Recessed lighting question

[FilthyZ]

Hey guys, gotta my cans installed, but having some trouble with the lighting. My beams are scattered out too far and putting out way too much light. I'm looking for some more along the lines of this. Any suggestions on bulbs, and trim for this look?

 

[e-tek]

To get that look, you'll need a lot more money for cars!!!

 

[FilthyZ]

I'm just asking about the lighting please.

 

[FilthyZ]

Maybe something light this?

 

[mrb]

what lamps do you have in yours now? Maybe try a par 30 NFL this is a 25 deg lamp that should give you around a 4.5-5ft spot @ 10ft

 

[FilthyZ]

I just threw in R40's I had laying around. First thing I noticed was how much light was being throw out. Not only down, but also side to side and towards the road. It lights up the entire drive way and across the street. Defiantly not what I was wanting. I wanted more of a downward light that has a nice beam to it like the picture I shown above.

I'll try the lights you suggested. Do the wall wash trim help at all, or is it mainly the bulb?

Also, where do you suggest I source the Par30 NFL's? Big box stores have this or would I need to order online? Thanks!

 

[bchee]

Can the light be moved higher up inside the can?

 

[FilthyZ]

The current bulb is position as far up as possible. I'm going to try the NFL 25 degree bulb and see if that makes a difference. I think that and the cut off shield it will cut down all he scattered light that is being thrown away from the garage face.

If the 25 degree is too much, I'll try the 9 degree.

Went ahead and ordered the 25 degree and 9 degree. Whichever I like better I'll keep.

I'll keep ya guys posted...

 

[Greatbear]

You will probably have to change the trim kit/diffuser to get the desired effect. Par 40s tend to throw lots of light regardless of their designed beam pattern, so it might be in your best interest to downsize internally to a PAR 30 or smaller, with narrow spot and go with an isolating diffuser. HD and Lowes have lots of these things on display, you can generally find anything you want.

 

[bassman]

Go with a par 30 bulb, even fl should be fine, with a 310 r30 trim, and set the lampholder up all the way, and you'll get what you're looking for.

 

[FilthyZ]

Thanks guys for the help. I placed an order for Par 30 NFL's 25 degree and 9 degree to test both. I'm gonna see how the 310 r30 trim handles the light, also may try the cut off shield design. I think overall the par30 nfl's are def gonna be a lot better.

 

[FilthyZ]

Thanks again guys for the help. Def improved the overall look. Still finishing up the garage. Will be posting the build soon.

Before

After

 

[mrb]

perfect. is that the par 30 NSP?

 

[FilthyZ]

Those are the Sylvania Par30 NFL 25 degree bulbs.

 

[mrb]

yeah, nfl is what i meant 25 deg

 

[FilthyZ]

Thanks for the help mrb, you def helped me out a ton.

 

[LEVE]

Perhaps a little late for a tip, but here's what I did... I removed the 90watt floodlights from my garage peak and from underneath the eaves of the house. These were all light and motion sensitive...so they'd come on and track you when you walked between the back door and the detached garage. When they came on.. you could actually feel the heat as the floodlights spotted and directed light at you.

I found CFLs at Wal*Mart that were meant for recessed lighting cans... they're almost the same dimensions/shape as floodlights. So I decided that the floodlight bulbs had to go. I installed 20watt CFL's in each of the floodlight assemblies.

They give off much less heat, and about 70watts of light. It's a softer, more subdued light that is great at night without the glare of floodlights. No more lighting up the neighborhood when I travel back and forth from the house to the garage.

 

[FilthyZ]

Leve, the lights in the first picture were CFL's and the lighting angle was too extreme and would just flood light out everywhere. The Sylvania Par30 NFL 25 degree have a much narrower cut off and spot to them. They are 50 watts each and setup on a dusk to dawn sensor. I am going to remove the sensor and switch this out for a timed duration because at 3am-6am I really don't need the light to be on. I have a neighbor who works for AAA and is back and forth all night, so motion sensors would have the lights turning on and off all night long.

The lighting in the first picture is 10x brighter than that of the second. For some reason in the picture it looks brighter than what it actually is. It's actually a nice soft white and no glare. I think it's just the camera.

 

[LEVE]

Leve, the lights in the first picture were CFL's and the lighting angle was too extreme

Wow! I'm surprised! I wonder how LEDs would do?