Lighting question

[Cruez]

Ok, I've been trying to do some research on compact fluorescent lights...

I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row while we are building the house.

My question, is there a specific recessed lighting fixture to use when using compact flourescent lighting?...

I have seen them in commercial applications but I can't find squat on the net, there is actually too much information to sift through..

Anyone have this in their home, or install it??..

[charmler]

Most of the compacts I have looked at say do not install in a totally enclosed fixture. I have several in fruit jar type fixtures and just left off the glass. They are spiral lights and look cool. At least until someone decides they need them more than I.

[crystaldragon]

There are some commercial designs out there. But the real key to any recessed fixture is ventilation. In incandescent lighting the bulb is the heat source. In flourescent, while the tube don't generate any great amount of heat the ballast does !
When they are surface mounted the heat radiates outward, when they are recessed you have to make provision for it to escape (usually up) into a much larger space.

[Richard Cranium]

I bought some Phillips CF lamps in about "91 or so, the sticker on them was $45.00 each, I sorta know the store owner and he let me steal them for $14.00

Today the best or cheapest place to get them is at Sam's Club.

The come like 6 to a pack for about $5 each more or less.

I use them in bathrooms cuz the heat generated by incandescant bulbs causes cooling problems in the summer.

Also I break the rules and use them outdoors in "Carriage" fixtures for lighting up the walkway, it's suprising how much light a 15 watt bulb produces when you line the fixture with aluminum foil in every direction you don't want the light to shine

In the master bath, I've unscrewed all of the 5 bulbs but one cause it was a waste, the single 15 watt is more than enought light for me.

[Warthog]

Home Depot also has really good buys.

My dad is obsessed with them...

He got some spiral/twisty shaped light saver bulbs that are the size of "normal" lightbulbs. Very nice! At the time (fairly recently) they were quite cheap with a rebate so you got them free

Warthog

[Cruez]

Thats what I want for the main lighting for the house....but Im not sure about using them in a standard recessed light fixture...

Plus I need to watch out where I put the networking lines when I do install them....since they do cause interference...

[crystaldragon]

If you are talking about using the screw-in type of flourescent bulbs in what are called "can lights" No Prob. That is the round fully recessed light fixture approx 6" in diameter. Reason being that the combination won' get close to the design operating temp. If you are going to have insulation less than 3" from the fixture (covered with blown-in for example) just be certain to get fixtures rated for that. IC in the designation as I remember.