Sheldon, just to clarify, I am not being critical of the number of lights. It just amazes me how much lighting is required in these situations. When I planned out my lighting, I was taken aback when the count reached 53 cans. And, truth be told, I could probably justify another 7 cans, bringing the total to 60. There is no question that a lot of light is required, so your count of 96 is understandable.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain Sheldon, just to clarify, I am not being critical of the number of lights. It just amazes me how much lighting is required in these situations. When I planned out my lighting, I was taken aback when the count reached 53 cans. And, truth be told, I could probably justify another 7 cans, bringing the total to 60. There is no question that a lot of light is required, so your count of 96 is understandable. Rich
So, a little more detail about my lighting design.
The maximum necessary light level would be about 80 foot candles for the 1400 sq ft of aisles and layout, which excludes my workshop area, or about 112,000 lumens.
50-70 foot candles may be enough, a few tests are in order.
112,000 lumens divided by the 1000 lumen output of the 6" LED downlights is 112 fixtures.
50 foot candles would be 70,000 lumens or 70 light fixtures.
From there I sat down with a copy of the track plan and located logical fixture locations using spacings of 3'-4', slightly larger spacing than we typically use over kitchen counters.
The result was 28 fixtures over aisles, 62 fixtures over the layout.
90 fixtures x 1000 lumens, 90,000 lumens or about 65 foot candles per sq foot.
The nice thing about this ceiling system and this lighting choice is the ability to easily make changes and to localize lighting as needed. If I decide a light is in the wrong place, all I have lost is a ceiling tile and the light is easily relocated.
The plan is to be able to dim the aisle lighting and leave the layout lighting bright for normal layout viewing, but allow bright aisles for work/cleaning, etc.
Another consideration is eventual developement of night scene lighting, dimming all lighting but possibly leaving the aisles lit slightly brighter than the scene and add UV black light to the scene lighting? Lots of research to be done there yet, but again the flexibility of the installation would allow that to be added later.
The steel beams in the basement, and some pipes and wires that run along them, will be boxed in with wood bulkheads.
The workshop utility area wil not get ceiling tiles, too many pipes. Several 4' shop lights will be positioned as needed.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL The nice thing about this ceiling system and this lighting choice is the ability to easily make changes and to localize lighting as needed. If I decide a light is in the wrong place, all I have lost is a ceiling tile and the light is easily relocated. The plan is to be able to dim the aisle lighting and leave the layout lighting bright for normal layout viewing, but allow bright aisles for work/cleaning, etc.
As far as overall layout lighting, as I think about it, you probably cannot have too much lighting. It is difficult to imagine a situation where the lights may be too bright.
Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Can you control multiple dimmable LED lights from a single wall dimmer switch?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yes, LED's work just like regular lights, you just need LED compatible dimmers.
All the lights on a single switch can be dimmed together.
PS - the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, or about 12 of the fixtures I am planning to use. To dim more than that with the same control, there are other options.
ATLANTIC CENTRALPS - the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, or about 12 of the fixtures I am planning to use. To dim more than that with the same control, there are other options.
I did not realize that residential dimmers had capacity ratings so low.
I would have assumed that since most lighting circuits are on 15 amp breakers, they would handle more than that. If my math is right, 150 watts is barely more than one amp.
Thank you for answering my question.
SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL PS - the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, or about 12 of the fixtures I am planning to use. To dim more than that with the same control, there are other options. I did not realize that residential dimmers had capacity ratings so low. I would have assumed that since most lighting circuits are on 15 amp breakers, they would handle more than that. If my math is right, 150 watts is barely more than one amp. Thank you for answering my question. -Kevin
ATLANTIC CENTRAL PS - the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, or about 12 of the fixtures I am planning to use. To dim more than that with the same control, there are other options.
They will handle 600 watts of incandesent load, but your observation is correct, it is way less than a fully loaded circuit.
Dimmers that can handle 1500 watts are completly different and of a commercial nature. Most do not work with LED's. The actual dimmer is not in the switch in that case for heat reasons.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL PS - the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, or about 12 of the fixtures I am planning to use. To dim more than that with the same control, there are other options. I did not realize that residential dimmers had capacity ratings so low. I would have assumed that since most lighting circuits are on 15 amp breakers, they would handle more than that. If my math is right, 150 watts is barely more than one amp. Thank you for answering my question. -Kevin They will handle 600 watts of incandesent load, but your observation is correct, it is way less than a fully loaded circuit. Dimmers that can handle 1500 watts are completly different and of a commercial nature. Most do not work with LED's. The actual dimmer is not in the switch in that case for heat reasons. Sheldon
In my basement lighting, I use 65 watt dimmable LEDs, each with an energy consumption of 7 watts. When you mention that the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, I assume that you are referring to energy consumption of watts. In other words, an LED dimmer should be able to control up to 21 of my LED flood lights. Correct?
The limits on dimmer circuitry are related to heat buildup inside residential boxes. You may have noticed that the rating decreases for units that are 'ganged' in multiswitch boxes, and that some of the higher-wattage-rated types have external heat sinks (often 'decorative').
As I recall the 'cheaper' dimmers were diacs, not triacs, which is why they were not useful for controlling motor loads. It's possible that some of the modern dimmers are indeed high-frequency fixed-pulse PWM switched, but this might involve more, rather than less, 'waste heat' in the device.
richhotrain ATLANTIC CENTRAL SeeYou190 ATLANTIC CENTRAL PS - the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, or about 12 of the fixtures I am planning to use. To dim more than that with the same control, there are other options. I did not realize that residential dimmers had capacity ratings so low. I would have assumed that since most lighting circuits are on 15 amp breakers, they would handle more than that. If my math is right, 150 watts is barely more than one amp. Thank you for answering my question. -Kevin They will handle 600 watts of incandesent load, but your observation is correct, it is way less than a fully loaded circuit. Dimmers that can handle 1500 watts are completly different and of a commercial nature. Most do not work with LED's. The actual dimmer is not in the switch in that case for heat reasons. Sheldon In my home, I have two chandeliers, one in the foyer and one in the dining room, that each support 600 watts of incandescent lighting. I have a dimmer controlling each fixture. Each fixture is on a different 15 amp breaker along with several wall outlets. In my basement lighting, I use 65 watt dimmable LEDs, each with an energy consumption of 7 watts. When you mention that the typical Lutron residential LED dimmer will handle 150 watts of LED's, I assume that you are referring to energy consumption of watts. In other words, an LED dimmer should be able to control up to 21 of my LED flood lights. Correct? Rich
In my home, I have two chandeliers, one in the foyer and one in the dining room, that each support 600 watts of incandescent lighting. I have a dimmer controlling each fixture. Each fixture is on a different 15 amp breaker along with several wall outlets.
Yes, a standard Lutron LED dimmer would handle 21 of your 7w lights, and there a some 1000w incandesent/250w LED dimmers out there, noticably more expensive.
I don't think I will use dimmers on my layout lights. The only time I want specialized light would be for taking photographs, and I bring out the light boxes for that.
It it is too bright, I might consider it.
I won't know until it is built.
SeeYou190 I don't think I will use dimmers on my layout lights. The only time I want specialized light would be for taking photographs, and I bring out the light boxes for that. It it is too bright, I might consider it. I won't know until it is built. -Kevin
I do have plans for night scenes, dimming is the first step.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL SeeYou190 I don't think I will use dimmers on my layout lights. The only time I want specialized light would be for taking photographs, and I bring out the light boxes for that. It it is too bright, I might consider it. I won't know until it is built. -Kevin I do have plans for night scenes, dimming is the first step. Sheldon
I am bumping this for the benefit of a possible new member here who may come looking for it.
I am bumping this based on a request from a reader who could not find it.
And I have an update regarding my lighting.
After some research I havedecided to dim and control the lighting in the layout room using the X10 home automation products.
I have a long career experiance with the X10 system and wasa big user of it at my previous home. While a very old technology, X10 has recently updated their products to be LED compatible, and their dimmers will handle 600 watts of LED lighting.
Additionally, because it is a home automation system, multiple dimmers can be programed to work simultaneously, and they can be operated by a hand held remote.
This will allow three dimmers to control the whole layout, one dimmer for aisle lighting and two for layout lighting. And again the two for the layout can be operated together. Each dimmer will only be loaded to about 2/3rds of its rating.
The dimmers and nearly 2/3rd of the lights are installed now, and I will post some pictures soon.