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Can Light Pattern

IONH

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Feb 12, 2010
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Central Massachusetts
I thought this would be easy to find on the net, but it wasn't... at least not with the terms I used.

I was in one of the big box stores the other day looking at can lights. It seems that you buy the cans (CI or non-CI pending insulation... I have insulation so I will need CI housings) but then you have to buy the shrouds/lenses separately.

Does anyone have a diagram which shows the light pattern of the open, eyeball, pinhole, etc.
 
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Gooch

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May 30, 2009
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Petersberg, IA
I thought this would be easy to find on the net, but it wasn't... at least not with the terms I used.

I was in one of the big box stores the other day looking at can lights. It seems that you buy the cans (CI or non-CI pending insulation... I have insulation so I will need CI housings) but then you have to buy the shrouds/lenses separately.

Does anyone have a diagram which shows the light pattern of the open, eyeball, pinhole, etc.

they are all pretty similar, what makes a difference is the bulb.
 
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IONH

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they are all pretty similar, what makes a difference is the bulb.

Is it? I thought the housing/trim would act as a reflector so the bulb wouldn't matter so much. My hope was to just toss CFLs in them instead of floods (or CFL floods).

I have a 12 foot long narrow bathroom and I was going to put 3 can lights down the center. I do want some light on the walls but am okay with it not being at the ceiling.
 

ddawg16

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Jul 11, 2008
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Location
S. California
This pic might give you an idea of the light distribution.....

I have a combination of PAR CFL's and just plain bare CFL's....I don't really see a big difference....in the below example, all are 100w equivilant CFL's.

IMG00098.jpg
 
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Dodge

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Feb 8, 2008
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Illinois
I read somewhere once that the ceiling height is the "footprint" on the floor, if that is what you were asking. Kind of like a triangle.
 
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IONH

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Feb 12, 2010
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Central Massachusetts
My bathroom is only about 3 feet wide at a narrow portion to just about 8 feet at its widest (including shower cavity and vanity).

I would love the look of can lights, but I am concerned about the shadows at the ceiling.
 

Cobra6

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Oct 23, 2007
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Location
Tennessee
I would love the look of can lights, but I am concerned about the shadows at the ceiling.

I would never use can lights in a works area - they cast too many shadows - if you are going to properly light up a work area, you will need a can light every three feet.
 
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