Adequate Lighting for porch?

[PCustoms]

Porch is 8'x56' and currently has 2 globe fixtures mounted approximately 20' apart along the outer edge.

Would replacing with 7 4" or 6" wafer LED spaced 8' along the center be overkill, or not enough light?

Haven't picked the exact lights yet, but they won't be anything fancy.

 

[mike93lx]

I would do selectable color temp and dimmable, probably 6".

I really like the ones that have the lens slightly recessed. They look a lot better than the flush ones.

8' spacing should work well

 

[PCustoms]

I would do selectable color temp and dimmable, probably 6".

I really like the ones that have the lens slightly recessed. They look a lot better than the flush ones.

8' spacing should work well

Color temp absolutely, leaning towards dimmable but need to do some research (not sure how I'll wire/add dimmer back in house). After having 2 **** fixtures for so long I don't want sunglasses at night...

Almost bought some 4" adjustable can style at HD on super clearance, but they were commercial electric so passed on them.

Agreed on the recessed, flush ones don't do it for me.

 

[mike93lx]

Why the wiring concern? How are they switched now?

 

[PCustoms]

Why the wiring concern? How are they switched now?

3-way switch by the exterior doors.

IIRC the feed is from the basement to the 1st switch, from there it either goes up and over or down and over to the second switch and then up to the attic/over the porch. Not easy to pull wire as there's spray foam in the basement and spray foam in the attic plus a couple feet of cellulose.

I added the 3 way prior to all the insulation work, but the only thing I remember for sure is the junction box in the attic is new, and I can pull new wire off that for the new lights.

 

[mike93lx]

3-way switch by the exterior doors.

IIRC the feed is from the basement to the 1st switch, from there it either goes up and over or down and over to the second switch and then up to the attic/over the porch. Not easy to pull wire as there's spray foam in the basement and spray foam in the attic plus a couple feet of cellulose.

Just replace one with a dimmer (I like lutron) and keep the other a switch. No new wiring needed

 

[PCustoms]

Just replace one with a dimmer (I like lutron) and keep the other a switch. No new wiring needed

Yeah, that's what I need to look at, compatibility and if it's line or low voltage.

 

[mike93lx]

Yeah, that's what I need to look at, compatibility and if it's line or low voltage.

Ah. The halos that I mostly use are all line voltage dimming

 

[mike93lx]

If you want to keep the lighting levels lower, 4" might be the better move.

There will be multiple beam angles, so make sure you get all matching. I'd be tempted to grab one extra as a backup for down the road.

 

[PCustoms]

Ah. The halos that I mostly use are all line voltage dimming

Certainly be easiest.

What brand you been using?

 

[mike93lx]

Certainly be easiest.

What brand you been using?

Halo.

Was going to try WAC in my folk's remodel, but ended up grabbing Halo out of convenience.

 

[PCustoms]

Halo.

Yeah I feel dumb, didn't realize that was a brand.

HD had some Lithonia contractor packs marked down, would be more then I need but I'd have a few spares.

Whatever wafer I used in my basement are still going strong. The can style in the kitchen work, but crackle a few minutes after turning off due to the crappy housing and heatsink.

 

[mike93lx]

Yeah I feel dumb, didn't realize that was a brand.

HD had some Lithonia contractor packs marked down, would be more then I need but I'd have a few spares.

Whatever wafer I used in my basement are still going strong. The can style in the kitchen work, but crackle a few minutes after turning off due to the crappy housing and heatsink.

All good. Pretty sure it's the RL series. Nice setback, dimmable and selectable tem
Only critique is that I have a couple halo gimbal with less than awesome spring tension on the clips

 

[Stuart in MN]

Adequate depends on how you use the porch. Most people aren't doing surgery on their porches so a huge amount of light isn't required. If you're just sitting out there enjoying a beverage on a summer night it can be pretty dim.

 

[PCustoms]

Adequate depends on how you use the porch. Most people aren't doing surgery on their porches so a huge amount of light isn't required. If you're just sitting out there enjoying a beverage on a summer night it can be pretty dim.

Pretty much nailed it.

I hang out between the 2 current lights, but would like a bit more even distribution...

 

[Shiftless]

I would be concerned about too much light. You definitely want dimmable. Depending on what you select, you will still get about 1000 lumens from each one. Lighting a porch at night is WAY different than lighting a workshop.
You now have 2 light fixtures. What bulb do you have in each of those globe lights? How is the general level of light in the area 5 feet on each side of one of those fixtures? If each of those fixtures has, let’s say a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb that is about 800 lumens.

If you replace two 800 lumen fixtures with eight 1000 lumen fixtures, that will need a lot of dimming.

Have you considered LED rope lights tucked in behind some trim to augment your existing fixtures?

 

[PCustoms]

I would be concerned about too much light. You definitely want dimmable. Depending on what you select, you will still get about 1000 lumens from each one. Lighting a porch at night is WAY different than lighting a workshop.
You now have 2 light fixtures. What bulb do you have in each of those globe lights? How is the general level of light in the area 5 feet on each side of one of those fixtures? If each of those fixtures has, let’s say a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb that is about 800 lumens.

Probably a 60W equivalent LED.

If you replace two 800 lumen fixtures with eight 1000 lumen fixtures, that will need a lot of dimming.

Have you considered LED rope lights tucked in behind some trim to augment your existing fixtures?

Rope lights would look tack IMHO. I'm redoing the entire ceiling and trim, so doing this "right".

Here's how the current fixtures are wired

 

[mike93lx]

I would be concerned about too much light. You definitely want dimmable. Depending on what you select, you will still get about 1000 lumens from each one. Lighting a porch at night is WAY different than lighting a workshop.
You now have 2 light fixtures. What bulb do you have in each of those globe lights? How is the general level of light in the area 5 feet on each side of one of those fixtures? If each of those fixtures has, let’s say a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb that is about 800 lumens.

If you replace two 800 lumen fixtures with eight 1000 lumen fixtures, that will need a lot of dimming.

The lighting angle will be very different moving from a globe to can less wafers, so lumens vs lumens isn't a good comparison

 

[Bert_]

I have a single globe light with a 100w bulb in the center of the ceiling on my 26' long porch. It's an adequate amount of light.

Recessed lights are never look right on a porch to me. It's popular but I won't have them in my own house.

Puck lights are trying to mimic a recessed can, and they don't do a very good job of it. The whole theory of a can is to hide the light source.

 

[Stuart in MN]

A couple wall sconces may be nice. I'm thinking of what it was like in Mayberry back in the day.

 

[Metal-Marc]

For a front porch you're looking for lights that can create a nice ambiance. Recessed light don't do that.

Indirect lighting is what looks best. If you see the light bulb, it's not indirect lighting.

I'm using something similar for outdoor lighting, along with Philips Hue bulbs. I can dim them, turn them on/off on a schedule, etc.

With several of those, especially in between windows you can have a beautiful front porch.

 

[PCustoms]

For a front porch you're looking for lights that can create a nice ambiance. Recessed light don't do that.

Indirect lighting is what looks best. If you see the light bulb, it's not indirect lighting.

I'm using something similar for outdoor lighting, along with Philips Hue bulbs. I can dim them, turn them on/off on a schedule, etc.

With several of those, especially in between windows you can have a beautiful front porch.

It's a 56' porch in the back of the house.

I can really all wall sconce without a hassle.

 

[Metal-Marc]

It's a 56' porch in the back of the house.

I can really all wall sconce without a hassle.

I don't know your budget, but this can really put some nice ambiance on a porch.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CK9LQP5?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PCustoms]

I don't know your budget, but this can really put some nice ambiance on a porch.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hue-Lightstrip-Compatible-555904/dp/B08CK9LQP5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sometimes our affiliate links drive me nuts:

 

[mike93lx]

Sometimes our affiliate links drive me nuts:

I "copy link text" then paste into a browser. My adguard nds won't let me look at anything affilliate

 

[PCustoms]

I "copy link text" then paste into a browser. My adguard nds won't let me look at anything affilliate

It's hit or miss, but that's the first time I've seen it blocked that way.

 

[PCustoms]

It's hit or miss, but that's the first time I've seen it blocked that way.

Edit. Long press, open in new tab worked fine?

 

[mike93lx]

It's hit or miss, but that's the first time I've seen it blocked that way.

Oh yeah, I'm getting the same thing. Never seen it before

 

[Metal-Marc]

Sometimes our affiliate links drive me nuts:

www dot amazon dot com slash dp slash B08CK9LQP5

 

[PCustoms]

@mike93lx

Going to give these a try:

HALO 6-Inch Canless LED Recessed Light Selectable 3000K, 4000K, 5000K CCT 800 Lumens – White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RQ2MJZD?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looked around at the orange store and their selection was mostly commercial electric and flush luck style.

What they did have made me feel like a 4" recessed would be too small. This porch never felt large, but after cleaning it off and redoing all the wood (floor and ceiling) it's definitely got some space. The selectable color and dimmable to 10% ought to let me dial in something nice.

 

[mike93lx]

@mike93lx

Going to give these a try:

HALO 6-Inch Canless LED Recessed Light Selectable 3000K, 4000K, 5000K CCT 800 Lumens – White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RQ2MJZD?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looked around at the orange store and their selection was mostly commercial electric and flush luck style.

What they did have made me feel like a 4" recessed would be too small. This porch never felt large, but after cleaning it off and redoing all the wood (floor and ceiling) it's definitely got some space. The selectable color and dimmable to 10% ought to let me dial in something nice.

You should be able to get that one at big orange, but that price on Amazon is good enough to have the search not be worth it

 

[PCustoms]

You should be able to get that one at big orange, but that price on Amazon is good enough to have the search not be worth it

Maybe, but certainly not local here.

I think they're in the middle of a stock change. Either way I'll have lights in hand tomorrow

 

[Copymutt]

Upgraded my porch set up this spring. Have automatic LED flood that’s aimed at the grill.

 

[PCustoms]

Well damnit...

56' porch, posts ~8' spacing, grooves in ceiling at 6" spacing and wanting to be centered over a groove in between each post.

Guess where the rafter is?

Yep, right above every damn hole. Need about another inch of clearance.

 

[mike93lx]

Well damnit...

56' porch, posts ~8' spacing, grooves in ceiling at 6" spacing and wanting to be centered over a groove in between each post.

Guess where the rafter is?

Yep, right above every damn hole. Need about another inch of clearance.

Time for a tear down and rebuild

On a long porch, I wonder if the spacing will be all that noticeable if you just move a couple inches one way

 

[PCustoms]

Time for a tear down and rebuild

On a long porch, I wonder if the spacing will be all that noticeable if you just move a couple inches one way

That's what I'm playing around with.

I started this rebuild based on the existing poured footings at roughly 96". Carrying this up to the main posts, the spacing is a little off at the door, and the door isn't quite centered. I drilled the first light dead center to the door and missed the rafter.

Basically every light would need to be about 3" to the left. Probably OK

What throws it off bad is I've already established the vent pattern in the field, and the lights should be centered on this pattern.

Only upside is the orange store seems to have fixed their website search/inventory. I can get a "flush" halo luck for $15 tomorrow:




That's what I get for taking advantage of the cold front and jumping on this tonight....

 

[mike93lx]

I really dislike the flush ones. There are some halo s that are slightly recessed but still 1/2" thick

 

[PCustoms]

I really dislike the flush ones.

Agreed. I bought 2 brands last weekend, I swear the were both flush. One was a Halo....

There are some halo s that are slightly recessed but still 1/2" thick

Got an example?

Looks like there might be flush, "recessed" and 1/2 thick and then recessed and needs 2" depth.

 

[The Cobbler]

for me, I prefer porch lighting to be very dim. I don't want blazing daylight.

 

[PCustoms]

for me, I prefer porch lighting to be very dim. I don't want blazing daylight.

Yep, the one light that I wired in tonight got set to 2700k, at full brightness it was a tad too much. I didn't install the dimmer as I'm probably changing fixtures and wanted to ensure it's compatible.