Recessed Light Design

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frank_n

frank_n

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Central NJ
I have a customer who wants 4" recessed lights with R20 lamps for general lighting. The room is 16' X 13 1/2'. Does anyone know how to space these lights? I always use BR30's or BR40's in this situation before.
 
frank_n said:
I have a customer who wants 4" recessed lights with R20 lamps for general lighting. The room is 16' X 13 1/2'. Does anyone know how to space these lights? I always use BR30's or BR40's in this situation before.
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It depends on how much light the customer wants. I have had customers that want the corners lit and others that want the center of the room.

If they want the entire room I would probly suggest 3 rows of 4 cans.

On the 13 1/2 foot dimension I would hold the cans about 33" off both walls and put one in the middle. On the 16' dimension I would come out 2', then space them 4' apart. Thus 2', 6', 10' and 14'
 
Dennis Alwon said:
If they want the entire room I would probly suggest 3 rows of 4 cans.

On the 13 1/2 foot dimension I would hold the cans about 33" off both walls and put one in the middle. On the 16' dimension I would come out 2', then space them 4' apart. Thus 2', 6', 10' and 14'
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Thanks, how did you figure that out?
 
What I do for uniform lighting is space the lights the same distance as the height of the ceiling, so an 8' ceiling with get 8' spacing, but I will cut the distance in half for my first light, so starting at the wall it would be 4' then 8' centers, but this is only a starting point, I like them uniform so you need to see how you end up on the other side of the room and make adjustments...


EDIT, as stated above I would only do this with a minimum of a 5" can with a par 30, 50-75watt lamp...
 
frank_n said:
Dennis Alwon said:
If they want the entire room I would probly suggest 3 rows of 4 cans.

On the 13 1/2 foot dimension I would hold the cans about 33" off both walls and put one in the middle. On the 16' dimension I would come out 2', then space them 4' apart. Thus 2', 6', 10' and 14'
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Thanks, how did you figure that out?
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He guessed. :smile:

Seriously, his numbers are certainly viable, but I'd take a few more things into consideration. For example, the use of the room, how it will be furnished, what will be on the walls, wall and floor coloring, etc. Just how bright do they want it?

Also, with the room fairly close to square, to you want to emphasize or minimize the rectangularity? A square pattern (3 x 3 or 4 x 4) will make the room look more square, while a rectangular pattern (3 x 4) will make it seem less square.

Don't forget reflector type either. There are wide and narrow floods, spots, etc. A spot will appear brighter, but you'll need to use more and space them closer. You may need more than 12 cans as wattage is limited. How high is the ceiling?
 
stickboy1375 said:
EDIT, as stated above I would only do this with a minimum of a 5" can with a par 30, 50-75watt lamp...
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I generally prefer 6" for anything other than accent lighting. The light coverage is more even, allowing a smaller number of cans.
 
LarryFine said:
I generally prefer 6" for anything other than accent lighting. The light coverage is more even, allowing a smaller number of cans.
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6" is WAY to big of an aperture for todays standards and I get to install the same size lamp with a 5" aperture... and my spacing stays the same... I find no difference with a 5" vs 6" aperture with the same size lamp... You probably still sell the black baffle don't you?
 
I like to use lighting software, you plug in the room size, area use, type of light level desired, it lays out a lighting plan and prints out the lighting data sheets. There are a number of manufactures that offer the software, and some even have free software if you use their fixtures.
 
satcom said:
I like to use lighting software, you plug in the room size, area use, type of light level desired, it lays out a lighting plan and prints out the lighting data sheets. There are a number of manufactures that offer the software, and some even have free software if you use their fixtures.
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Interesting... I wouldn't mind comparing to what I think should go in and what the software recommends...
 
stickboy1375 said:
6" is WAY to big of an aperture for todays standards and I get to install the same size lamp with a 5" aperture... and my spacing stays the same... I find no difference with a 5" vs 6" aperture with the same size lamp... You probably still sell the black baffle don't you?
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No, I hate the black baffle. In my opinion, a recessed fixture is supposed to be inconspicuous, especially when off, and its light should be prominent. I vote for white when I can.

As for the can size, the 6" is usually less expensive, and I like the way an R-38 looks in an R-30 baffle. (Why do I have the feeling I'm gonna get feedback on both of these comments?)
 
LarryFine said:
No, I hate the black baffle. In my opinion, a recessed fixture is supposed to be inconspicuous, especially when off, and its light should be prominent. I vote for white when I can.

As for the can size, the 6" is usually less expensive, and I like the way an R-38 looks in an R-30 baffle. (Why do I have the feeling I'm gonna get feedback on both of these comments?)
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Probably because a 6" hole in the ceiling is not really inconspicuous... :grin:
 
LarryFine said:
As for the can size, the 6" is usually less expensive, and I like the way an R-38 looks in an R-30 baffle. (Why do I have the feeling I'm gonna get feedback on both of these comments?)
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5" is not much more if any more at all than a 6"

I use mostly 5" now too.

R-38? Wow, do you keep those in the trunk of your Aries K?

Come to think of it, what is an R 38? I know of an R 40 and maybe a PAR 38.

Either way, 1984 called, they want their lighting back. :grin:
 
electricmanscott said:
5" is not much more if any more at all than a 6"

I use mostly 5" now too.

R-38? Wow, do you keep those in the trunk of your Aries K?

Come to think of it, what is an R 38? I know of an R 40 and maybe a PAR 38.

Either way, 1984 called, they want their lighting back. :grin:
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Wow, someone's on a roll tonight. :roll:

R, PAR, you got the point. The diameter is the same.
 
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