Using CFL's in Incandescent Can Lights

Status
Not open for further replies.
hurk27 said:
I have several cans in my basement, and I use the smaller R-20 7 watt Sylvania floods that are almost to much light which is why I bring this up, I think your going to find 23 watt way to bright for a hallway, unless they want them that bright? 3 are over my fire place, and 4 over my bar area, I wish they made some lower wattages, because the bar area could be a 5 watt or even maybe a 3 watt when those 23 watt reach there full brightness you wont be able to look at them.
Click to expand...

The desirable wattage of evenly spaced lighting will depend on the ceiling height and the color/reflectivity of the walls. We spent Thanksgiving at a relative's house and his hallways were 5'+ wide, dark golden/brown walls & ceiling with 14-15' ceiling. 23W floods in those locatiions at 7' centers would be just adequate.
 
weressl said:
The desirable wattage of evenly spaced lighting will depend on the ceiling height and the color/reflectivity of the walls. We spent Thanksgiving at a relative's house and his hallways were 5'+ wide, dark golden/brown walls & ceiling with 14-15' ceiling. 23W floods in those locatiions at 7' centers would be just adequate.
Click to expand...

Do you know a link to a decent lighting calculator? I need to determine the spacing & wattage of can lights to use in a hallway that's 60' long x 5' wide with 9' ceilings & white painted walls. I'm thinking a level of around 40 fc would be about right...maybe 50 fc? It's a hall in a medical clinic. Because of the joist spacing the lights will need to be a multiple of 2'. I'm thinking a
spacing of 4' or 6'???

Thanks!!!
 
tx2step said:
Do you know a link to a decent lighting calculator? I need to determine the spacing & wattage of can lights to use in a hallway that's 60' long x 5' wide with 9' ceilings & white painted walls. I'm thinking a level of around 40 fc would be about right...maybe 50 fc? It's a hall in a medical clinic. Because of the joist spacing the lights will need to be a multiple of 2'. I'm thinking a
spacing of 4' or 6'???

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

40fc seems excessive for a hallway, so out of curiosity, what are you basing this number on? Certain building codes contain minimum requirements, such as OSHA (as well as many others), who say 5fc MIN for a hallway. Lighting design, while part of the electrical world, is an entirely different skill/knowledge set.

If you know required footcandles, here is an okay calculator to give you a real quick idea.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/tools_software/toolkit/layout.htm

It is extremely simplified and leaves out many variables, but it's still fun to play around with.

But (18) 23w CFL floods with a rating of 1100 lumens at 4' spacing would meet your given requirements.
 
Last edited:
svh19044 said:
40fc seems excessive for a hallway, so out of curiosity, what are you basing this number on? Certain building codes contain minimum requirements, such as OSHA (as well as many others), who say 5fc MIN for a hallway. Lighting design, while part of the electrical world, is an entirely different skill/knowledge set.

If you know required footcandles, here is an okay calculator to give you a real quick idea.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/tools_software/toolkit/layout.htm

It is extremely simplified and leaves out many variables, but it's still fun to play around with.

But (18) 23w CFL floods with a rating of 1100 lumens at 4' spacing would meet your given requirements.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll check out that calculator. I'm guessing at the fc levels of their existing clinic. I'll take a meter reading & see what they really are. But for a medical clinic, 5 fc sounds pretty dim to me.

Thanks again for the link!
 
SWH, here is an exerpt from UL's "Question Corner, in the IAEI News:

"As long as the wattage on the compact fluorescent lamp is equal to or less than the relamping marking on the luminaire that the lamp is going into, then the compact fluorescent lamp can be used in the luminaire, provided all the markings on the compact fluorescent lamp are complied with."

The entire article can be found here: http://www.iaei.org/magazine/2007/0...ped-compact-fluorescent-lamps-eg-light-bulbs/

Yes, I agree it it a remarkably plain and sensible comment for UL.
 
renosteinke said:
SWH, here is an exerpt from UL's "Question Corner, in the IAEI News:

"As long as the wattage on the compact fluorescent lamp is equal to or less than the relamping marking on the luminaire that the lamp is going into, then the compact fluorescent lamp can be used in the luminaire, provided all the markings on the compact fluorescent lamp are complied with."The entire article can be found here: http://www.iaei.org/magazine/2007/0...ped-compact-fluorescent-lamps-eg-light-bulbs/

Yes, I agree it it a remarkably plain and sensible comment for UL.
Click to expand...


This is the current position of the 2011 White Book:
LAMPS, SELF-BALLASTED AND LAMPADAPTERS (OOLR)​

USE AND INSTALLATION
This category covers self-ballasted lamps consisting of a ballast, transformeror power supply, and an integrated or replaceable lamp, for directconnection to a lampholder. Products in this category employ variouslamp technologies including, but not limited to, fluorescent lamps andhigh-intensity-discharge (HID) lamps. Devices with an integral lamp aretermed ‘‘self-ballasted’’; devices with a replaceable lamp are termed ‘‘adapters.
........
These products have been investigated for use in the smaller of a 6- or 8-in. diameter, totally enclosed, recessed luminaire, if they will physically fit, unless marked not for use in a totally-enclosed luminaire.These products have not been investigated for use in emergency lighting equipment or exit signs.​
​
​
​
 
Last edited:
Just a note, this weekend I looked inside a 6" recessed and it has a list of "acceptable" lamps printed in the lamp housing.
 
renosteinke said:
Weressel, I think we have had a few threaqds on this topic, and I'm afraid you have it exactly backwards.

That is, UL is perfectly happy for you to use any CFL that actually fits in the fixture - unless the markings on the CFL say otherwise.
Click to expand...

That was your take on it, if I recall I did not agree with it.
 
renosteinke said:
SWH, here is an exerpt from UL's "Question Corner, in the IAEI News:

"As long as the wattage on the compact fluorescent lamp is equal to or less than the relamping marking on the luminaire that the lamp is going into, then the compact fluorescent lamp can be used in the luminaire, provided all the markings on the compact fluorescent lamp are complied with."

The entire article can be found here: http://www.iaei.org/magazine/2007/0...ped-compact-fluorescent-lamps-eg-light-bulbs/

Yes, I agree it it a remarkably plain and sensible comment for UL.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately the opinion expressed in the article carries no weight at all as it does not match the UL General directory.
 
Yes, Iwire, you remember correctly, that was your position in the previous thread discussing this topic. That's why I referred to the previous thread in my first post.

I am glad to see that you have come around to accepting my 'understanding' of the UL statement. You even reinforced it with your White Book citation: "These products have been investigated for use in the smaller of a 6- or 8-in. diameter, totally enclosed, recessed luminaire, if they will physically fit, unless marked not for use in a totally-enclosed luminaire."

Thank you for the citation. Your support is always welcome.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top