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trouper_gw

Fluorescent vs Recessed LED - Is my math wrong?

trouper
11 years ago

Like a lot of people I have a fluorescent fixture as the main source of light in my kitchen. It consists of 4 (T-8?) 48 inch linear tubes in the center of the room. Was considering modernizing somewhat to recessed LED cans, and actually hoping to get more light output out of it.

room = essentially 10 x 13 feet so it's not that big, and with upper cabinets, the available surface area is even smaller.

Calculating what I currently have:

4 x ~2700 lumens = ~11k lumens

I've read 35 lumens/ft2 is ideal for kitchens
this equates to 10 * 13 * 35 = 4550 lumens

This is half of what I currently have.

Using HD/Cree (575 lumens) would be 8 light to get half of what I have. Would be alot of light.

To equal what I have would take 19/20 LEDS.

Is something wrong with my math? Have I forgotten something? Or is the ugly fluorescent the best light I'm going to get?

Any thoughts? Thanks.

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