Kitchen Lighting. Advice please!

vegtablepatch

:hello:
I have to decide on new kitchen lighting within the next two days and just can't decide what is suitable.
I have a north facing kitchen/dining room with a supporting beam between the two rooms. The kitchen area is 3390 wide (length of the beam) by 2824mm length . There are three under cupboard fluorescent lights , two are 10w and one is 20w.
I would appreciate advice regarding whether a track spot light (3 or 5 lights) placed next to the beam on the kitchen side of the ceiling would be sufficient lighting. The spots would need to cover the 600 worktop below the beam, 1000 work top plus sink and a larder.
I have no idea about lighting systems and suggestions including alternatives to the above will be most welcome.
Thanks.
Vegie.

Fire_Fox

Halogen spots tend to leave dingy corners, more so in a kitchen as wall hung cabinets block the light. The more bulbs you have on the track the less likely you are to have dingy corners, as you can't just angle them exactly as you please or you will end up blinded as you enter the room! We have eight inset downlighters in our dark north-facing kitchen and six more lamps on tracks in the hall (no window), and I would say we need them.

Installing lots of 50W halogen lamps will increase your energy bills if you use the area regularly as they waste a lot of energy as heat. If you do go for halogens, be sure to get a wide angle flood version to limit shadows and/ or lower energy alternatives to reduce running costs. Don't bother with LEDs as they are very expensive and not bright enough for a kitchen.

Scoobs72

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Don't bother with LEDs as they are very expensive and not bright enough for a kitchen.

There are some expensive LEDs that are good enough, but they are VERY pricey and the cheap ones are not up to the job. In a couple of years, possibly less, LEDs will be up to the job and at a reasonable price. You will definitely see the impact of the halogens on your electricity bill, but if you can live with it for a year or so they are the best option at the moment..... unless you are happy to go with low energy CFLs GU10s and live with the really slow start-up times. If not, keep an eye on LED development and swap the halogens out to LEDs when the price/performance level is right.

Phil_L_2

A quick design would suggest a pair of twin linear flourescent fittings fitted with 49Watt 1500mm T5 tubes with colour rendering index of better than 90 (polylux).

I tried it with Thorlux Jubilee fittings but any similar fitting (good quality) should give similar results.

Personally I would avoid incandescent lamps or any other point source.

vegtablepatch

Thankyou Firefox, Scoobs and Phil for your advice.
We shall probably go for Fire fox suggestion of 50 watt wide angle halogen with a view to changing at later date to "led" as per Scoobs suggestion.
OH is not keen on fluorescent tubes although I think they may be the better option. OH pays eon bills so he can make the final decison.

I do have one more question. Can I get the 50 watt wide angle halogen or the fluorescent tubes from Screwfix?

All your advice has been very helpful and is certainly appreciated.
Thank you.
Vegie.

Scoobs72

vegtablepatch wrote: »

Can I get the 50 watt wide angle halogen or the fluorescent tubes from Screwfix?

I'm not sure, but one thing I would say is that you should choose your bulbs very carefully in terms of angle and colour. One halogen is not just the same as another halogen.

One other thing I'd add is that overall Phil_L is probably right in terms of his suggestion - it will give the best overall lighting in the kitchen, but flourescent fittings tend to look awful, hence most people having halogens.

Fire_Fox

vegtablepatch wrote: »

Thankyou Firefox, Scoobs and Phil for your advice.
We shall probably go for Fire fox suggestion of 50 watt wide angle halogen with a view to changing at later date to "led" as per Scoobs suggestion.

Lower energy alternatives to 50W dichroic halogen lamps are Osram Decostar IIRC or Philips Masterline ES for MR16s, and Sylvania Superia for GU10s. Same amount of light and same look as dichroics, a third less wasted energy as heat. :T