Kitchen Recessed Lighting Bulbs

Using recessed lighting for the kitchen is one of the best options, especially if the kitchen is low ceilings kitchen.

Recessed lighting has three parts which are trim, housing and bulb. The trim is the lining around the edge of the recessed light.

Meanwhile, the housing contains the holder of the lamp. For the bulb, there are many types of bulb that can be used in recessed lighting.

1. Incandescent Bulb

This the most common type of bulb that is usually used, although it is the most inefficient technology.

2. Halogen

Halogen is included as incandescent lamps. However, what makes it different is that the filament inside the halogen is surrounded in a small quartz capsule that contains halogen gas. Halogen is more long-lasting than the old incandescent bulb and it shows brighter and hotter light.

3. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

Different with the traditional incandescent bulb, compact fluorescent lamp is more efficient in the use of the energy. It uses gas-filled tube that makes the lamp more long-lasting.

The light occurs when the electricity flows through the gas tube. Furthermore, compact fluorescent lamps contain less mercury.

4. Light Emitting Diode (LED)

LED is the newest lighting technology that replaces fluorescent lamps as the standard of energy-efficient lighting. It is a semiconductor that produces light.

This type of lamp is long-lasting, dimmable, and more efficient than Compact Fluorescent Lamps. Moreover, it does not contain mercury so it is safe.

Now, let’s take a look at the types of bulbs based on the shape. The bulb shape determines the direction of the light production.

5. R (Reflector)

This is the most common shape of light bulb that is used for recessed lighting. It has a reflective surface that directs the light in one direction.

Reflector makes the wasted light shines upward to the recessed lighting. It also controls over the beam position of the light production from the bulb.

6. BR (Bulged Reflector)

It is the innovation of reflector lamp. The difference between reflector and bulged reflector is the “bulge” in the near base of the bulb. Bulged reflector focuses the light production into the beam of light so the recessed lighting produces the light.

7. PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector)

Parabolic Aluminized Reflector uses parabolic shaped of reflective surface that can control the beam of the light more. It also produces a tighter beam of light. This kind of bulb is mostly used at home as an art lighting or accent only.

8. MR (Multifaceted Reflector)

It has a reflective inner surface which is covered. It produces the light into a tighter beam controller.

9. Tube, Spiral, or Twist

This bulb is used along with compact fluorescent lamps. The shape of this lamp allows the tube length to be folded into a more compact size of bulb. It is an omnidirectional bulb. Nevertheless, it has a tube inside the reflector shell as the reflector version of this bulb.

10. A (Arbitrary)

It is very common for household lamp and it is omnidirectional bulb.

So there are many types available for this lighting. Choosing the right one will require careful consideration in energy saving, design, and mounting location. Which one do you prefer the most?