Residential recessed cans question

[still-learnin]

Looking for some input into what amount of spacing between cans in a kitchen, with an 8' ceiling works best. And also opinions on what size and type cans look best. the application would be for task lighting for the countertops. And while were at it any preference in brands?
Also in CA we have title 24 compliance to deal with which mean CFL. I have been told the recessed cans with horizontal tubes lookl much better than the vertical tubed installations. Any input on this?

 

[jeff43222]

If the ceiling is eight feet, I generally install recessed cans (6") about four feet apart.

As for what size and type looks best, there is no consensus. My customers have requested everything from 6" all the way down to "No way do I want can lights!!"

I feel that task lighting for the countertops is tough to get with can lights because it's usually not possible to install the cans directly over the countertop because there are cabinets in the way, and once the cans get too far from the front edge of the countertop, you get shadows. In my case (very large melon perched on my shoulders), it's more of an eclipse.

Undercabinet xenon lights work quite well for countertop task lighting.

As for the Title 24 compliance you have in CA, I'm assuming that CFL means compact fluorescent lights. They really make you put those in? We have no such requirement here, which is good, since most of my customers hate fluorescent lights as much as I do.

 

[ceknight]

Re: Residential recessed cans question

I have been told the recessed cans with horizontal tubes lookl much better than the vertical tubed installations. Any input on this?

They both look like doo-doo. Try something like this instead:

http://www.bulbs.com/products/product.asp?page=products&class=818


Chris Knight
Syracuse NY

 

[peteo]

Found some very quick, meaningful articles here. Brands? The most important things I've found are to try them before buying and verify that the clips will work in your ceiling material; and that any desired cans and trims are available within easy drive of the job site. As to CFL bulbs I've used the (lightsamerica?) PAR 30 floods which work great.

edit: PS you only need half CFL. I've spaced those using the thomas link page info with just a couple 'daylights' over the sink with great results. A tip? Keep it simple.

 

[aftershock]

Recess cans :lol: Pain in the ass sometimes. Contractor's main choice of lighting on all my jobs. As far as type? Lightolier Lights is the easiest one I have worked with. 6" the most common. If you use Halo Lighting type fixtures dont get the short cans (unless your joists are less that 7.5" and no attic space. Trim out on those just looks bad.
Spacing? 24-30" from the wall and the spacing between depends on the design and layout of the kitchen, as well as the joist layout.
I always tell them "The joist tell me where the fixtures go"
If you want to light up the counter space better, use UCL. Flourecent seems to make the best lighting in my opinion.

 

[c10charles]

As both a GC and an EC we do a lot of kitchen remodels but we have not done a remodel under the Title 24 change (Oct '05)as of yet. Title 24 has severely reduced the amount of wattage that can be other than fluorescent in the kitchen and may eliminate incandescent lighting in a kitchen altogether in Calif. In a room with an 8' ceiling I never recommend anything bigger than a 4" can, but the HO decides. Anything bigger and you always have light hitting you in the eye. We place them for task lighting at every place you would need light. 1 or 2 over the sink, over all of the counters, in the pathways into the kitchen, etc. This is really more artform than NEC. We use the HALO 993 trim ring because it has concentric rings that break-up the light. We spend a lot of time with the HO going over the placement. Too difficult to change after the drywall contractor leaves. My distributor beats Home Depot on the Halo line by a wide margin. We also use some of the 3" for spot lighting a wall or bookcase but they are all halogen bulb and $$. Then there are bulb choices, too many to list. Again, more artform. Also, we always put them on a dimmer. Great effect and it can reduce the heat added to the kitchen.

 

[inspector23]

Please keep in mind if you are complying with California title 24's new standards the cans CANNOT accept a screw-in base for the lamp. They must have the prong type base for the lamps.

This requirement was added to insure the homeowner cannot simply replace the lamps with incandecant lamps.