How Many Switches?

Mike Finley

Here is what I'm thinking.

-Ceiling cans (9) and (2) pendants on one switch(dimmer).
-Light over cook top inside the hood on a switch.
-All of the under cabinet lighting on a switch.

Wife is thinking the 2 pendants need to be on thier own switch, my argument is if you want lights on you want the all on.

Yay/nay?

mahlere

Nay. Listen to your wife....

mdshunk

In reality, we're talking about a 5 dollar quibble. Give her the extra switch if she wants it.

I would do something like this if I was wiring your kitchen and you gave me no direction:

• general lighting cans (4?) on a switch
• pendants (2) on a switch
• under cab lighting, on a switch
• task/countertop cans (5?), on a switch
• light over sink, on a switch

Speedy Petey

NAY!!!

At LEAST one, better yet two, switches for just the cans.
Pendants on another.
Sink light on another.
UC's on another.
I typically switch the island/peninsula on another.

__________________

mdshunk

I should note that I generally locate the switches proximal to the area that they light. For instance, the general lighting would be on a set of 3 ways at each entry. The sink light would be next to the sink, with the disposal switch. The UC lights and countertop cans would be along the counter at the most popular area OR next to the entry, whichever seems to make the most sense for the layout. Island/penninsula lighting can be switched at the end of the island/penn or near the entry; again, at wherever it seems to make the most sense due to the layout. Isolated sections of countertop (like for a kitchen "desk" area or a baking center) would generally have their own UC and task lighting switches located by those areas, switched seperately.

There is no right or wrong to this... it's all a matter of personal preference and how you will live in the space.

kapena

I have found that the wife is always right (even when she is wrong).

Don't make the mistake of giving her the opportunity to prove this to you.

reveivl

Oh, Yeah!

__________________
From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

Teetorbilt

I don't know when kitchens got sexier than the bedroom but we seem to be there now. Dimmers on everything with the possible exception of the one over the sink.

What? No toekick lighting? It's all the rage here. Also on dimmer.

Cans are going out here to track and pendant. Also on dimmer.

I'm really missing something here, I just cook in my kitchen and like lots of light. I'm not 'romancing the vegetable' or pork roast.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

mdshunk

That's hillarious! I might borrow that some day.

reveivl

I'd leave 'romancing the vegetable' up to the wife, too.

__________________
From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

Speedy Petey

I think a well lit, even romantic, kitchen is a very good thing.
The kitchen is the most important, most expensive room in the house. It SHOULD be lit well and create a mood.

__________________

Speedy Petey

I will add, maybe it is partly because I am NOT one of those Fred Flintstone husbands who wants dinner on the table when he walks in.
Many nights I am there side by side with wifey cooking and preparing, because I like to.
Food is good!

__________________

Mike Finley

More switches = good. Got it, switches going in.

wireless

Dimmers are generally rated for 600w in a single gang box!

Mike Finley

I always make sure I use a 1000w dimmer for things like this. At $50 apiece they are expensive as hell.

Also the pendants went to another circuit (and switch)