Layout lighting

This topic has been discussed many times with some very in depth conversations. You could do a search for layout lighting or room lighting and I'm sure there will be several.

There are many options and several different cost ranges.

We went with track lighting with CFL flood lights and a 5000k temperature range. The room is very bright, energy efficient, and don't create much heat at all.

Do the search and see what you can come up with. There is a ton of information already in this forum on that topic.

I have track lighting with R30 heads on dimmers. R30 refers to the bulb shape but the only R30 bulbs I have ever seen are 65W each. They are floods, not spots. I like the natural white quality of the light produced and its brightness. I once considered changing to halogen (just about every fixture in the house except these are halogen), but the light was too harsh without a fixture to filter it. I use one head approximately every 3 feet. They are incadescent lamps so they generate some heat, but I do not find it excessive. The ability to dim the lights to simulate different times of day is a plus too. Another plus is that the bulbs are cheap but last a long time (for me at least). The only real con is my 7 foot ceiling height. Some people have complained about the lights shining directly into their eyes, but I do not notice it (I guess I look at the layout, not the ceiling).

Here is a pretty good thread on lighting from the first of this year.   Alternatives to R30 lamps are R20 and R16 lamps. I have used both.  One of the advantages of low voltage lighting is exceptional spot lighting. 

Another interesting thread on lighting  from a few weeks back.  Click a Sunset.  Eliot Scher.

I went with recessed flourescent tube lights for general room lighting, and track lighting for the layout, when the main room lighting is off. I wouldn't suggest the small track lights that use a transformer, they generate a ton of heat at the light itself, enough to burn you if you touch the when they are on for a while.

I used regular incandescent track lights connected to 2 dimmer switches.

REV

My layout lighting needs are a little different from most because of the double deck construction. I decided to go all out and buy LED bulbs. They don't get hot, and only use 9W for a 60W equivalent. I figure it will take almost 200 bulbs to light the whole layout, but they can all be run on a single 20A circuit. I space them every 4'. They aren't cheap, running $13 from HD, but they should last almost forever.

Here you can see the first section of lighting completed on the lower level. The upper level is just roughed in.



Here you can see the bulbs. With no room lights on, it looks pretty neat.