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rmak
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 10:40am - Edited by: rmak
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I am at the wiring stage of my cabin re-build. We want to put in a few ceiling lights and are wondering if anyone has found nice, inexpensive fixtures.
My big concern is that I will be using the lowest wattage bulbs I can get away with. I don't want a fixture to block or defuse/dim what light comes out.
I also don't want a porcelain screw in garage light fixture with an exposed bulb. Not only for looks, but the ceilings are low and I don't want anyone accidently hitting/breaking the bulb.
Thanks!
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 10:55am - Edited by: bldginsp
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The DC LED light fixtures made for the RV industry are inexpensive because mass produced. They also use probably the least power per lumen light output of any fixture. I plan to install a small DC PV lighting system, with no AC inverter, since all I want is lights and cel phone recharge.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 11:26am - Edited by: razmichael
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Are you running 12v or 120? Even if going 12V you can find lots of well priced 12V LED bulbs with standard bases (E27 for example). This then allows you a lot more fixture flexibility as you can go to any hardware or lighting store and find a fixture that looks good and meets your design and cost desires. This may not meet your low ceiling concerns. Couple of examples on ebay (lots more available if you search; nothing special about these examples). If you go this route you will need to decide on the light colour (cool, warm) :
Ebay1 5 pack
Ebay2 Single Bulb
When I wired my cabin (12v lighting) I went with more lights on more switches so I could conserve when able but run multiple lights when needed in specific areas. I ordered a ten pack of E27 bulbs but have not got to the point of putting in final fixtures (don't have internal walls finished yet) and am currently using the $1.50 hardware store fixtures. I also have two three way sets of switches and lights for the two loft areas (turn on and off from below or in the loft) but I used relays for these.
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rmak
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 11:31am
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I got the word from the boss of the family that she wants regular power, so 120v it is.
I'm really questioning how many lights I will need in a 12 X 16 space.
I'd like a light and switch by the door somewhere to turn on when we come in, but we might just need a few table lamps.
Like the whole wattage use issue, it's really hard to speculate on how much light we are going to want/need.
In a stroke of dumb luck, I screwed the interior siding on because the arthritis in my hands makes nailing difficult. I guess I can always take some of the siding down and add on lights as needed.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 11:40am
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Quoting: rmak I got the word from the boss of the family that she wants regular power, so 120v it is.
Yah - been there! Understand! As I mentioned, I went with more lower wattage fixtures and switches rather than fewer higher wattage lights but this is partially because I have two young boys who like to leave lights on. I find this does add more flexibility to how we can use the lights but comes at the added cost and wiring effort.
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neb
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 04:00pm
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If the boss isn't happy knowone is happy!! LOL
I have a work shed that I wired and is the same size as your shed. I put 4 light spaced equal right down the middle of the ceiling. I have plenty of light. Use lower watt bulbs or higher watt to your needs.
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rmak
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 04:55pm
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Thanks Neb!
I'm thinking about two overheads that I can switch on at the door as we come and go and six sets of plugs so I can move lamps around as we need. Unlike your shop, I don't want to have light constantly. More on an as needed basis.
But your post gives me some idea. Much appreciated.
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neb
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 06:07pm
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rmak
I also followed code for spacing for the outlets. You you follow cde check to see what is required. I remember mine was 6 ft apart. I can't remember but the outlet from an outside door needed to be no less then 3 feet I believe. Check with an electrician we would be able to tell. Good Luck
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rmak
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 06:33pm
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That 6 foot figures just about right for the 16 foot length. I was going to put plugs in the back corners, then about 5 feet up then another 5 feet up.
I wasn't going to put plugs along the back or the front wall, which are 12 feet wide, though. I only have a 2000 watt generator! I believe I'm already overplugged for what my electrical needs would be.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 07:21pm
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The receptacle spacing is actually 12 feet. The NEC rule is that no point along the base of the wall can be more than 6' from a receptacle. That is figured on most items having a cord of that length. That works out to the receptacles being 12 feet apart. I will never forget that as I got the question wrong on the first electrical test I ever took.
Kitchens have different rules for spacing and number of circuits.
OTOH I also believe that you can never have too many outlets. More outlets closer together than the NEC rule makes it easier to place things around the wall and have ready access to a receptacle.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2014 07:24pm
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Quoting: rmak the ceilings are low
Wall mounted lights may be the way to go... ???
The 120 VAC Cree LED bulbs at HD are very nice lights, put out good light for a small number of watts.
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cbright
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2014 09:29am
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I'm using 100% 120v AC LED lights in my 12x16.
I went this way because I'm running my place off an extension 30amp extension cord that goes to the neighbors property. Only have 15amps through it at the moment, but the plan is to hard wire it to a 20amp circuit breaker.
I went way overboard wiring my place.... have the power coming into a breaker box and then have 5 different circuits coming out of it. (outside lights/plug, overhead lights, two circuits for plugs downstairs, and one circuit for the loft). Everything is to code in case I ever have to tie into the actual grid.
Better to over wire a place when the wall are open than try to add on later.
With every light on (4 "spot lights", pendant light, dual light standing light, 2 lights over the sink), 3 outdoor light I'm using about 120 watts of power.
Add in a ceiling fan (65w) and a the fan on the propane heater (15w) and a stereo (100w) and 40" Led lcd tv (70w)
And you get about 370w total .... basically nothing considering I have about 20amp * 110v = 2200w available.
As for your low ceilings, can you use recessed lights? With LED bulbs you can get bright bulbs that don't generate much heat.
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ILFE
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2014 09:49am
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Prior to moving to the city we live in now, we stayed in a hotel here. (We had come to start installing the solar and rainwater harvesting for our farm house.) Anyway, one of the first things I noticed, were the wall lighting fixtures, apparently built by a local craftsman, throughout the hotel. I took images, because I wanted to add them to our place at a later date. They can be wired for any voltage and any fixture one may wish to run.
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2014 11:15am
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At my place I have propane lighting in my off grid log cabin. I wanted to supplement the propane with other lighting but I wanted to keep it rustic. There is another thread on this forum about lighting and I took ideas from that and made lights using 12v LED lights. The bulbs are small, can be used as recessed lighting or incorporated into low profile ceiling lights etc. The LED bulbs are also available in 120v. The receptacle base is readily available for about $3-4 and can be incorporated into anything. They are very bright and use little energy and do not get hot. Here are some pictures of what I did. I am actually thinking of installing a few of these bulbs above my couch right into the log joist that supports the loft.
Bathroom light
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loft light
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loft light installed
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outhouse light.
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2014 11:19am
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The previous thread was
http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/3_985_0.html
Lots of neat ideas there.
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rayyy
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# Posted: 1 Apr 2014 08:43am
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I bought all my light fixtures from Lowes and Home depot.These are standard 120 volt screw in bulb fixtures.Hundreds of styles to choose from.I just happen to like the old rustic punch tin lantern look.All my lights are wired up to the 12 volt DC battery bank.I know you can't buy a 12 volt light bulb with a standard E27 base on it from a local hardware store.There is no demand for them but you can buy them on line through E-bay.LED bulbs are now available at the equivalent of a 40,60 and even 80 watt incandescent bulb.The only use 5 to 13 watts of power to give you great lighting.I might warn you though to look for the warm white bulbs as opposed to the bright whites.The give off a much more natural light.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 2 Apr 2014 07:18am
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we went to the log home show back during the winter....
there were two ladies...selling new converted real kerosene lanterns...converted to a electric .....they looked really good ....my wife said...buy one for the cabin,,,i did at $55 bucks...the next morning it had lantern remorse...LOL....now I joke about my high dollar lantern.. I put it on a rustic iron hanger it does look good at the cabin ,,,and put off lots of light...I looked on ebay ...you can buy a conversion kit and do it yourself.
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60766244
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# Posted: 17 May 2014 02:20am
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I've bought 12v/1amp LED light stripping that I plan on placing in naturally hollowed branches and logs within the cabin.
Each metre of the stripping is apparently equal with a 60watt bulb.
I think it feels brighter... but that may be because it's spread over a distance.
I'll be cutting the lengths into 0.5 metre strips and then doubling them up into the branches.
Check my build thread and some time down the track I'll have them made up and going in. 
Overall with electricity I plan on doing 12v lighting, having the standard Aussie 240 in the walls, powered by a gen-set as needed, and 5.1v USB in the walls too, since so many devices now run off only USB power too. .
Three energy levels going in, but it should be worth it for the enormous energy savings.
I'll use low-pressure gas for cooking with and a wood-fired heater stove to keep it all warm.
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rmak
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# Posted: 17 May 2014 07:22am
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Thanks 6076644!
My wife had those LED strip put up in the kitchen. They are really cool. I never thought about them for the cabin. Good idea.
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Borrego
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# Posted: 23 May 2014 03:35pm
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What about recessed cans? That would solve the height problem . There is now a conversion kit that screws into a standard base can and makes it LED. I would install more cans than you think you need and put them on a dimmer, you can't have too much light, but you can definitely have too little....
Like Don said..you would need to follow the spacing commonly called the 6-12 rule. Within 6' of entering the room and no more than 12' between them. Any wall 2' or more would get a receptacle. Basically no spot along the floorline is more than 6' from a receptacle.
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rmak
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# Posted: 23 May 2014 06:16pm
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Thanks Borrego. I got the cabin wired and I'm very close to the 6-12. I didn't put any plugs along the 12' back wall of my 12 X 16 cabin since I'm going to put a futon couch there and there's a ceiling fan/light above that area.
I have pretty arthritic hands so I screwed the tongue and groove interior siding on. The unintended benefit is that if I need more plugs anywhere later I can just remove the siding, run the wire, and screw the siding back on.
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