My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.

"Mike W." wrote in message
...
My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them in
a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved. Why
can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options are there
for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?


Try a lamp that sits on an end table or maybe a wall-mount light.

clipped
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.

I think the best chance of getting a real improvement would be to visit
a lighting store that can address your situation and needs. Natural
light, room colors, uses all are factors in making a choice. You can
probably get a chandelier with 2 100's, but perhaps too hot for a
ceiling fixture? Is your vision ok, or have special needs?

Not doing lamps again. We sold 14 lamps at our first garage sale in
this house. We would go with paying someone to put can lights in after
the fact before we go buy lamps again.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Mike W.

Red Neckerson wrote:
"Mike W." wrote in message
...

My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them in
a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved. Why
can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options are there
for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?



Try a lamp that sits on an end table or maybe a wall-mount light.

Yeah... we've discussed visiting a lighting consultant, but were afraid
of the price. We have no special needs that we know of... we can't
understand how 60 watt bulbs are enough for anyone so maybe we do have
special needs.

Thanks.
Mike W.

Norminn wrote:
clipped

any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be
improved. Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs?
What options are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.


I think the best chance of getting a real improvement would be to visit
a lighting store that can address your situation and needs. Natural
light, room colors, uses all are factors in making a choice. You can
probably get a chandelier with 2 100's, but perhaps too hot for a
ceiling fixture? Is your vision ok, or have special needs?

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 01:23:26 GMT, "Mike W."
wrote:

My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.

Consider halogen lights. I took a ceramic socket -60W bulb out of a
master closet during remodel. I added a three light halogen thingy-
bob and have plenty of light now. How long do you spend in the
hallways? My garage ceramic socket is next....

Oren



"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

The issue is the decorative fixture. We want to maintain a nice look
around the house. I haven't seen anything ceramic online. Can you
point me to a link or something?

I don't spend a lot of time in the hallways... unfortunately we had no
idea about this lighting issue until we moved in and the euphoria of a
new house wore off. We still love the house, but the lightin in these
few rooms annoys us. We can get by with it, but were hoping for a
solution that was just replacing the light fixtures with other
decorative ones that took larger wattage bulbs. As it stands we're
talking about track lighting.

Thanks.
Mike W.



Oren wrote:
On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 01:23:26 GMT, "Mike W."
wrote:


My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.


Consider halogen lights. I took a ceramic socket -60W bulb out of a
master closet during remodel. I added a three light halogen thingy-
bob and have plenty of light now. How long do you spend in the
hallways? My garage ceramic socket is next....

Oren



"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 02:22:14 GMT, "Mike W."
wrote:

The issue is the decorative fixture. We want to maintain a nice look
around the house. I haven't seen anything ceramic online. Can you
point me to a link or something?

I don't spend a lot of time in the hallways... unfortunately we had no
idea about this lighting issue until we moved in and the euphoria of a
new house wore off. We still love the house, but the lightin in these
few rooms annoys us. We can get by with it, but were hoping for a
solution that was just replacing the light fixtures with other
decorative ones that took larger wattage bulbs. As it stands we're
talking about track lighting.

Zackly, I meant I removed a ceramic socket w/60W bub. Check
(sample only) ..... http://www.lampsplus.com/htmls/track.asp


Oren
"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

"Mike W." wrote in message
...
(SNIP)
60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.

Are you using reflector-backed bulbs or normal frosted round bulbs? I find
canlights with just 35 or 50w throw a lot of light, if they are 120v
reflector bulbs. Like the other poster, I have used 12v 50w halogens
throughout much of the house, and they give a bunch of light. Visiting
lighting galleries/stores is a great way to measure real as opposed to
advertized light. Don't need to buy - just look, carefully. Once I found
what I wanted, I ordered all the materials online, at significant discounts.

There's a big difference between a 'lighting consultant' and going to your
local electrical supply house or lighting store and getting suggestions. A
lot of lighting stores have people who know more than you would ever think
imaginable about lighting. Electrical supply houses usually have guys behind
the counter who know a lot also. None of this will cost you any money,
because they want your business. (Do not go in and pick their brain and then
go to a crap store like Home Depot to buy.)
If you take their suggestions, and also buy the quality they are selling,
then you'll probably be happy with the results. Only install one fixture at
first and keep the rest in the boxes. If you aren't happy with the results,
they are easily returned.

"Mike W." wrote in message
...
Yeah... we've discussed visiting a lighting consultant, but were afraid
of the price. We have no special needs that we know of... we can't
understand how 60 watt bulbs are enough for anyone so maybe we do have
special needs.

Thanks.
Mike W.

Norminn wrote:
clipped

any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be
improved. Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs?
What options are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.


I think the best chance of getting a real improvement would be to visit
a lighting store that can address your situation and needs. Natural
light, room colors, uses all are factors in making a choice. You can
probably get a chandelier with 2 100's, but perhaps too hot for a
ceiling fixture? Is your vision ok, or have special needs?

Mike W. wrote:
.. The cans light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the
rooms just dont seem to be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that
I can't find a fixture at any of the local big box home stores that
will take more than 60 watt bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my
opinion. ..

Thanks.

Mike W.

I suggest you consider the lamps you are putting in the fixtures. A
good reflector lamp will put out a lot more light than a standard light.
For the most light and less expense, I suggest Cf's That's compact
florescent. You can find one that will put out twice the light you are
getting now and use less electricity than you are now. They last longer as
well.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

"Mike W." wrote in message
...
My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.

Have you tried a CF? CF's can put out as much light as a 100 watt
incandescent. But not draw or heat more than the 60 watter. The heat is the
reason you do not put 2 100 watt bulbs in the ceiling. I put cans in my
great room and kitchen during a remodel. I used 23 watt CF's in the kitchen.
It looked like an operating room.

You mention nothing about the height of the ceilings. The higher you go
over 8 feet the less likely that the cans will do specific task lighting,
reading. The spacing and number of lights per room will have a lot to do
with the amount of light.

There are trim assemblies that will reflect more of the light downward.
They cost more that what you probably have.
I suggest you find the manufacture of the fixtures you have and then check
their web page. See what can be retro fitted to what is in the ceiling.

Mike W. wrote:
My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Compact Fluorescents (CF) bulbs allow you to put a higher wattage
(brighter bulb) in the lower wattage rated fixture. They're about four
times more efficient than an incandescent bulb, last much longer and
energy companies often provide rebates.

http://members.misty.com/don/cfbest.html

R

In my experiance the ceiling fixtures provide enough light to navigate
around furniture and get stuff from shelves and cabinets.

Reading lamps, desklamps , under cabinet lighting in the kitchen area
all required.

the common "reading bulb" sold in the 1950's was often as high as 250
watts incandescent.
now since then tv's and their reflection glare and using the computer
from the lazyboy recliners are all factors in the living room. i'm
using a a well shaded small desk halogen lamp for keyboard lighting, a
wallmounted pair of 3 way swingout 250w threeways to my left for wife
reading the newspaper; and a 300w quartz halogen torchiere floorlamp
with dimmer on my right for general illumination or my reading a
magazine. in the other corner of the 12x19 living room is a 39w double
d flourescent dimmable torchiere but it's a cool white for energy
saving general illumination, but not bright enough for reading. the
halogens are a nice warm welcoming light like the sun. if you pick cool
white flourescents at 6100k by mistake instead of nice warm white
flourescents at 2700k you may feel less comfortable. when you hit age
40 and reading glasses prescriptions, we found it may be easier to
change to a comfortable font and read the newspaper online with the
computer at a comfortable no glasses needed distance.
most cfl flourescent twist bulbs are not for enclosures. i can't see
your ceiling cans, they probably trap heat, but i would expect you
would need to consider reading the fine print before simply burning out
by overheating a bunch of new 42 watt in and 170 watt out screw-in
compact flourescent lamps.
on those dimmable floor lamp torchieres you wand a solid reflector
shade not perforated or translucent glass or it reflects onto the tv.

In article , SQLit wrote:

"Mike W." wrote in message
.. .
My family recently built a house. The house we had before this one had
only one room in the whole house with lighting fixtures built in to the
ceiling. Every room in our new house has at least one light fixture in
the ceiling. We thought that not having to have 'lamps' would be so
great, but we really are not satisfied with the lighting in a few rooms.
We had an allowance of 'can' lights so we spread them throughout the
family room, kitchen, and the various hallways in the house. The cans
light the rooms great. Our issue is some of the rooms just dont seem to
be lit well enough. My biggest issue is that I can't find a fixture at
any of the local big box home stores that will take more than 60 watt
bulbs. 60 watt bulbs are weak in my opinion. You can have 20 of them
in a room and still have a certain level of light that cant be improved.
Why can't I find fixtures that take 2 100 watt bulbs? What options
are there for me now that it would be a 'remodel' upgrade?

Thanks.

Mike W.

Have you tried a CF? CF's can put out as much light as a 100 watt
incandescent. But not draw or heat more than the 60 watter. The heat is the
reason you do not put 2 100 watt bulbs in the ceiling. I put cans in my
great room and kitchen during a remodel. I used 23 watt CF's in the kitchen.
It looked like an operating room.

Compact fluorescents are a good idea. However, keep in mind some little
issues that they can have, especially in recessed ceiling fixtures.

A 23 watt compact fluorescent produces (when things are going well) more
light than a 75 watt standard incandescent or about as much light as a
longlife 100 watt one.

You may think that a 23 watt compact fluorescent produces slightly less
than 1/3 as much heat as a 75 watt incandesxcent does. True, in terms of
BTUs of heat in the room.
Worse when it comes to heat in the fixture. About 50-60% of the heat
output of an incandescent is radiant, which is heat that materializes in
the room (or the building) but not in the fixture.
Meanwhile, compact fluorescents are about 80% efficient at producing
non-radiant heat (the other 20% is light, mainly specific wavelengths
selected to be useful for human vision).

A 23 watt compact fluorescent heats up a fixture a little more than a 40
watt incandescent does.

Sounds good so far? Yes, good for any fixture rated for as low as 60
watt maximum incandescent... Yes, a fixture rated for 60 watt
incandescent should be safe with compact fluorescents up to 26 watts.

But there is another little bugaboo... Compact fluorescents largely do
not take heat well. They may produce less light and/or have a color
change and/or have a decrease in color rendering index, and worse still
suffer reduced life expectancy if they are used in small enclosed fixtures
or in recessed ceiling fixtures or other "downlight" fixtures.

Now for some guidelines:

Most compact fluorescents 19 watts or less mostly do reasonably well in
most small enclosed fixtures and most downlights. Light output and life
expectancy may well be significantly impaired, but usually not so badly as
to make compact fluorescents not worthwhile.

In general, compact fluorescents of the specific wattage of 23 watts
tend to be not much worse. In my experience, 24 watts fares worse, as
well as 20 watt spirals.

Philips also makes SLS series compact fluorescents specifically rated
for use in recessed ceiling fixtures. These are the 15, 20 and
non-dimmable 23 watt one, and *not* the dimmable 23 watt one nor the 25
watt one. The 15 and 20 watt one are even available with snap-on
reflectors of R30 and R40 sizes.

I have also noted the Feit Electric one of 18 or 19 watts, which is a
spiral in an reflectorized outer bulb. I saw this one at Home Depot.
Although my experience with this one is low, I have not heard complaints
about it.

By and large, do not use screw-in compact fluorescents of more than 23
watts in recessed ceiling fixtures, other downlights, nor in small
enclosed fixtures. Preferably use there Philips SLS non-dimmable 23 watts
or less, or other compact fluorescents 19 watts or less (although 23 watt
spirals may fare reasonably well).

In recessed ceiling fixtures, also try to use ones with reflectors or
reflectorized outer bulbs.

Now another thing: If you put compact fluorescents in a single row of
ceiling downlights, the light will probably spread out more than if you
used incandescent floodlights. This could cause the compact fluorescents
to appear uselessly weak.
This is not as much a problem with multiple rows of ceiling downlights.
When you have recessed ceiling fixtures all over the ceiling and change
the bulbs to ones whose beams spread out more, what matters more then is
total light output. The problem here is when a single row of downlights
have their bulbs changed to ones that have their light spread out more.

- Don Klipstein )