Our kitchen is 12 feet long, 9.5 feet wide. Dead center in the ceiling is a
10-inch round incandescent light fixture with two 60-watt bulbs. We want to replace this fixture with a fluorescent fixture (square or rectangular). What length tubes and how many tubes should the fixture have to provide adequate light? Also, is replacing the incandescent fixture with a fluorescent fixture difficult? Thanks! --ArtEven a fixture with two 20W fluorescent lamps should produce about the same amount of light as the one you have. I would suggest looking for something you like the looks of (sq or rectangular) I will stay away from the U shaped or round lamps. They cost more with not advantages, unless you really like the looks. I suggest sticking with fixtures that use 40W (or
32W) straight lamps. That means you will be looking at rectangular 4 ft fixtures with two or four lamps.I would also look for the slightly more expensive warm (natural) color lamps so the food looks a little better in the new light.
Good Luck
Aside from the size, you may run into wire insulation in the ceiling box which has deteriorated from the fixture heat. Also, check to see that the wiring contains a grounding conductor. Many fluorescent fixtures won't start reliably without a good ground.
Making a proper connection from a ceiling box to a fluorescent fixture poses more problems but you'll have to see what's up there first.
Jim
Your going to be stuck with a 2'x4' something close fluorescent with 2 or 4 lamps. Which in time will have a dated look to it. Moving up to T-8 lamps will give more light over the standard T-12 lamps. ( bulb to bulb) The suggestion on checking the insulation is right on. I had that issue when I remodeled my kitchen. If you handy you could cut in some new boxes and use smaller fixtures, say the circle line ones. Make sure that what ever you put up you find a joist and place the screws into it. Hanging fixtures from non rated boxes is a no-no now. Have you thought about some of the new modular track lights?
Equal to 60 watt is 15 watt flourescent. Adequate is what you like I have a slightly larger kitchen lit to daylight with 12, 4 foot T8 on a dimmer and 800 watt of halogen on dimmers, it equals 3000 w . of incandesant,. If someone wants it bright and im hungover i use sunglasses.
Personally I find track lighting a poor choice for overall light.
You do make a good point repeating the insulation problem on old wires. And you are right about the new fluorescent fixture looking dated in the future, but then I expect the track like will be the same. Who knows?
Also a good point about the T8 vs. T12. They are more efficient, even if they are currently a little more expensive and difficult to find.
I have about the same size kitchen, and I replaced the incandescent fixture with a commercial 48 inch 2-lamp (F32T8) fixture. I thought I'd have to replace the ballast with a high output ballast, but it's bright enough with just the two lamps and a normal ballast. There's no flicker, and you have to listen real close to hear it hum. And the instant start ballast will work without a decent ground. I also added some undercounter fluorescents for task lighting, and there's still the single bulb incandescent fixture with a glass globe over the sink. I use 3000K lamps in the flourescent fixture and the color matches the incandescent lamps pretty good.
Bob
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