What size lights are best for 4" recessed ceiling cans?

Question

I currently have four recessed ceiling cans or "hi hats" with GE Reveal R20's (floodlights) in there and while the quality of light is good, it looks like the bulb is sitting a little too deep giving each one a spotlight affect. Should I use physically larger bulbs like an R30, R20's with a higher wattage, or can I adjust the height of the existing lights within the fixture?

Answer 1

Mike is right, adjusting the level of the socket in the can will help a lot. You also may want to consider a PAR 20 capitulated bulb. They are a little more expensive but tend to last much longer - look for 130volt bulbs they last the longest. The light is halogen which is a truer - whiter light than regular R20 which are incandescent - more yellow. Also be careful of using to high a wattage the can has a rating on the inside that tells how high a wattage you can use. 60 watts is average. Also the halogen may only be a 50 watt bulb but puts out as much or more than a regular 60 watt bulb.

If you lower the socket I think you'll see a big difference.

And I'm sorry Samm but fluorescent bulbs aren't that great. Yes they are more efficient and they last a long time, but they tend to grey things out and they contain mercury which by the way is the reason so many of the workers who cleaned up the towers after 9-11 are getting sick. From all the fluorescent bulbs in the towers.

Answer 2

Well, you can do either actually. I would try adjusting the bracket first.

Remove the bulb. (Have the light switch turned off!).

With the bulb out, you can see there is a wing-nut holding the bracket that holds the plate the bulb recepticle. Usually you can loosen the wing-nut and slide the bracket up or down.

Additionally, bulbs are designed to have "angles of illumination". That means they either have a reflector that aims the light in a very narrow beam (15 or 30 degrees), i.e. a spotlight. Or, the have a wide beam (60, or 90 degrees) i.e., a flood light.

Playing with a combination of the
adjustment and using different types of bulbs will give you your desired results.

Good luck.

Mike

Answer 3

I use 60 w. florescent floods in mine.