Browse Forums Lighting + Lighting Design 1 Apr 16, 2008 5:10 pm Hi all,
Up to electric plan now. I’d like to do this: • using down-lights only in the bigger areas, e.g. family room, living room, and • using normal ceiling lights in other areas, e.g. bed-rooms, bath-rooms and laundry, 2 normal ceiling lights in the garage. What do you guys thinking of it? Do you using down-lights? Is there a better option to replace down-lights? If so, how do you decide the distance between them? Is there a formula, or rule of thumb? Regards, Aulyna Re: Down-lights or NOT? 3Apr 16, 2008 5:39 pm Hi Paula,Thanks for your message.
What distance between the lights do you think it's good? My family room and open plan kitchen is 7.5 X 6.3. Do you think 8 down-lights are enough? Range them like this: o__________________ o_______________ o __________ o________________ o o__________________ o_______________ o Don't have scanner at the moment, will post a photo later. Regards, Aulyna Re: Down-lights or NOT? 4Apr 16, 2008 5:49 pm Aulyna, i'd actually go the 9 lights instead of 8 and keep them all lined up?
3 rows of 3. Re: Down-lights or NOT? 6Apr 16, 2008 7:14 pm Down lights are directional lighting. They shine down ONLY!
For the kitchen and for safety reasons I find an orbital fluro better! But for task lighting over your work benches a few down lights are recommended. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Down-lights or NOT? 7Apr 16, 2008 7:25 pm Aulyna_1 Hi Paula,Thanks for your message. What distance between the lights do you think it's good? My family room and open plan kitchen is 7.5 X 6.3. Do you think 8 down-lights are enough? Range them like this: o__________________ o_______________ o __________ o________________ o o__________________ o_______________ o Don't have scanner at the moment, will post a photo later. Regards, Aulyna Perfect IMO! I have a room 7x4 with 6 and it is just enough. With your extra width the layout should give you a very even coverage of light. Remember to get the globes with the bigger angle of light spread for the bigger areas too. Re: Down-lights or NOT? 9Apr 16, 2008 8:03 pm Hi, good question, we have done the same homework.
We discovered that PD will charge $35 to change a standard batten-hole fitting to a downlight. From there they charge $80 per downlight additional to the room. Ahhh no We are going to write an electrical plan that changes all the main batten-hole (was told this is what they call the main light allocation to each room) to a downlight and we will get our electrician to put in the additional lights. Our mate said that he can get the downlights for just $7.25 complete with globe at wholesale rates - retail around $18. Hope this helps. Just make sure your lights are arranged in straight lines across the roof line too - looks really terrible when they are all offline - see it a lot in the display homes just put up anywhere. Building in Lyndhurst Carlisle Atlantique Re: Down-lights or NOT? 10Apr 16, 2008 9:45 pm Michelle Down lights are directional lighting. They shine down ONLY! Not quite right! Downlights ain't necessarily spotlights! Aulyna, Matt is right when he says make sure that you get the globes with the wide angle spread (the angle is written on the box that the globe comes in, the bigger the angle the better). These throw the light over a wider area. And yes, make sure you have straight lines and even spacings. Nine downlights in your family/kitchen area might be sufficient, but make sure you have enough of them in the kitchen and they are exactly where you need them. If you need to space them closer together in the kitchen but you're worried about breaking the pattern, consider separating the rooms by installing pendant lights above your island bench if you have one. This is what we're doing. If your room configuration is totally open though with no visual obstructions like island benches in between, and you want to keep the pattern going, I would suggest installing 12 downlights in a 4x3 pattern. A rough rule of thumb for working out spacings for downlights in a normal room is, 1 metre out from your walls and as near as you can to 2 metres between them in straight lines. So, in your case, they would be spaced at 1m, 2.83m, 4.67m and 6.5m for your long side, and 1m, 3.15m and 5.3m for your short side. Don't forget though that when you measure up you have to measure the ceiling and not the floor! You probably have kitchen overhead cupboards which will reduce your area slightly etc. Geoff - Decophile. Re: Down-lights or NOT? 11Apr 16, 2008 10:01 pm Downlights make a house look good inside. Even jewellery shines more brightly, it seems, when under a halogen downlight.
However, it costs a LOT to run a halogen downlight, and the greenhouse emissions are enourmous! Try energy-efficient lighting....fluorecents or IRC halogens instead. One can still have good, attractive lighting without adding to global warming! Fiona Re: Down-lights or NOT? 12Apr 16, 2008 10:12 pm We decided against them for environmental reasons. We're gonna get solar power for the house so we might as well run it as efficiently as possible. The waste is enormous- the fact that you will have 8 or 9 lights in an area that really only needs 1 or 2 doesn't seem like a wise option to me.
I suppose it also means we get a choice of light fittings so that will help us dress the room in a particular style. Anthea Re: Down-lights or NOT? 13Apr 16, 2008 10:18 pm Michelle - I'm new at this. Can you please tell me what an orbital fluoro light is? I was looking at the newer energy-efficient downlights, but haven't settled on what yet. Thanks.
Judie Re: Down-lights or NOT? 14Apr 16, 2008 10:33 pm Judie Michelle - I'm new at this. Can you please tell me what an orbital fluoro light is? I was looking at the newer energy-efficient downlights, but haven't settled on what yet. Thanks. Judie Glad I'm not the only one I Googled "orbital fluor" and the first hit was "Development of a novel neodymium compound for in vivo fluorescence imaging"..... I don't think that's it.....please explain.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Down-lights or NOT? 15Apr 16, 2008 10:48 pm Can't help you with the orbital fluro, but......if you want an explanation of
Quote: "Development of a novel neodymium compound for in vivo fluorescence imaging"..... .........No??? Sorry, just got excited because I can actually remember what that means from my previous life BC (before children):roll: I think I'll leave the real explanation to the real Michelle... 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Down-lights or NOT? 16Apr 16, 2008 11:55 pm I took these tonight with no flash/trick photography on a cheapish fully automatic digital camera...
The light from the downlights is more than enough in the dining area and the kitchen is seperated using the three pendants (which double as prep lights) Besides the power usage issue I think they llok great and perform well for me. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Down-lights or NOT? 19Apr 17, 2008 9:52 am Matt, looking at the light pattern on the floor, Mish's comment about being spot seems to be well confirmed (and I'm assuming you have the wide angle ones).
I was super keen to get downlights about 4/5 years ago but to be honest they have become so common these days that I've changed my mind. I think we will be investing in some spectacular pendant lights instead. Not cheaper by any means but at least Iwe won't have exactly the same as everyone else. Re: Down-lights or NOT? 20Apr 17, 2008 10:10 am One factor about downlights rarely gets a mention, and that's how difficult it can be to change the bulbs. Being inset to the ceiling means they are at maximum height and the fact they're often distributed over a wide area usually means some pretty significant acrobatics and furniture shifting to change the bulbs. It's a minor factor, but can be important to many people. So I'm just reading up on this ecosystem of lights. I'm planning on putting deck lights along the outside edge of a large deck. Will need about 3 packs (18 lights) plus… 0 23025 How long is a "long period"? For a few weeks, it should be ok. It also depends on the area you live in...I would let your neighbours know that you will be away too and… 1 28578 Hi HomeOne, I'm in the midst of landscaping a cat run down the side of my house, and the recent rains have me wondering if I need to install some sort of drainage. I've… 0 12290 |