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Enough Lighting?

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Posted by lesliep (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 2, 11 at 15:05

I am replacing two light fixtures in my kitchen that have 3- 60 watt bulbs in each fixture. I bought two track light fixtures that have 3-Halogen GU10 35 watt reflector lights in each one. Before I install them my question is, will this be enough light in the kitchen. The light I have now is not enough and now I am concerned I may need a larger fixture, maybe a 4 light one?

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RE: Enough Lighting?

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I computed my general kitchen lighting needs based on the following
total_sq_footage * lumens_per_sq_ft / output_per_recessed_can

lumens_per_sq_ft in my case was 35
output_per_recessed_can was 600 ( deliberately derated output of a LR6). The output was diffuse and unlike a standard recessed can light.

In your situation. a naked 60 watt incandescent bulb outputs ~ 800 lumens.
Assuming that the fixtures are surface mounted with some shading which reduces the output per bulb to ~ 700

Total light output from the existing would be 6 * 700 = 4200 lumens.

GU10 reflector lights will have very directional and focussed light output which may not be suitable for lighting the entire kitchen.

In addition, if you live in a jurisdiction which mandates energy efficiency laws (e.g. - title 24), halogen lights cannot be used as the primary light source.

Title 24 mandates that 50% of the wattage used for lighting be devoted to energy efficient light sources (i.e. - fluorescent or LED).

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