Thanks again for all the great information - I picked up the two new
fixtures and 4 bulbs at HD this afternoon, per the specs provided by you
guys - very inexpensive - I killed the power, took down the two older
fixtures, put up the new fixtures, and now we need sunglasses in the
kitchen - VERY nice being able to see clearly. And no one was
electrocuted - a successful project.

"James Sweet" wrote in message
...
ransley wrote:
On Dec 12, 9:51 pm, "Just a citizen . . ."
wrote:
The two existing f-light fixtures in my kitchen each use two of the
24-inch
bulbs - my 58-year-old baby boomer eyes need more light in the kitchen.

There are cool white, soft white and a bunch of other bulb types -
what's
going to give me the most light with the least impact on power draw?
Should
I just go with whatever bulb offers the most lumens?

I am considering replacing the two existing fixtures with two fixtures
that'd each use two of the 48-inch bulbs. How much more light should I
expect with the 48-inch tubes - will I see 2X the light I'm getting with
the
24-inch tubes?

Is there a particular type of f-light (ballast, etc.) that will give me
the
most light with the least power draw? How much more power draw with the
48-inch tubes - 2X?

Right now, if I'm running a few burners on the stove, and running the
dishwasher, and running the external exhaust fan on the stove-top, with
the
kitchen lights on, sometimes the microwave kicking off will dim the
ceiling
f-lights - so I'm trying to minimize any additional power draw.

Thanks.

Light output is rated in Lumens and is stated on packaging, for
efficency you compare Lumen per watt. 32w T8 electronic ballast is the
way to go as others say. You can get much brighter bulbs than Warm-
Soft White but they dont work well in a kitchen, you food will look
bad !, grey meat wont make anyone hungry. A 4 foot dual lamp T8
electronic ballast will put out more than double of what you have and
maybe only consume 50% more electricity. Look at undercabinet 15w T8
flourescent lights they equal 60w incandesant output and help alot to
put light where you need it. HD has GE fixtures and bulb with plug in
cord for maybe 9$ that I use in alot of kitchens. The Philips T8, 48"
"Soft White" bulb in red packaging is a good bulb for color and
efficency. You can get brighter bulbs but for a kitchen but stick to
warm or soft white designations of about 3000k. For not much more
electricity you can increase light output dramaticly. Dont buy the
cheapest electronic ballast 4 ft fixture, they may not last.


Low CRI is what makes food look unappetizing. The halophosphate tubes (CW,
WW, D) have CRIs in the 50-60 range, low end trichromatics are 70+, better
ones are 80+, you can even get mixed phosphor tubes with a 90+ CRI, but
the efficiency is down significantly at that point. Spring for 80+ in the
kitchen, regardless of the color temperature things should look ok.