Walk-in closet lighting recommendations? (roof, alternatives, Home Depot, window)

[scottv]

I'm redoing my closet and right now there is a 24" oval flourescent light in the center of the closet...I think it looks cheap and it also doesn't light up the space as well as I would like, so looking for alternatives...any suggestions? My first thoughts are that recessed lighting would achieve the look I'm going for, but thought I would get more ideas...thanks!

[Tesaje]

Florescent lights are used in closets because they are so cool. The electrical code has distance requirements for all other light sources (except LEDs that also run very cool). Closets have a lot of stuff in them with low ventilation that could easily catch on fire from an incandescent or halogen bulb so they are not allowed unless your closet is very huge and nothing can get anywhere near the bulb. Recessed does not solve this probelm.

Just look for a florescent fixture more to your liking to replace it.

[rubytue]

Recessed lights will need to have a cover (actually, any light will need a cover, no exposed bulbs in closets), must be more than one foot from shelves and anything combustible, and there are minimum size requirements.

Your best bet is to stick with florescent.

[Ultrarunner]

I recently installed one of the light tubes in my Brother's walk-in closet.

Both he and his wife love it because of the natural light during the day. He has the light option which provides for a light bulb to be installed in the tube for light when it's dark out.

Is the roof above the closet or anther floor?

[scottv]

The closet actually already has a window in it...kind of weird but that's how the layout is...so there is natural light during the day-just concerned with lighting for night...the closet is a decent size (5'X15') so I could easily have the recessed lights running down the center so they meet the distance from shelving requirements...I'm going back to Home Depot to check out some more lighting options. Thanks!

[rubytue]

Again, you still have to have the bulb covered

Hopefully I am allowed to quote code here. If not, mods please cut it.

NEC section 410.8 (B) Luminaire (Fixture) Types Permitted (1) A surface-mounted or recessed incandescent luminaire (fixture) with a completely enclosed lamp.

410.8 (C) Luminaire (fixture) types not permitted. Incandescent luminaires (fixtures) with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant luminaires (fixtures) or lampholders shall not be permitted.

for laymen, fixture = your light, lamp = bulb

And cause I'm too lazy to type the rest of it out... surface mounted incandescents need 12" of clearance, recessed need 6" from "nearest point of a storage space". Again, "completely enclosed lamp" is key. "Storage space" also has a long, technical definition, it doesn't just mean the bar and the shelves, but a volume surrounding the bar and shelves. If the width of the closet is 5', you will essentially only be able to put a single line of recessed down the middle of the 5' width, as you have to be 2' from all walls.