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sunflowercompass t1_j2n6i29 wrote

Reply to comment by _ALLien_ in How many of these recessed lights can I use on a dimmer switch? by notscammed

3k is too orange, it is the color of light during sunset

I need 4k to stay awake and keep seasonal affective disorder away. 4k is the color of the sun at noon. 4k is the closest to "neutral white"

edit: oh one more variable. The furniture and wall colors you have will affect how light looks. If your walls are yellow like mine the light will look yellower.

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Mr-Thumpasaurus t1_j2nfk2e wrote

Have you considered smart bulbs? I have mine transition throughout the day. That way you have the best of both worlds

An alternative for more analog systems would be to get some lights like the Philips "Warm Glow" bulbs, which transition in temperature as you dim them

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sunflowercompass t1_j2njm6f wrote

I have some phillip smart bulbs. A bit expensive thought and not bright enough for my living room. I replaced them with 3 big LED fixtures at 4k with a dimmer switch. In the evening I use it at the bare minimum, color temp doesn't really matter at that point.

For the bedroom the old warm temps are fine, you want warm lights to go to sleep anyway.

edit: oh I remember why I disliked the phillip lights. They are a neat party trick but I hated the app to control them. If I did it again I'd make sure there's a hardwired control at the switch. Yes it means you need to get up.

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lostarchitect t1_j2nm5g5 wrote

The GE Cync smart bulbs are surprisingly affordable. I put a bunch of them in my basement where I had a bunch of individual ceiling lights with pull chains. Now they all go on at once with the press of one smart switch. I'm also using them around the house in places where I can't have a dimmer but would like one.

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FerretChrist t1_j2o25qa wrote

I have Philips Hue bulbs throughout the house. The app is pretty decent when you want to dive in and edit colours and scenes, but I couldn't live using it day to day just to turn on and off the lights, that would be insanity.

I've attached "Hue Wireless Dimmer" controls next to every light switch. They turn the lights on and off, cycle through different scenes, or turn up/down the brightness. Best of all, they attach magnetically, so you can pull them off the wall and control the lights while you're sat down.

The only downside (except the price!) is they're battery powered, but I've had them in for two years now and not needed to change a battery yet.

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RickFast t1_j2ng5nh wrote

Daylight is 5600k.

It totally depends on the usage of your lights.

Using during the daytime? Anything 4000 and up is appropriate (that’s why it’s used in offices, warehouses, etc)

Using them at night? Anything above about 3500 is gonna look nasty and leave a bad strain on your eyes.

In a perfect world use smart ones that can change the colour temp

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ahecht t1_j2ok45a wrote

> 4k is the color of the sun at noon.

Depending on the season and your latitude, noontime sun is somewhere in the 5000-5800K range. 4000K is closer to early-morning or late-afternoon sunlight.

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Mrgoodtrips64 t1_j2nh457 wrote

The color of the sun at noon isn’t consistent. It varies slightly by time of year and the viewer’s geographical location.

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