What size Fluorescent light do I need

[Ladyt391]

hi I’m looking for some advice please. We currently have 8 downlighters in our kitchen and wall lights in the conservatory which leads off it.

I want to change them for two fluorescent light fittings but I’m unsure of what size. Our kitchen is currently quite dark and there is never enough light so I want to get it right this time, but also don’t want to go over the top and have it lit up like Blackpool!

The kitchen space is 17ft x 8 ft - directly leading to the conservatory which is 12ft x 10ft. I’ve found some lights with diffusers which look quite nice and modern. They are a 5ft twin tube (kitchen) and 4ft twin (conservatory).

Can anyone advise if these will be too bright / not bright enough or suitable for the space.

Thanks

 

[mwatsonxx]

Difficult to advise, but I think they will be too bright why not use single fittings, you can always add another single. Also have you considered under cupboard lighting to the work top, can look quite sophisticated, and really is the only way to illuminate work tops.

 

[SUNRAY]

Difficult to advise, but I think they will be too bright why not use single fittings, you can always add another single. Also have you considered under cupboard lighting to the work top, can look quite sophisticated, and really is the only way to illuminate work tops.

I support the under cupboard lights being an option but you may find that replacing the ineffective downlighters (a job I have done too many times to count) with suitable fluorescents may give enough shadow free light.

We have 2 rooms knocked through to make a 20x10 kitchen and due to the mismatch of ceilings installed a false ceiling, level with the top of cupboards Down the middle we have 8 4X2 clear prismatic panels and I have never regretted 3x 5ft single fittings. We also have undercupboard lights and use them regularly but I think we would not miss them if they had never been there.

I suggest that you would do better with 2 single fittings than one twin du to the length of your room. You may wish to retain the existing for the times you don't need proper light.

 

[mwatsonxx]

Also dimmers can be used to control the light level.

 

[winston1]

Also dimmers can be used to control the light level.

Using dimmers to control florescent lights is possible but requires specialist fittings and dimmers. Anyway why would one want a dimmer in a kitchen of all places especially one which is "currently quite dark"?

 

[mwatsonxx]

Using dimmers to control florescent lights is possible but requires specialist fittings and dimmers. Anyway why would one want a dimmer in a kitchen of all places especially one which is "currently quite dark"?

Its called a suggestion as opposed to an instruction.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Anyway why would one want a dimmer in a kitchen of all places especially one which is "currently quite dark"?

Because maybe the light levels required for different tasks are different? Because maybe curing the "currently quite dark" problem in a way which makes it as bright as anybody could ever want might be too bright for some of the people in the house, some of the time?