Lighting

[Will]

Electrician has rcommended fitting HV fluorescent lighting in a kitchen. Never heard of this - anyone know whether it works and is it safe? TIA.

Will

[YAPH]

Dunno about HV (that would be High Voltage, which would be above 1000 Volts, which simply doesn't exist in a domestic context!).

OTOH there's HF == High Frequency which is decent modern fittings which don't do that annoying flick-start (and flicker even more annoyingly when they're on the way out). If you're happy with fluorescent then HF is definitely the biz - and the ones B&Q does are under £25 for a normal

1500mm (5' in old money).

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I hope you misheard him - and it was HF. Electronic ballasts that run at a much (H)igher (F)requency than mains - eliminating any visible flicker, higher efficiency and longer tube life. No chance of hum from the fittings either.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Gosh -- you found an enlightened electrician. Assuming you mean HF (high frequency). Mostly they fit mains voltage downlighters, which result in appauling lighting, and high bills.

It's probably the best lighting available for a kitchen. However, that's largely down to the type and positioning of the fittings. I always conceal them -- on top of cupboards lighting the room by bouncing light off a brilliant white ceiling, and under cupboards to provide worktop task lighting.

[NT]

Fluorescent lighting is great _if_ the details are got right. Get them wrong and its/ just unpleasant.

[Will]

Thanks to all for info. Quite right I should have said HF not HV.

Will

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Other thing to note is there is a big variety of tubes available so you can choose the light type you like most. Ones as supplied with fittings tend not to be the best choice. But you'll need a proper supplier for them

- not a shed.