Tivah in solid brass is the one that changes. Unlike a coated or plated finish,solid brass has no surface layer to fail it oxidises slowly to a deep, warm brown, and a scratchweathers back in rather than exposing something underneath. If you want lighting that looks like it hasalways been in the garden rather than like it was installed last month, this is the material that doesit. The trade-off is that you cannot keep it bright without polishing it, and in a garden nobody does.

The decision that matters: this is a 12 V fitting

Tivah runs on 12 V DC and requires a suitable 12 V DC LED driver. Its installationsheet does not hedge: “Use an appropriate 12v DC LED Driver DO NOT CONNECT LIGHT FITTING DIRECT TO240V”. It also states the two conditions that void the warranty, and both are decided by where thedriver sits rather than by the fitting: “Voltage to fitting must be within + or – 5% of voltagerequired and cannot be installed more than 25m from LED Driver”. On a long bed that usually means adriver in a garden enclosure partway down the run, not one at the house.

Where it works

• Soft, irrigated and recently turned beds the 405 mm spike is the longest in the Tivah family and holds a heavy brass head upright where a short spike leans.
• Established, formal gardens where a fitting that ages into the planting is wanted.
• Uplighting trunks and hedging, with 90 of tilt and 270 of swivel to correct the aim as growth fills in.
• Coastal and near-coastal sites solid brass handles salt air well, though it will darken faster there.

Specifying it

The globe is a 5 W MR16, supplied, and it is the replaceable part the fittingoutlives it. Tri-colour selectable, and the product’s own table pairs each setting with its output:270 lm at 3000K, 285 lm at 4000K and 300 lm at 5500K. On brass, 3000K is usually theright choice; cooler settings fight the warmth of the metal. The datasheet sets a 20 W ceiling for the socket, which matters only if someone fits a halogen with LED there is no reason toapproach it. Beam angle comes from the globe rather than the body, so check the beam figure on anyreplacement MR16, because that choice changes the result more than wattage does. Sealing isIP65, good for driven rain, sprinklers and hose-down. It is not dimmable.Cable is 2 m. Low-voltage work still belongs to a licensed electrician.

Backed by a 3-year replacement warranty.

Lights For You stocks the brass, copper and aluminium Tivah side by side ask us for a photo of thebrass after a year outdoors if you want to see where the finish actually lands.

Questions

Will the brass stay bright?

No, and it is not meant to. Solid brass oxidises to a deep warm brown outdoors over months, faster near the coast. Because the brass is solid rather than plated, that change is on the surface of the metal itself a scratch weathers back in instead of exposing a different material underneath.

Does it need a driver?

Yes, a 12 V DC LED driver. The fitting must not be connected directly to 240 V its installation sheet says so in capitals, and doing it destroys the fitting and voids the warranty.

How far from the driver can it sit?

No more than 25 m, with the supply held within 5% of 12 V. Both are stated warranty conditions rather than guidance, so they belong in the plan before any cable is buried.

Why is the spike so long?

At 405 mm it is the longest in the Tivah family, and it needs to be: a solid brass head is heavy, and in soft or irrigated soil a short spike lets a heavy fitting lean within a season. The extra length is what keeps the aim you set.

What globe does it take, and what beam?

A 5 W MR16, supplied and replaceable. The beam comes from the globe rather than the fitting, so an MR16 bought anywhere from a narrow spot to a wide flood will change the effect check the beam figure when you replace it.

Is it dimmable?

No. Both datasheets record it as not dimmable, so pair it with a standard 12 V DC driver rather than a dimmable one.

Which colour temperature suits brass?

3000K, usually. Warm light complements the brass and the planting around it; 4000K and 5500K read cooler and can make a warm metal look slightly off. All three are selectable at installation, so you can decide on site.