Fluorescent Flood Bulbs

My kitchen is lit with recessed cans which currently use Sylvania Halogen Capsylite bulbs: PAR 30, 75 watt. These bulbs are beginning to reach their lifespan, and as we begin to replace bulbs, I have been considering replacing them with fluorescent flood bulbs. Although I enjoy the bright white light of the halogen, I have read that halogen bulbs are less energy efficient than either standard incandescent or fluorescent. Also, the halogen bulbs feel hot if I stand directly under them.

I am wondering if anyone has a recommended brand of fluorescent flood bulb. My fixture will accept 75 watt R30 or PAR30 bulbs. I have noticed that some fluorescent bulbs give off a more orange colored light than others. Is there any information available about which fluroescent bulbs are closer to white in thier light?

Thanks much,
Sue

 

http://www.janmar.com/

This site might help you out. You wont get the same crispness of the halogen, but you will definately save energy.

 

The color rendition that you mention is a direct factor of the temperature rating that the lamp is given. These ratings are in degrees Kelvin, ie. 4100K. The color temperature of sunlight is 6000 K so the closer to 6000 you get, theoretically, the brighter and whiter the light. I think that what used to be referred to as "cool white" is around 1200 K.

Most retrofit lamps for recessed fixtures are around the warm white temperature rating. You will more than likely have to go to a lighting store to get the full range and info for these lights. Most home centers carry only the items that sell quickly and don't always have everything available.

If you look at websites of major lighting manufacturers like, Phillips, GE, Osram,Sylvania and the like I am sure that you will get more education about these then you ever wanted or imagined.

Good Luck.

 

Actually, the lower the temperature (degrees Kelvin), the more the light is skewed toward red.

Incandescent lights are in the neighborhood of 2,900 and get lower as they wear out. They give off a "warm" red glow. Video and indoor photo film prefers 3,200 for "tungsten white balance." Fluorescent lights are in the range of 4,500 to 5,500, giving them a slight blue/green "cool white" cast. Sunlight is 6,000, giving it a decidedly blue hue. On cloudy days, this temp can increase well above 6,000. It also varies with time of day. The color temp lowers during the "magic hours" just after dawn and just before sunset.

Replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescents will raise the color temp in the room. This time of year in the north, it may be just the thing to alleviate that bad ol' cabin fever.

 

Thanks for the good advice, everyone. I'm been scouring the internet for more information and learning a lot about Kelvin, CRI, and lumens. I've also discovered that since I have a long white baffle in my housing (that is, as opposed to an open trim), I could go with just a regular compact fluorescent bulb rather than a flood bulb. I went to the home center and looked over the options. Most of the bulbs there are the standard 2700 K. Sylvania, however, had a 3000 K bulb available there. I brought both options home to see the difference, and the difference was dramatic. 3000 K looks much "whiter". I also discovered that there are a number of on-line stores which have a greater selection of bulbs in all sorts of Kelvin options.

I have one last question. I used a 20-watt fluorescent in place of the 75 watt halogen. Although the stated lumen output is similar (1130 halogen, 1200 fluorescent), the fluorescent just doesn't seem to cast as bright a light. Perhaps it is because the fluorescent bulb has the white baffle for a reflector, and the halogen flood has the shiney reflector?? Can I use a 23-watt fluorescent bulb in a fixture rated for 75 watt halogen or incandescent?

Thanks again!
Sue

 

i thought sunlight is 5000k and the lower the kelvin rating the yellower the light...the higher the kelvin the more blue it will appear.
To acheive halogen qualities you should be around 4000 k , or at least that is what was closest in my house.
my 2 pennies!
T>

 

I found this on the Kodak web site:
-----------------
Artificial Light
Match Flame 1700
Candle Flame 1850
40-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp 2650
75-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp 2820
100-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp 2865
500-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp 2960
200-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp 2980
1000-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp 2990
3200-Degree Kelvin Tungsten Lamp 3200
Molarc "Brute" with Yellow Flame Carbons & YF-101 Filter (approx.) 3350
"C.P." (Color Photography) Studio Tungsten Lamp 3350
Photoflood or Reflector Flood Lamp 3400
Daylight Blue Photoflood Lamp 4800
White Flame Carbon Arc Lamp 5000
High-Intensity Sun Arc Lamp 5500
Xenon Arc Lamp 6420

Daylight
Sunlight: Sunrise or Sunset 2000
Sunlight: One Hour After Sunrise 3500
Sunlight: Early Morning 4300
Sunlight: Late Afternoon 4300
Average Summer Sunlight at Noon (Washington, D.C.) 5400
Direct Mid-Summer Sunlight 5800
Overcast Sky 6000
Average Summer Sunlight (plus blue skylight) 6500
Light Summer Shade 7100
Average Summer Shade 8000
---------------------------------
A separate search for fluorescent lights showed that they range from 2700 (warm) to 4500 (cool). My mistake from running on memory. Most of the fluorescents in offices that I've dealt with in lighting for video production are in the cool/green area. Lumens drop significantly when fluorescents are forced into other color temps, mostly because the light is filtered by tinting the glass or adding a gel sleeve.