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Looking for some guidelines in spacing recessed lights in a front porch ceiling. Porch measures 42’W x 6’D with 8′ ceiling. I have temporarily installed 3 cans (1 center, 2 – 12′ off center) with 40W A19 bulbs. While the porch is lit, there are dim areas near the ceiling between the cans when looking at the porch from street. Is thre a recommended spacing for this application? Also, do you need to use covered lenses for a porch?
Any info would be appreciated.
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Replies
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go to the library and get a copy of Architectural Graphic Standards.. which is also on CD..
it will have a great section on lighting..
also graingers catalog usually has a short course of instruction in sizing and using all of their products..
off hand .. you need 3x as many as you got
and yes .. i would use a lense.. for diffusion and sightliness..
*I agree with Mike. You need more cans. What you are concerned about and what Mike is steering you to is utility and attractiveness. The best porches I've seen of that size are very lit up. You have a great deal of space there, illuminate it and show it off.Well, since you have three holes already, I'd say you just start filling in the gaps, say every 3'. When you get to the ends, just figure a handsome reveal, or inset, for the last of the run. Too, depending if there are stairs, you may want the last cans right up to the landing. A luminosity chart I use shows that you need 18 cans to give you the desired--for residential exterior--candlepower.
*Maybe 3FT in, each end, then 6 FT centers. 7 cans. Up your wattage if using reg. cans. If using minis, try halogen bulbs. Can at 8' will drop a cone of lite 7' at the floor. The dims in between at the ceiling are gonna appear unless you put em way too close together. That's the nature of cans. The cones will cross at about 3/4 ft down. Glass shower trims will keep out the wasps.
*See archives.The type of bulb (narrow, wide, flood, spot, type A) and reflector/baffle/trim used, plus your vertical adjustment of the bulb socket within the can, affect spread significantly.Of course cans provide terrible uplighting, and they are very inefficient in general. Consider wall brackets, and make sure hwatever you're using is appropriate for damp or wet locations, depending on their exposure.
*You might consider putting them on a dimmer. You can match the light output to the mood. The spacing will dictate the pattern, and the dimmer dictates the brightness- so you don't have to mess with different bulbs, halogen, etc to get it right.Also, outside you WILL get bugs in the lens-even the sealed shower cans. Your choice, look at cobwebs and sweep them out, or look at black bugs in the lens...My 2 centsAdam
*Hi Ron G.I would wonder about attracting, or not attracting, insects.Perhaps this is something to consider.Hope this helps.alan joseph samsonsallykish@aol.com
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Looking for some guidelines in spacing recessed lights in a front porch ceiling. Porch measures 42'W x 6'D with 8' ceiling. I have temporarily installed 3 cans (1 center, 2 - 12' off center) with 40W A19 bulbs. While the porch is lit, there are dim areas near the ceiling between the cans when looking at the porch from street. Is thre a recommended spacing for this application? Also, do you need to use covered lenses for a porch?
Any info would be appreciated.