How many can lights in a area?

[electricguy61]

Have you considered offering Fluorescent cans as an alternative?

Heat can become an issue when you pump 300-450 watts into a room.

Here on the left coast, we are required to use them.

There are pro's and con's, but overall, I think they're a good value.

 

[active1]

All excellent comments. Thanks to all. I am well aware of the mechanics of arranging and dealing with joists, ducts, cross-bracing and plumbing. It is the uncertainty that four 75 watt floods arranged in a square or rectangle will produce enough light to suit the homeowner that concerns me. With the number of fixtures (14 to 20 in four different areas) and related work involved for these people, I have offered to haywire four fixtures together and attach them to the ceiling with one screw through the top of the can at their planned locations and show them the results before cutting them in. That way, if they are not satisfied, I can rearrange them for 6 or even 8 fixtures before any cutting starts. After all, it doesn't matter what I think or what past practice is, it is what the results look like to the owners that matters in the end.

I would not waist time doing that. The resaults will not be the same because the height is lower. Also the can trim and bulb height adjustment also makes a differance. Myself I like the baffels with the bulb up near the top of the baffle so it's more hidden.

Halogen bulbs are a prefrence between peolpe. If you use Par 30 75w bulbs it does not spread the light as smoothly as R-30 65w IMO.

Also a general rule of thumb is for every 1' of height you get 6" spread of light from center with a flood in a 6". With an 8' cieling the can is only about 5' from the counter top. In anotherwords 1 can will light up about a 5' area of counter. To avoid the dim spots between the bright circles of light and to increase the light levals the cans are overlaped at a spacing less that 5' as said by others. For more exact numbers look in the back of some catologs like Juno and it will have the specs for most combinations.

Also I try to avoid talking too much with the customer on the exact layout until I figure out what is possable. To avoid selling an idea not possable and disappointing the customer. Also I can stear the customer to what is practical to do and a good layout.

 

[bobsherwood]

Being a maintenance electrician, I agree with Electricguy. Fluorescents should be considered. Good light and much greener. Not to mention lamp life.

 

[Fulthrotl]

I know this can be hard to answer or easy to answer depending on how technical you want to get. I am just looking for some advice based on past experience. I have a customer who wants to remove the 4 lamp fluorescent surface-mount fixture in their kitchen and replace it with recessed cans. The kitchen has a typical drywalled ceiling and the room is approximately 12 x 12 with a center island. Assuming 75 watt floods, would four fixtures provide a "good" level of light if they are the only light in the room? What is a good level of light (lumens /sq.ft.) to use in the calculators the lighting manufacturers provide?

as many as the customer can afford...

12x12 kitchen? using 5" cans, and 65 watt r30 lamps, 8 lamps in the field,
one over the sink. have them far enough into the room that they don't
throw shadows onto the counter from the cabinets. about 3' off the wall works
well.

an excellent upsell is the halo LED elements for 6" cans. dimmable, don't burn out,
13 watts power, lumens matching 65watt r 30 lamp. not cheap, but good.


randy