Fixture Types

Here is a sample of the FAQs you can find on our website, organized by type of light fixture. To see more Q&A’s in any particular category, click on the “read more” links.

On Bathroom Exhaust Fans:

Q: How do I know what size exhaust fan to purchase for my bathroom?

A: Bathroom exhaust fans are certified by the volume of air “exhausted” out of the room within a certain period of time (CFM).  To find the recommended fan capacity for your bathroom, simply multiply the bathroom square footage by 1.1 for an 8ft ceiling or multiply by 1.5 for a 9ft ceiling. For example, if the square footage of your 6ft by 10ft bathroom is 60 square feet, then you should use a bathroom exhaust fan with a rating of at least 66 CFM if the ceiling is 8 feet or 90 CFM if the ceiling is 9 feet … read more >>

On Cabinet Lights: 

Q: Which cabinet light fixtures produce light that is similar to incandescent light?

A: All of the xenon light fixtures use xenon light bulbs, which ARE incandescent light sources with a little bit of xenon gas introduced into the glass envelope to help lengthen the life of the lamp. Therefore, all the xenon light fixtures produce the familiar warm glow (low color temperature) of an incandescent light bulb. If the fluorescent light fixture uses a warm white fluorescent light bulb or one that has a low color temperature of 3200K or lower, then it, too, will look very much like an incandescent light bulb … read more >>

On Desk Lamps: 

Q: Which desk lights turn on instantly with no flickering?

A: All of the fluorescent light fixtures in this section turn on without flickering because they all have instant start electronic ballasts … read more >>

On Fluorescent Light Fixtures: 

Q: Does a fluorescent lamp have to be turned off for a half hour before the energy saved equals the energy used to initially energize the lamp?

A: Many people think so but this is a misconception. Fluorescent lamps only have to be turned off for one second in order to save the amount of energy that will be expended when the lights are initially turned on again … read more >>

On Light Boxes:

Q: What are light boxes used for?

A: Light boxes are ideal for backlighting transparent photos, artwork, signs, movie posters, or graphic displays for homes, trade show booths, restaurants, hotels, museum exhibits, and retail displays. A backlit light box is also perfect for tracing as well as viewing and sorting slides and transparencies … read more >>

On Microfluorescent Light Fixtures:

Q: What does it mean to hardwire a light fixture?

A: To “hardwire” a light fixture directly to power means using a ROMEX® wire to directly connect the fixture to power. ROMEX® wire is used throughout your household behind walls to wire your entire house. It usually is made up of 3 wires: one wire with white insulation, one wire with black insulation, and one copper wire with no insulation and white insulation around all 3 wires holding them together. The ROMEX® wire that is used to connect lighting fixtures is usually described as “14/2 with ground” (although this may vary with geographical location). The “14/2″ refers to the two insulated wires that are each 14 gauge in diameter and the “ground” refers to the uninsulated copper wire … read more >>

On Night Lights:

Q: Can night lights turn on by themselves when a room gets dark? 

A: Yes, as long as the night light has a photocell. A night light with a photocell allows the night light to turn on automatically when the light in the room is quite low and turn off automatically when the light in the room becomes brighter … read more >>

On Pendant Lights:

Q: How high should pendant lights be from the top of a table?

A: In general, pendant fixtures or chandeliers should be about 30 inches from the surface of the tabletop … read more >>

On Recessed Lights:

Q: When should an IC housing be used?

A: An IC housing is designed for use in insulated ceilings and should be used if the recessed housing will be in physical contact with insulation. A non-IC housing can be used in an insulated ceiling as long as the insulation is at least 3 inches away from every part of the recessed housing … read more >>

On Track Lights:

Q: Where should track lighting be placed for wall washing?

A: For wall washing a non-textured vertical surface, mount the track parallel to the wall being lit and about 2 feet to 3 feet from that wall on ceilings up to 9 feet. Mount the track 3 feet to 4 feet from the wall on ceilings between 9 feet and 11 feet high. Space the fixtures the same distance apart as the track is from the wall … read more >>

On Under Cabinet Lights:

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of an under cabinet light that needs a transformer to operate?

A: In general, a low voltage fixture gives off a little less heat than a line voltage, but also a little less light. However, the low voltage fixture must use a transformer to power the light bulbs and the transformer is one more component that can go bad over time and, therefore, require a replacement. If a low voltage light is to be dimmed, it requires a more expensive low voltage dimmer … read more >>

Do you have a question that wasn’t answered above? Feel free to use the comment box below!