogression is what you want, nothing else in the range does it. If you want a fitting that looks the samein five years, buy the aluminium or the polycarbonate version this one is bought precisely because itdoes not.

One thing to know before you install it

Havit’s installation sheet is specific: “When installing copper fittings, gloves must be worn toavoid any oils transferring to fitting.” Fingerprints on new copper oxidise faster than the metalaround them, so a fitting handled bare-handed can carry visible prints for its first season. It costsnothing to avoid and it cannot be undone afterwards.

This is a 12 V fitting, and two conditions come with that

Tivah runs on 12 V DC from a suitable 12 V DC LED driver. Its installation sheet doesnot hedge: “Use an appropriate 12v DC LED Driver DO NOT CONNECT LIGHT FITTING DIRECT TO 240V.”Two further conditions are stated as warranty terms rather than advice the fitting must sitno more than 25 m from its driver, and the supply must staywithin 5% of 12 V. On a long garden run that usually means a driver in an enclosurepartway down the bed rather than one back at the house.

The globe, the beam and the output

The light comes from a 5 W MR16 tri-colour globe, supplied and replaceable, with thesocket rated to a 20 W ceiling. Because the globe is replaceable, thebeam belongs to the globe rather than the fitting the supplied tri-colour MR16 is a120 wash, so fit a narrower MR16 if you are uplighting a trunk. Output is270 lm at 3000K, 285 lm at 4000K and 300 lm at 5500K. On copper, 3000K is almost alwaysright; cooler settings work against the metal. The head gives 90 of tilt and 270 of swivel,so the aim can be corrected fully as planting fills in, and it arrives with a2 m reinforced cable. It is not dimmable with the globes supplied.

IP65, protection class 3, CRI above 80, and a 3-year replacement warranty. Low-voltagegarden wiring is licensed electrician’s work.

Lights For You keeps the copper, brass and aluminium Tivah side by side ask us what the copper lookslike after a year outdoors before you commit, because the finish is the reason to buy it.

Questions

How quickly does copper change colour?

Quickly at first. The bright pink of a new fitting dulls within weeks and settles into a warm brown over the first months outdoors; the green-grey patina people picture takes years and plenty of moisture. Havit describes the colour on the datasheet as copper that will age over time, so the change is expected rather than a fault.

Why do I need gloves to install it?

Because skin oils leave marks that oxidise faster than the surrounding metal, so bare-handed handling can print fingerprints into the finish for its first season. Havit’s installation sheet states the requirement directly. Gloves during installation are the entire fix, and there is no fix afterwards.

Does it need a driver?

Yes, a suitable 12 V DC LED driver. The installation sheet says in capitals not to connect the fitting directly to 240 V doing so destroys it immediately and is not covered.

How far from the driver can it sit?

No more than 25 m, with the supply held within 5% of 12 V. Havit states both as warranty conditions rather than recommendations, so they belong in the cable plan before anything is buried.

Is it dimmable?

Not with the globes supplied that is what the datasheet says. Pair it with a standard 12 V DC driver rather than a dimmable one unless you are also changing the globe, in which case the globe you choose decides the answer.

What beam angle does it produce?

The one belonging to the MR16 you fit. The tri-colour globe supplied with it is 120, a wide wash. For a defined column of light up a trunk, replace it with a narrower MR16 and check the beam figure on the box that choice changes the effect far more than wattage does.

Which colour temperature suits copper?

3000K almost always. Warm light complements the metal and the planting around it, while 4000K and 5500K read cool against a warm finish. All three are selectable at the globe when the fitting goes in, so the decision can be made on site.