How many can lights on one circuit?

[Jeffksf]

I'm toying with the idea of redoing the lighting in my Kitchen and would go with about 6-8 can lights. Can I put all those on one dimable 3 way switch?
I currently have an exisitng 2 bulb flourescent fixture in the middle

 

[mrb]

take the maximum wattage of each fixture x number of fixtures then divide by 120 to get amps. This has to be 80% or less than the size of the branch circuit.

Note: when calculating fixtures, you have to use the max wattage the fixture can take. Doesnt matter you might put a 13w CFL in it, you have to count the fixture as whatever the label says (90w max or whatever)

 

[cowboyjosh]

For a dimmer you might have to go with a 1000 watt dimmer for anymore then 6 or 7 cans @ 75 watts per bulb if you go with halogen bulbs. In my master bedroom i have 8 cans with 75 watt halogens and i have them on a 1000 watt dimmer, sure i could have probably gottwn away with a 600 watt dimmer, however the dimmer would have gotten hotter the hell and eventually failed.

BTW, Lutron dimmers are the best IMO.

 

[rockchucker]

For a dimmer you might have to go with a 1000 watt dimmer for anymore then 6 or 7 cans @ 75 watts per bulb if you go with halogen bulbs. In my master bedroom i have 8 cans with 75 watt halogens and i have them on a 1000 watt dimmer, sure i could have probably gottwn away with a 600 watt dimmer, however the dimmer would have gotten hotter the hell and eventually failed.

BTW, Lutron dimmers are the best IMO.

100% ^


Lutron are the ONLY Dimmers I will buy. Most of them are rated at 600W. So you will have to do the math on what Wattage Bulbs you are going to be running. You also have to be careful about stacking too many of them in one box due to the heat. The Digital Maestro one touch are the only ones I use. They are this style...


http://www.lutron.com/Products/Stan...tches/MaestroDimmerSwitch/Pages/Overview.aspx


There is just one single push button switch with a Toggle on the side. You set the Toggle where you want the light to come on with one touch. Touch the large Button once and it will turn the light on slowly to that setting starting from completely off. With this gradual on the old "Blowing" of the Incandescent Light Bulb upon turning on the Switch is gone. It gradually warms up the Bulb as opposed to blasting it with full juice. Your Light Bulbs will last 10 times longer just because of this "Warming up". If you want the light on full blast then you just double tap the large Switch and it will turn the light on from nothing gradually all of the way to full brightness. Again saving the Bulb Filament from exploding upon power up. I hate the ECO Bulbs so I use Incandescent Bulbs on these Dimmers and never have to replace the Bulbs except by Entry Doors where the Door rattles the Filament from being slammed repeatedly while the light is on.


Another cool thing about these Switches is they have an Auto Timer Off mode. So if your bed is across the room and you want the light to stay on while you walk across the room then you just hold the Switch, the little green LED's will start to light one by one each denoting 10 seconds. Hold it until the number of seconds you want then release it. It will slowly turn off after the allotted time is up so you can make it across the room safely with light. Of course the IR Remote Switches come in handy for this also.



Then there are the Motion Sensor Maestro's and the Remote IR ones. Very cool with multi functions making them the most user friendly Switch out there on the market IMHO. I use the Motion Sensor ones all over the place also. Nice to have one in the Bathroom so when you go in at night the light comes on to the preset setting from zero gradually up to the desired setting. Easy on the eyes. You can set them for different time intervals and a few different options to boot.

Here...


http://www.lutron.com/Products/Stan...-Switches/MaestroIRDimmer/Pages/Overview.aspx


And...


http://www.lutron.com/Products/Stan...ch/MaestroOccupancySensor/Pages/Overview.aspx


If you switch all of your Dimmers to this style of Dimmer you will save the money that it cost you to buy the Switches in Light Bulbs alone over a few years.

I will never install another "Flip" style Switch in any Home. They are expensive but you get what you pay for. Out of hundreds of Lutron Dimmers I have installed I only had 1 issue with one set of 3-Ways that I installed.....and well it was my fault for hooking it up wrong. =)

 

[mrb]

Lutron is good, ive had good luck with the higher end leviton as well. Out of over 700 we had 5 or 6 DOA.

 

[Jeffksf]

Thanks for the help, I didn't even know about switchs like that, those could come in handy in other places in the house too. Do you have to get those at a commercial electrical supply house? what kinda money are we talking for one of those dimmers?

 

[cowboyjosh]

I like the Maestro as well, my house has Maestro Radio Ra2 dimmers and switches; they're great. You can buy 1000 watt Maestro dimmers from supply houses, online, and directly from Lutron.

I like LEVITON for outlets, commercial grade switches, whole house / building surge protection, etc; in fact a lifelong friend of mine is a big wig at Leviton, but I still won't use their dimmers or lighting control products.