Need advice for 50-watt recessed lighting in the kitchen
In about a weeks time, construction will begin to expand my kitchen. This will involve moving an outside wall and completely rebuilding the existing parts from scratch (floors, ceilings, drywalls, electricty, tiles, cabinets, etc.) My design calls for 15 recessed lights to be implemented, using 3-zones. Although I do have a budget, I want to…
In about a weeks time, construction will begin to expand my kitchen. This will involve moving an outside wall and completely rebuilding the existing parts from scratch (floors, ceilings, drywalls, electricty, tiles, cabinets, etc.)
My design calls for 15 recessed lights to be implemented, using 3-zones. Although I do have a budget, I want to see if I have any other options besides what is being suggested by my general contractor.
I know many folks are using the EuroFase products as a good, decent solution. I am especially aware of their GIMBAL MR16 , 12V GIMBAL HOUSING/TRIM KIT product:
http://www.eurofase.com/products/browse.cfm?productID=0be0f41f-3048-8bc6-c33f-501b98b58e40
It will run me about $70 for each kit + light (not including installation costs). What concerns me is that I have heard from a few people that use them that the transformer often starts to develop a “noise” issue, which believe me, could become bothersome. These units are made in Canada thought.
So my questions are:
1) Is there another brand (include the model please) that’s out there, which costs up to $100 that does a better job — meaning a more consistent product? I am looking for the simple, classic white trim to go with the recessed light.
2) Generally, what is the difference in light output (lumen) between a 120 volt bulb or 12 volt bulb (MR16/C). For example, the wattage of MR16/C is 50 watts and so is on the GU10 type. But are both lights shining equally strong?
3) Again, this is lighting for the kitchen only. I want to have bright lights as I have a 9 foot ceiling there. I am not looking for soft white for this occasion. LED is out of the question.
4) Are there any companies that make a non-transformer 50-watt recessed lights that you would recommend? I know it rarely happens, but if the transformer goes bad, the ceiling will need to be cut open for repair/replacement.
I hope that you have some guidance for me. This is my first time doing such serious home improvement work and I want to make sure that it is done right.
Thanks!
Amount of electric you will be using is worth considering as well.
Low voltage uses as much electricity as the line voltage. SO there is no savings there. You can and should get line voltage recessed housing and use GU-10 LED lamps, instead of MR16 low voltage. ( 9 watts GU10 gives out about as much as 50 watts MR16. You will need a diva led dimmer/switch tho, if planning to dim them. 15 of these would use up 135 watts, instead of 750!!! That’s some difference which you will feel on your bills.
Spend your money on the $30 dimmer and $50 LED GU-10, not on the low voltage housing.
If you put a LED MR16 in a low voltage unit, your transformer will still suck up 50watts.
Pretty sure the same manufacturer has the direct line. But if they don’t; try Contrast lighting in Canada. Lendy’s have it in stock, with many other brands to choose from. They are around $70.
Jes’ giving you a hard time, dona..! I use candles and matches for the serious look-see 😉
Hhaha cmu, what do you go walking around with a miners helmet? We aren’t far off in other tastes, i.e. transitional style and not slavish devotion to period detail. And the rest of my house has more subtle lighting but the kitchen needs light. Then when I am finished cooking, I can dim the whole arrangement and for eating section, have one flush mount fixture. It looks nice.
dona, we’ve been here before…you like lots of light, I don’t. I jut stayed in a house with 12 bright cans in a 7×16 kitchen, believe me, I had to break out my shades. And you could see every imperfection in the floor and cabinets. Too much light is not a good thing. Light focused on a counter is fine, but one 50w flood halogen will do for about 8ft of it.
Thank you again everyone for your input. If there are more, please keep going. The more I know, the more I learn and will make my decision easier.
I have cans and a bunch of them in the kitchen. It is in the section of my kitchen where I need light to work. People say that they are ugly here but I think they are great. I detest the dark cave look of the ground floor kitchens. In fact I detest dark spaces in general and this is the biggest drawback to brownstones. I use halogen lighting and it simulates daylight in a space which doesn’t get much natural light and the recessed lighting looks fine and works beautifully.
FWIW, my kitchen has one light–a ceiling semi-flush fixture with a 60w bulb under a glass shade, along with a window and a door with a window, and it’s fine. I could probably use another task light over the sink, but it is a minor issue. I put four times as many in my laundry room which is the same amount of space but in the basement and it feels like a laboratory with all the light. Good for the laundry room, too much for most other rooms.
15 lights is overkill and will look ridiculous, have you been seduced by a lighting designer? But then I don’t know your aesthetic, it’s certainly not mine.
A 180 sqft kitchen is not large (smaller than mine), and probably 4 lights should be enough. Add undercounter lights and a hood with a couple and you have perfect flexibility. Consider LED cans also. For the record, I have a track fixture with 2 50w, 2 hood lights with 35w (both halogens) and two wall lights with 17w CFLs. Haven’t groped in the dark yet.
Buy line voltage instead of low voltage. Same light but no transformer.
We’ve installed a lot of Elco and Halo recessed fixtures. I really don’t find make and model of lights to be the deciding factor in quality or integrity, since all fixtures must have UL approval and ratings. It’s the trim and lightbulb – as well as dimmer and good zoning – that create the ambience. And lack of buzzing.
Here’s a link:
http://www.elcolighting.com/categories/line-voltage-recessed-lighting
The brand you like may have a line voltage product as well.