layout room lighting

[Jimmydieselfan]

My layout room is 7' X 21'. I use regular 4' florescent garage lights. I have 8 of them evenly spaced and it is plenty bright and it don't get so hot as it would with incandecents. Cheap too, they cost 12.00 each w/bulbs.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

They are quite expensive I see. I wouldn't mind that if I could get them at a convenient location such as a department store and not have to wait for them to come in the mail.

[donhalshanks]

Thanks for answers.  Ouch... the price for dimmable hurts!

Hal

[Anonymous]

Can you use the compact flourescent lights in recessed cans?  Can you use them with dimmers?

Hal

You can use them in recessed cans but NOT with dimmers.

 

You CAN use dimmable CFLs with dimmers.  See:

http://www.goodmart.com/products/bulb_compact_fluorescent_screw_in_base_dimmable.htm

This source has about any color temperature you want and the bulbs have a good CRI.

Now I did not say they were cheap but they are available.

-John

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Can you use the compact flourescent lights in recessed cans?  Can you use them with dimmers?

Hal

You can use them in recessed cans but NOT with dimmers.

[BlueHillsCPR]

BHCPR:

He'd be fine with 18A if it was a 20A circuit. If you're not tripping the breaker, you're good. None of his individual loads are more than 85% of the circuit capacity.

Now, I would *want* to have two separate circuits, so I wouldn't lose one while working on the other, but I don't think he's violating anything at all.

Indeed the 18 AMP draw should be fine on a 20 amp circuit with 12 gauge wire.  Here we don't typically use 20 amp circuits for lighting.  Not sure what is allowed by the US National Electrical code in this case.  In our case lighting circuits are typically 15 amp, 14 gauge.

I didn't say Hal was violating anything.  I said it would be a problem in my area, (Saskatchewan, Canada).

It was just my intention to call attention to the fact that one needs to address codes and consider safety when planning to wire a layout room.

[donhalshanks]

Can you use the compact flourescent lights in recessed cans?  Can you use them with dimmers?

Hal

[TheK4Kid]

You could probably use what I'm using. Compact fluorescent daylight bulbs. I get the light of a 100 watt incandescent bulb for 27 watts. Wal-Mart has loads of them. You'll be wanting the 'daylight' type as they bring out the colors on the layout. The regular ones wash the colors out in a yellowish haze. BTW, I have a 74" ceiling (6' 2").

 

Jeff is right, I use these also.It takes them a few minutes to come up to full brighness, but they work great!

TheK4Kid 

[Autobus Prime]

I used recessed can lights with 60 watt reflector flood bulbs.  I laid out my track plan and my bench work to support it on paper, and then spotted the cans to properly cover the track plan.  I spaced the cans about 2-1/2' to 3' apart. 

I then finished my basement walls, and wired my ceiling for the cans.  I used 6 circuits of 6 cans each (36 lights).  I wired each circuit to a wall panel having six dimmer switches.  Each circuit covers a part of the layout, such as 6 lights over the island, 6 lights over the end of the dogbone, six lights over the shelf part along a wall, etc.  In this way, a circuit only has to be on for where I'm working on the layout.  Lights can be dimmed for night operation, etc.   

Good luck in your lighting!  Hal

Hal,

I hope you have the dimmers fed with power from more than one circuit in the electrical panel.  I figure the load from all 36 lights to be 18 Amps!  Not sure about the codes where you are but in my area that would be circuit overloading and a big no no.

BHCPR:

He'd be fine with 18A if it was a 20A circuit. If you're not tripping the breaker, you're good. None of his individual loads are more than 85% of the circuit capacity.

Now, I would *want* to have two separate circuits, so I wouldn't lose one while working on the other, but I don't think he's violating anything at all.

[trainnut1250]

Sounds like you have a plan in mind with the cans.  I prefer the shadow box look shown below:

 

 

 

CPFL Lights are mounted to the inside of the valence and are positionable according to the scene that is below them.

 

Guy

[ham99]

I have a 10x11 around the walls layout with 8 can lights [60w] centered every 36" over the layout.  They are on a dimmer circuit.  I also have two double-tube florescent fixtures over the center aisle.  I use the florescents for working on the layout, since the can lights produce quite a bit of heat.  The florescents are recessed in the drop ceiling.  Actually, about the only time I use the can lights is when I have visitors or to check the scenery colors when a section is finished.  Visitors think it's cool when I dim the overheads and turn on the street and building lights.

[BlueHillsCPR]

Thanks for reminding me of what I should have included.  I had room to add new four circuit breakers in my electrical box.  I also had an electrical inspection on the train room in the rough (open wiring) and then again on final finish, to make sure all was within code and up to standards.  I also wired a bunch of outlets all around the room, going to a master switch to cut all power to the layout.  I had made an electrical diagram before starting work, and this was helpful to have at the inspections.

Hal

Hal,

It sounds like you covered all the bases.  From your description you have a very robust and safe electrical system supplying the train room.  Good on you!

[donhalshanks]

Thanks for reminding me of what I should have included.  I had room to add new four circuit breakers in my electrical box.  I also had an electrical inspection on the train room in the rough (open wiring) and then again on final finish, to make sure all was within code and up to standards.  I also wired a bunch of outlets all around the room, going to a master switch to cut all power to the layout.  I had made an electrical diagram before starting work, and this was helpful to have at the inspections.

Hal

[BlueHillsCPR]

I used recessed can lights with 60 watt reflector flood bulbs.  I laid out my track plan and my bench work to support it on paper, and then spotted the cans to properly cover the track plan.  I spaced the cans about 2-1/2' to 3' apart. 

I then finished my basement walls, and wired my ceiling for the cans.  I used 6 circuits of 6 cans each (36 lights).  I wired each circuit to a wall panel having six dimmer switches.  Each circuit covers a part of the layout, such as 6 lights over the island, 6 lights over the end of the dogbone, six lights over the shelf part along a wall, etc.  In this way, a circuit only has to be on for where I'm working on the layout.  Lights can be dimmed for night operation, etc.   

Good luck in your lighting!  Hal

Hal,

I hope you have the dimmers fed with power from more than one circuit in the electrical panel.  I figure the load from all 36 lights to be 18 Amps!  Not sure about the codes where you are but in my area that would be circuit overloading and a big no no.

[donhalshanks]

I used recessed can lights with 60 watt reflector flood bulbs.  I laid out my track plan and my bench work to support it on paper, and then spotted the cans to properly cover the track plan.  I spaced the cans about 2-1/2' to 3' apart. 

I then finished my basement walls, and wired my ceiling for the cans.  I used 6 circuits of 6 cans each (36 lights).  I wired each circuit to a wall panel having six dimmer switches.  Each circuit covers a part of the layout, such as 6 lights over the island, 6 lights over the end of the dogbone, six lights over the shelf part along a wall, etc.  In this way, a circuit only has to be on for where I'm working on the layout.  Lights can be dimmed for night operation, etc.   

I put in the drop ceiling and cans. The ceiling is a little under 7'.  After building the bench work and layout, its height is 48"-52".  I have been very satisfied with the results and do not seem to have any shadow or darker areas on the layout.  The only places with some shadows are on my backdrop near the top, above the shelf parts against the wall.  This seems not to be a distraction, although purists might object. 

Good luck in your lighting!  Hal

[nbrodar]

I use daylight compact fluorescents, in metal reflectors:

One note about the CFLs, especially the high watt ones, they do take a few minutes to come up to full brightness.  They are also very blue until fully warmed up.

Nick

[jeffrey-wimberly]

You could probably use what I'm using. Compact fluorescent daylight bulbs. I get the light of a 100 watt incandescent bulb for 27 watts. Wal-Mart has loads of them. You'll be wanting the 'daylight' type as they bring out the colors on the layout. The regular ones wash the colors out in a yellowish haze. BTW, I have a 74" ceiling (6' 2").

[pcarrell]

I would think that unless the can lights are spaced pretty close together (like every foot and a half or something) and you are pretty careful about bulb wattage selection, can lights might give a kind of spotty effect.  You'll have to place them pretty close together and use like 15 or 25 watt bulbs to avoid "hot spots" in the lighting.  Of course, it really depends on how close the surface of the layout is to the lights.

[durango]

I guess I wasn't clear--I'm talking about recessed incandesant can light fixtures.  I prefer flourescents, but the low ceiling is my concern and recessed flouresents fixtures are way too expensive.  I do like the electronic flourescents--I have 12 of them in my woodworking shop with T8 daylights.

Anyhow thanks for the responce, but we need to try again--Next? Steve

[tigerstripe]

My current layout is 12' X13' around the walls.

I am using 8 F32 T8 bulbs.  Get the best you can afford. 

Cheap ballast produce an annoying flicker and if you happen to

be one of us unfortunate individuals that can hear that frequency

a terrible hum.  I used a standard double tube light fixture and

cut them from the base and attatched them end to end using a 1 X 2"

My lights are appox 28" above the railhead, But I like bright midday, no shadows

Also I use Sunshine 5500K bulbs.

A cheaper way would be to 1 cool (blueish) & 1 warm (yellow) tube in a double fixture.

 

[durango]

I'm looking for some input about room lighting over the layout.  I'm considering recessed fixtures over the layout since I have a suspended ceiling at 6'8" AND Menard's has them on sale for $4.00-normally almost 8 bucks.  My area is 12X15 and the layout will be 30" along the two 12 foot walls and the 15 footer  with a return to the center off one end of about 4X6-8'.  What are your thoughts on this type of fixture and use and what would you suggest for spacing and what kind of bulbs?  Also, I'd like know if your answer is based on experience or guessing (guesses are fine-I just want to know what I'm hearing/reading).

Thanks, Steve