I had an idea to put an old 4 foot flu lamp on top of my kitchen cupboards to give a decent light enough to see to get a drink etc without turning on the main 8 foot flu lamp. The 4 footer was rated at 36 Watts the 8 foot one at 100 Watts so I thought I could leave the little one on for a few hours without racking up my bill too much. Anyhow I left it running this evening I just went out there my kitchen smells of burning and the fitting is super hot it burnt my finger. Also it tripped the RCD For that socket circuit The fitting was on its side whilst lit that should of been OK don't understand why it died. I tried powering it again around 2 seconds after plugging in the rcd tripped again Grrrr
I replaced my under cupboard fluorescent kitchen lights with LED ribbons and drivers from Screwfix. Drivers by Aurora. Low profile compared with fluorescents. Ribbons run full lengths of the cupboards and cut to length with scissors. Cleaned off surfaces with meths before sticking ribbons on. Look good and not to expensive.
It has been found that additional fixings are required, as the ribbon glue softens over time and the ribbon lights sag.
Many of the amateur Great Unwashed have no clue about lighting design. They put silly track lights for the centre of a kitchen then wonder why they work in a shadow at the sink or chopping board. They think that installing ceiling recessed lights is always straightforward despite lack of access and obstructions to particular locations. They have no clue about lighting levels. One customer of mine bought large chandeliers. The drop is so great from the ceiling that they are a hazard to shipping, and you have to walk around them. The householder has to have coffee tables under them to prevent her guests from knocking themselves out.
The latest "goof" I have seen is a circular L.E.D. fitting so high and of so low light output in a utility room that you hardly know if it is on as it is so dim.
A recent light that I was asked to fit was a decorative chandelier. I had to get the householder to help hold it up whilst it was being fixed to its silly weak ceiling bracket due to its heavy weight. Those light designers show no consideration to the installer. The screws are positioned very close to the ceiling and they are very difficult to locate and rotate.
They think that installing ceiling recessed lights is always straightforward despite lack of access and obstructions to particular locations. They have no clue about lighting levels. ...
A recent light that I was asked to fit was a decorative chandelier. I had to get the householder to help hold it up whilst it was being fixed to its silly weak ceiling bracket due to its heavy weight. Those light designers show no consideration to the installer.
Beware that if it is appropriate to insert down-lighters in the centre line of the ceiling (say a 3 x 3 array) if the carpenters have done their job properly, there will be cross-bracing exactly where you want to go.
The traditional way of securing a chandelier is to pass the chain through the centre of the ceiling rose and attach it to the side of the joist above.
Il admit I know virtually nothing about lighting design I just used to install other peoples ideas unless they were down right dangerouse of course. I put the flu lamp on the cupboard on a whim really I was just playing. As its only me here I don't think I need to be too fussy! Il admit the original idea was I was going to try to color the tube using marker pens as a sort of home made disco lamp but the color the pens gave was woefully inadequet so then I had the idea of putting it on the cupboard had the lamp lived I would of tidied up the wiring and left it there. Just my luck I had a carp fitting
