Daylight bulbs in new study

[DaKid]

Hi there,

I'm hoping to please get some advice regarding lighting for my new study, specifically "daylight lighting". We're converting an internal garage to study/cloakroom, and I'm intending to use the office mostly for computer work. Specifically, I'll be editing photos and designing photobooks and posters (and a little bit of relaxation as well!). For that reason, I'm intending to use daylight lighting, and my research has led me towards choosing Solux bulbs, specifically the 4700k ones as they're highly recommended for photographers.

To that end, I had a couple of questions for people who have experience of fitting down lighters and general lighting electrics:

1) I presume I'm right in thinking that there's nothing particularly unusual about the form or requirements of these bulbs, regarding use as downlighters? They require a 12-volt supply and "the diameter of a Solux™ bulb is 50mm otherwise known as MR16 with a GU5.3 base". Does that sound pretty normal?

2) From this tech sheet and this catalog page, and assuming I go for the "50W 4700K 36deg" bulbs, how many should I be getting to illuminate my office, and how should they be placed? It's 2.4m x 3.6m with a ceiling height of about 2.5m. There will be desks along one long wall and one short wall, with the other long wall having the room door in.

3) Do I need to worry about the lights being too physically warm, in terms of making the top of my head feel hot? Should I be considering some kind of diffusion or cover, or would I be negating much of the benefits in doing so??

Advice would be very gratefully received!

 

[bernardgreen]

I have a bench magnifing lamp

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/86215.pdf

with a daylight lamp labelled as 6500 K

For close work on electronic modules the almost harshly "white" light is ideal but is unpleasant as general lighting. Some paintings lose a lot of their natural look in the light from this lamp.

If the study is to be entirely work then daylight lamps might be OK but if you intend to relax for a while in there then I would seriously consider softer warm white lighting as well as daylight.

 

[DaKid]

I have a bench magnifing lamp

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/86215.pdf

with a daylight lamp labelled as 6500 K

For close work on electronic modules the almost harshly "white" light is ideal but is unpleasant as general lighting. Some paintings lose a lot of their natural look in the light from this lamp.

If the study is to be entirely work then daylight lamps might be OK but if you intend to relax for a while in there then I would seriously consider softer warm white lighting as well as daylight.

Which is why I'm going for 4700k lights by a company whose lighting is used by major museums to light their paintings

 

[bernardgreen]

Which is why I'm going for 4700k lights by a company whose lighting is used by major museums to light their paintings

They also have to use lamps with zero UV emmissions as UV will fade (bleach) the colours in the paintings so the lamp choice may not be based on colour alone.

 

[DaKid]

Can we just assume I know which lights I want, and focus more on the questions I asked, as much as I do appreciate the advice regarding bulb choice

 

[flameport]

To answer the questions:
1 - They will fit into standard downlighters, and will require 12v transformers.
2 - Probably at least 10, all depends on the light levels you want.
3 - Yes, they will run extremely hot, and there are no 'diffusers' or anything else you can fit that will prevent this.

Answers you probably don't want, but are the truth:
This form of lighting is totally inappropriate for an office or other work space.
Halogen downlighters are grossly inefficient, and will cause a significant heating of the room, 10 would be 500W of heating.
Even with enough lights, there will still be shadows and bright spots all over the room. Look at the tech sheet - you will just get circular spots of light.

A far more appropriate solution would be three of these: http://www.screwfix.com/p/sylvania-...58w-fluorescent-surface-modular-fitting/67395 fitted with Activa 172 fluorescent tubes. Far cheaper to run, much less heat, no shadows and the lamps will last for years, not weeks.

 

[DaKid]

To answer the questions:
1 - They will fit into standard downlighters, and will require 12v transformers.
2 - Probably at least 10, all depends on the light levels you want.
3 - Yes, they will run extremely hot, and there are no 'diffusers' or anything else you can fit that will prevent this.

Answers you probably don't want, but are the truth:
This form of lighting is totally inappropriate for an office or other work space.
Halogen downlighters are grossly inefficient, and will cause a significant heating of the room, 10 would be 500W of heating.
Even with enough lights, there will still be shadows and bright spots all over the room. Look at the tech sheet - you will just get circular spots of light.

A far more appropriate solution would be three of these: http://www.screwfix.com/p/sylvania-...58w-fluorescent-surface-modular-fitting/67395 fitted with Activa 172 fluorescent tubes. Far cheaper to run, much less heat, no shadows and the lamps will last for years, not weeks.

Thank you. That's some useful advice, and I appreciate your opinion. I'm not sure I'd go for a cheap Screwfix solution to a requirement for full-spectrum high-kelvin lighting in a room where I do professional photo editing and proofing, but I'm grateful for the suggestion.

It certainly sounds like I have some more research and thinking to do.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm not sure I'd go for a cheap Screwfix solution to a requirement for full-spectrum high-kelvin lighting in a room where I do professional photo editing and proofing, but I'm grateful for the suggestion.

Well, if you're convinced that the most important thing with your lighting is that it should cost a lot I'm sure that you can find an expensive luminaire to put a full spectrum 6500K tube into, or find someone selling that Sylvania one for more than Screwfix.

 

[DaKid]

Well, if you're convinced that the most important thing with your lighting is that it should cost a lot I'm sure that you can find an expensive luminaire to put a full spectrum 6500K tube into, or find someone selling that Sylvania one for more than Screwfix.

You're right. I was too ready to dismiss the suggestion, because I dislike the idea of using fluorescent tubes, but I should make sure I properly understand advice given when asked, before I dismiss it.

Thank you.

 

[londonboy]

To answer the questions:
1 - They will fit into standard downlighters, and will require 12v transformers.
2 - Probably at least 10, all depends on the light levels you want.
3 - Yes, they will run extremely hot, and there are no 'diffusers' or anything else you can fit that will prevent this.

Answers you probably don't want, but are the truth:
This form of lighting is totally inappropriate for an office or other work space.
Halogen downlighters are grossly inefficient, and will cause a significant heating of the room, 10 would be 500W of heating.
Even with enough lights, there will still be shadows and bright spots all over the room. Look at the tech sheet - you will just get circular spots of light.

A far more appropriate solution would be three of these: http://www.screwfix.com/p/sylvania-...58w-fluorescent-surface-modular-fitting/67395 fitted with Activa 172 fluorescent tubes. Far cheaper to run, much less heat, no shadows and the lamps will last for years, not weeks.

Thank you. That's some useful advice, and I appreciate your opinion. I'm not sure I'd go for a cheap Screwfix solution to a requirement for full-spectrum high-kelvin lighting in a room where I do professional photo editing and proofing, but I'm grateful for the suggestion.

It certainly sounds like I have some more research and thinking to do.

You need to remember the majority of the replies here are from tradesmen who design and install lighting for a living.

 

[DaKid]

You need to remember the majority of the replies here are from tradesmen who design and install lighting for a living.

Absolutely ... and I'm grateful for the opinion, and may end up doing it, but if I can avoid using tubes in my home, I'd prefer it! It certainly looks to be the best suggestion so far, but I'd welcome others.

 

[RF Lighting]

Indirect lighting is what you want.

You could use PL uplighters on the walls or something like this on the ceiling

I don't know what issues you have with fluorescent lamps, but I assure you they absolutely are the best light source for this sort of application. Go for fittings with high frequency control gear and you'll have almost instant starting flicker free lighting.

Indirect lighting provides bright evenly spread lighting with no shadows and no glare.

 

[DaKid]

Indirect lighting is what you want.

You could use PL uplighters on the walls or something like this on the ceiling

[...]

I don't know what issues you have with fluorescent lamps, but I assure you they absolutely are the best light source for this sort of application. Go for fittings with high frequency control gear and you'll have almost instant starting flicker free lighting.

Indirect lighting provides bright evenly spread lighting with no shadows and no glare.

That does sound better ... my wife has said she likes uplighters as well, so maybe that's the solution. Where should I be looking to buy some, and will they still take those standard Activa tubes?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What colour will the walls and ceiling be?

 

[DaKid]

What colour will the walls and ceiling be?

White ceiling definitely. Maybe slightly off-white walls, but I personally prefer pure white, and I might (!) have more sway in that room than in any other in the house when it comes to decorating.

My father-in-law (sparky by trade) has suggested a suspended ceiling, as per an office, and seems to think you can have ones that don't look too dreadful. Another thing for me to think about, perhaps.