Just realized today - there is NEW separate forum discussing lighting issues on gardenweb! I posted this message on Electrical Wiring board and got one reply from ronnatalie who referred me to california residential compliance manual. I have to admit - manual a bit complicated for me and has a lot of terminology.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-016/rev1_chapte rs/RCM_Chapter_6_Lighting.pdf

I would greatly appreciate any additional input on the subject below!

ORIGINAL POST
We are doing some work in the dining room and would like to install can lights. We live in California and the house is built in 1948... So, currently the dining room walls and ceiling are stripped to studs and joists/rafters for some structural work and before we close them up - lighting will need to be put in.
Can you guys recommend a couple of options what to install (manufacturer/type of can light)?
Electrician came out to look at this and said that he would go with old fashioned cans and use LED/retrofits (whatever that means) but from reading on this site I am getting that this is not exactly legal in Cali. We will probably get another electrician to come out look at the job but our own Education I'd like to gather as much info as possible. Thank you!

Since our project will be technically a new construction (no can housings was installed anywhere in the kitchen) to be compliant with california code:

1. Does can housing need to be airtight and satisfy ASTM E283 <2 cfm threshold?
2. IC rated? we will have insulation (batts) in the attic after ceiling is done
3. what type of connector must be in this housing to comply with california?
4. will it work with dimmable switch
5. what difference does the size of the can make - on # lights, restrictions, overall price of housing/bulbs
6. can you suggest a model that I can look at by going to HD/Lowes?

As for what goes into these cans - what is the difference between LED and LED trim?

I realize that these are dumb questions and information/answers have been provided on this forum to most of them - but I wanted to get California-specific answers that are scattered all over the posts and unfortunately I am running out of time. I am also confused with the industry lingo...
Thank you very much for your help!

Dax

Posted by davidtay (My Page) on Tue, Oct 5, 10 at 16:38
I would go with 6" cans for the following reasons
1. 4" cans have less space for heat dissipation.
2. 6" cans are more common and you have more lighting options.
3. The light coverage is better for 6".
Since you're subject to title 24, you'll have to install CFL cans with integrated ballasts or LED cans with GU 24 base / anything other than edison base.

I ended up with LED cans as I figured that
1. Cans with integrated ballasts would become problematic when the ballast fails as someone would have to gain access to the upper part of the can to change the ballast.
2. I was drawn to the CREE LR6 @ LampsPlus as there wasn't any glare like the other CFL cans beside it.
3. The cost of a CFL can + trim + CFL bulb was higher than a CREE LR6 + can ~ 1+ year ago. Today the costs are more favorable for a CR6 (GU24) + can ~ $80.
4. The LED cans are dimmable using standard incandescent dimmers.
UCL is very useful.

In the kitchen itself, adding a dimmer doesn't satisfy the T24 requirement, so you are stuck with fluorescent or GU24/LED for the majority of your lighting watts.

There are adapters that let you convert a screw in socket to a GU24 -- these do not satisfy the requirement to not have screw-in in the kitchen, even if the conversion is "permanent". GU24 socketed cans are/were not T24 approved for CFLs either.

The 4" CR4 looks (to me) a bit better than the CR6, but costs more. Also, the CR6 gives you the option of using the brighter 800 lumen version.

As of today:

CR6 575L about $45, both screw-in and GU24
CR6 800L about $55, both screw-in and GU24

Ecosmart 6 inch LED at HD (local, San Jose) $25 screw in, $40 GU24. There seems to be no difference from the CR6, except warranty is 3 years instead of 5.

When we reconstructed our house four years ago, we designed our kitchen to be part of a great room that includes an informal dining area. Only the kitchen part needed the high efficacy lights. We were forced to use Title 24-compliant CFL cans because at the time, LED was not as price competitive as it is today. However we did the breakfast area and the rest of the great room in normal incandescent and halogen on dimmers. Now that LED technology has come down so far it price, I have been retrofitting LED where it makes sense.

So I think your electrician is giving you fine advice to use cheap cans and the CR-6. It is really a great product. We have 18 of them now, and may eventually add another 14-15 of them to replace the CFLs in the CFL cans.

Yes

2. IC rated? we will have insulation (batts) in the attic after ceiling is done

Yes

3. what type of connector must be in this housing to comply with california?

GU24 or some other non E26 base.

4. will it work with dimmable switch
That is more a concern with the actual lamp installed. The Lutron Diva CL is highly recommended and works well with the CR6, CR4, RT6, RT4.

5. what difference does the size of the can make - on # lights, restrictions, overall price of housing/bulbs

The 4" cans are typically more expensive than the 6" equivalents. You need to price out every part to get a good idea of the total cost, what is more cost effective vs what you can afford to splurge on.

The number of lights depends on the output of each lamp vs the total sq ft * desired illumination per sq ft.

6. can you suggest a model that I can look at by going to HD/Lowes?

You should look for something like
http://www.polar-ray.com/Cree-RC6-12W-GU24-6-Inch-Housing-GU24-Socket_ p_127.html

If I were to redo my lighting today, I might consider using 4" cans with the CR4.