"JB" wrote in message
...
My kitchen remodeling saga continues. I was planning on using the
Halo 4" 110v cans (the H99 family) for all ceiling lights with
halogens or xenons for undercab lighting. My personal preference is
to NOT put in large 6" cans, but use something smaller with line
voltage. But the PAR20 bulbs are recessed quite a ways into the H99
unit.

My concern now is that with a recessed bulb, the light cone will
result in more of a spot than flood. And another website describes
the H99 as good for "accent and task lighting". Halo makes bulb
extenders but I've never used them before. Maybe I'm better off with
6" cans where the bulb face is flush with the trim resulting in a true
downwash general lighting effect.

Has anyone had experience using the H99s for general lighting? Other
small 110v alternatives?


I have installed the H99's in several customers kitchens to their liking. I
usually install them as well as the H7's using the counter edge as my
guideline for the fixture center. By doing that you will have great
lighting for the work areas and it also spills into the wall cabinets and
the drawers below. If you want to light the entire kitchen start at the
countertop and create rows from there. If you only have the lights in the
center of the kitchen away from the countertops you will be disappointed in
the results whether you use H99 or H7 cans. In that instance you will
definitely need undercabinet lights. BTW the H7 cans have adjustable
sockets so you can recess the bulb or have it protrude past the ceiling a
bit. I usually set them so the bulb is recessed about an inch. The most
common trim that is requested is the 410 white coilex. I think it is a 993
for the H99.

As an example a few weeks ago I did a job installing undercabinet lights for
a couple that hired a big box store to remodel their kitchen. The
electrician that was sent installed four H99's in the middle of the kitchen.
The floor was very well lit, but there were shadows when you stood in front
of the counter because your head and body blocked the light coming from
behind. They desperately needed the undercabinet lights to have sufficient
lighting on the countertop.

Have you used halogen bulbs before? Some of my customers have said that
they don't like them and prefer the standard incandescent R40 bulb.
Unfortunately a halogen bulb is the only way to get decent output for a
kitchen with an H99.

Personally I suggest the H7 can. You have a greater range of bulbs and
trims that you can use whereas with the H99 you are limited.