Kitchens by Riland

It is important to use the correct light bulbs in the recessed lighting fixtures. If you are unfamiliar with bulbs and the many varieties it can be an overwhelming task. The majority of people will simply use whatever bulb they have on hand when one burns out or they will make a trip to grocery store and purchase whichever looks like it will fit. Knowing the different types will help make the correct decision for using the best bulb.

There are many abbreviations on bulbs that should be understood. If the bulb says 40W it means the bulb is forty watts. The R 16, BR16 or a PAR20 this is the shape of the bulb and the 120v means the amount of voltage, it also may be 130V.

When you remove the bulb from the recessed fixture there will usually be a sticker somewhere inside the can that will list the optimum bulb for the unit. For example the sticker may say 40WBR16 some will list the voltage as well but many will only list the previous.

Going to the manufactures website will also give you more information about the type of bulb you will need for your particular fixture. There is a separate piece from the can known as a lenses, reflector or baffle, this is the trim. The bulb used will be responsible for the effectiveness of the particular trim. There will be a specifications sheet enclosed with the can and the information will be found there.

The Halogen bulbs may be available in two styles a spot light or a flood light. A spot light will provide light for approximately a width of twenty degrees. These are the style used for placing a focused light beam on a piece of art work for example. The flood bulb will provide a light to approximately sixty degrees and it will be more of a surrounding than a direct beam. The majority of individuals opt for the flood light bulbs.

You will have different color options when you use the compact fluorescent bulbs. This will determine the color of emitted light determined by the temperature. For example a temperature of 2700K will produce a soft white color and a temperature of 5000k will produce a bluish white light.

The bulbs will vary in cost; however, they normally have a long life and are easily found at most department or hardware stores.