Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - basement lighting
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huanda
06-06-06, 08:14 PM
I plan on building a model railway layout in my unfinished basement. I'm not sure whether I'm going to install a ceiling or not. My question is "Which type of lighting would best give me good overall illumination? Fluorescent or recessed can lights? How many do I need for a 40 foot by 30 foot area? My ceiling joists are 9 feet above the floor
pcboss
06-07-06, 03:59 AM
Fluorescent give the most light using the least watts of electricity and will require fewer fixturesthan recessed. Common fluorescents also will not dim to allow you to create a nighttime scene for your train layout.
A common layout for recessed would be like a grid pattern using lights on a 6-8 foot spacing. This would vary if you needed more light. A rough guideline is the cone of light from a recessed is roughly the same diameter as the mounting height. This will vary with the trim and bulb used. I.E. 9' ceiling = about a 9' dia. cone of light on the floor. This would be about 6' if the train layout was 3' above the floor.
A common layout for recessed would be like a grid pattern using lights on a 6-8 foot spacing. This would vary if you needed more light. A rough guideline is the cone of light from a recessed is roughly the same diameter as the mounting height. This will vary with the trim and bulb used. I.E. 9' ceiling = about a 9' dia. cone of light on the floor. This would be about 6' if the train layout was 3' above the floor.