Designing Recess LED lighting for Kitchen

[driverman]

Hi Guys,
I am an electrician, profiles says DIY
Seeking advice from those that install LED lighting. Kitchen is 3.7m x 3.4m. Basically 2 x worktop areas either side of the kitchen (3.4m walls). I've read here that most recommend Led lights sited 1m from walls. With my limited knowledge, I'm thinking 3 rows of 3. Is this overkill? Would 3 watt LEDs be sufficient or possibly 7 watt?
At the moment 1 x 4ft fluorescent in use, which appears to be adequate.
Thanks

 

[buzzlightyear]

plan you lighting on a piece of paper .before you start drilling holes in the ceiling .
I would go for 7watt .

 

[telectrix]

3 rows of 3, minisun 5watt GU10s.plenty. plan the 2 outer rows to throw light on the worktops, clear of the wall cupboards by about 6".

 

[Phil Thompson]

I'd go with 2 rows of 3 and 5-7w lamps, check the lumen output as some are very low compared to others,

Bell Gu10 lamps I think are 330 or 350 lumens each. I use them as they are reliable as well as bright.

 

[Midwest]

Ditto what they said Tend to try and limit spacing between each fitting, below 1200mm.

 

[driverman]

Thanks to all above for advice, appreciated.

 

[driverman]

plan you lighting on a piece of paper .before you start drilling holes in the ceiling .
I would go for 7watt .

I'm first fixing.........I pulled down the ceiling last week.
I was thinking of using LED recessed fire retardant fittings.
Would it not be better to use sealed light fittings? I don't want fittings that give off a lot of heat.
Thanks

 

[telectrix]

All LED fittings give off some heat, but nowhere near as much as a halogen leccy gobbler. as in LEDs don't get too hot to touch.

 

[Midwest]

The 'sealed' luminaires normally come with a manufacturers extend warranty. That said I put some LED GU10's in fittings in my house 8 years ago, still illuminating.

 

[Octopus]

If you've got the ceiling down I would consider splitting the lights across 2 switches.....

1m from the walls is too far in a kitchen

Your house or a clients?

 

[suffolkspark]

6 lights will be plenty just see what works with your joist spacings. I usually go 700mm from walls when over worktops and 1200mm apart or as near as poss to that. some downlights like the JCC hybrid 9 are okay up to 1.8m apart and they do give a good light and coverage but are a bit expensive, If your on a budget then go for a jcc twist and lock GU10 downlight which can be had for £5ea and are push fit terms so literally take 2 minutes each to second fix.... then fit a good quality GU10 LED bulb such as a megaman.

 

[Squid]

If the ceiling is down consider rimless light as they do look nice.

 

[driverman]

If you've got the ceiling down I would consider splitting the lights across 2 switches.....

1m from the walls is too far in a kitchen

Your house or a clients?

Friends house, busman's holiday. I was advised about 700mm would be better. Makes sense to light up worktop areas. So, if I put lights 700mm from each wall, that would leave approx. 3700mm - 1400mm = 2300mm between the rows. Would a middle row be required to even the light out?

 

[buzzlightyear]

it depends how work you lighting out from you post 3x3 2 lines would be ok.

 

[driverman]

If the ceiling is down consider rimless light as they do look nice.

View attachment 38232

Yes ceiling down, good clearance will be obtained when new ceiling goes up. I've not heard of rimless fittings, Thanks for pic, but I'm unable to really see what they are like. Any links ?