Basement Lighting????????

[colvinbackshop]

My pike lighting has been a REAL trial & error scenario

The Trainroom in all, is about 17' x 24'. The layout takes up a little over 16' x 16' with entrance doors and a "Backshop" taking up the rest.

Wanting to be as cost / energy effective as I can, I have gone with simple florescent lighting. The lighting for the shop area and isles have four twin tube florescent fixtures, one in each isle and two in the shop, which are plenty sufficient.

I am working from the top down, so my lighting was the first to go up. The original idea of spotlighting scenes with track-lighting was given up when my track plan changed (more than a few times) and I now have only florescent for the most part....

I have 4 ft. single tube fixtures mounted forward (above the front edge of the layout shelf) behind a valance. These fixtures pretty much butt against one another all around the room and the length of both side of the peninsula, making for fifteen fixtures in all.

In addition I also have what I call my "mood lighting"; two strings of Christmas lights (one blue, one white) that are on dimmers to simulate morning, dusk, and night. Over all I like how it has turned out.

As for photography, the florescent isn't the best, but they do take less energy and generate a lot less heat, a trade off that I personally can live with.

[reklein]

Mr.SP,I used track lighting run off my single fixture in a room of about the same size as yours.I got a fitting at the hardware store that accomodates a product called wire mold and wired in a switch and then set up the track lighting. Works good!! Kinda like C&O Fan's.

[C&O Fan]

I installed Track lighting on a dimmer

 

[Phoebe Vet]

Incandescents and hallogens use a lot of electricity, most of which is turned into heat, not light.  On the other hand flourescents cannot be dimmed.

If you fill the room with incandescents it is going to get hot in there.  I hope the space is air conditioned.

My situation is unusual.  My layout room used to be a photogaphy studio camera room.  It is equipped with daylight flourescent continuous lights in soft boxes on an overhead track system with pantagraphs.  They can be moved anywhere in the room at any height above the floor.  Each soft box has either 2 or 3 brightness levels while still maintaining consistant color.

[Anonymous]

I only use daylight flourescent tubes and bulbs.  I have the 4 foot long ones and the wrap around bulb type ones that sell for $7.50 for two at Wal-Mart.  They give off the most realistic lighting.  When I walk into my basement and the lights are on its like walking outside.  it cost alot more to buy these than any other bulbs but it is well worth it.  $9.30+ for the two 4' flourescent tubes as compared to $3.46 for two regular ones. 

[MisterBeasley]

I am a big fan of dimmers.  Even when running "night trains," I find that it's easier if I have a little bit of overhead light so I can see the control panels and the hand-held.  Or, I can really crank it up for close work and photography.

[GAPPLEG]

When I studded off my train room and wired it , I put outlets in the ceiling , I use 8 plugin flourescents with good bulbs over the 12x16 room. Plenty of light.

[Mr. SP]

The layout here probably has the worst lighting around. The room is 13 feet square with no windows. The only light is a single fixture in the centre of the ceiling. I'm looking around for a replacement flourescent type to better light the room.

[Pruitt]

I use daylight fluorescents as my room lighting. I plan to use incandescents for layout lighting (when I get to the point of being able to install it).

[Anonymous]

The best I can hope for is small lighting where they are most needed. The house already eats alot of electricity on that small box.

I have seen track lighting used to great success. I will probably go along. Particularly if the spouse is wanting that system to improve our living area with that style of lighting.

[tomikawaTT]

I had designed my benchwork before I put in new overhead lighting, so right now I have tube flourescents over the aisleways - five fixtures in a sloppy E formation.

When my construction reaches that point, I will put in shadowbox lighting similar to that used by Joe Fugate.  The ceiling lights will then be relegated to convenience and construction use, and left off during operations.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[selector]

All I have are hot GA10 mini-halogens on an 8' track X 2.  Five per track.  Did I say they heated up the area?

But, boy do they light up the scenery.   Really good for photography, too.

I think if you were to get the right kind of flourescents and then add one or two plug-in halogens for photography you will be quite happy.

[lvanhen]

I use flourescents for general lighting.  When scenery is installed I will use track/individual spots on dimmers for lighting effects.  My

[aav]

              I'm currently wiring my basement and i'm trying to determine what's the best way to go for overhead lighting, track,flourescent,other. i'd like to hear some feedback on what type of lighting you use and results you get from it. quality,amount of light,etc.

                    thanks alot,