Be sure to check the specified 'lumen' rating on anything you're considering.

Can you tell us what was the lumen rating on the incandescents you bought ?

The fixture takes candelabra base bulbs ?

I had some old incandescent candelabra base bulbs and put them in, but the effect is too dim. The fixture holds only two bulbs. If I could replace the bulbs with something that is twice as bright, it would be fine.

I don't know the lumen rating of the old bulbs I used because I don't have the package.

A 60 watt incandescent will put out from 600-900 lumens, depending on the specific bulb design.
A candelabra base compact fluorescent may be your best choice if they fit in the fixture.
Your best bet would probably be 2 23-26watt candelabra-based compact fluorescents if you can find some.

Now I'm sorry. Spent $35 on two LEDs and the light quality is worse than before, plus it's a weird reddish glow. Rather than continue to throw good money after bad, I've decided to pull out the new fixture and replace it with a four bulb fixture.

Now I will slow down and wait for advice. Any recommendations on a good basic ceiling light fixture for a kitchen with dark walls and not a lot of natural light? I want to put my home on the market soon and bright light in the kitchen is a must. Please advise on type of fixture and type of bulbs!

Thank you! I'm sadder and waiting to be wiser.

I'll look at Lowes. I take it that compact fluorescents with much lower wattage will be about the same as what I'm experiencing with incandescent and LED?

a 26 watt CFL will be equivalent to a 100 watt incandescent (~1600 lumens).

The fixture was clearly designed for smaller bulbs. The candelabra CFL fit into the outlets, but they are in contact with the glass shade on the ceiling. They get hot to the touch. Is this a potential fire hazard, or could the glass shade discolor or break because it is in direct contact with the bulbs? Would it be better to try to squeeze the bulbs up toward the ceiling and the foil lining the fixture pan, or let the bulbs touch the glass shade, or should I give up and replace the fixture?

I am so close to solving this. Thank you very much for your help.

Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2012, 02:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Now the bulbs fit and are neither touching the glass shade nor the foil backing. And tonight the light is bright and beautiful. I think it's solved! Thank you!

Edit follow-up. Not solved. I've realized that the output of the bulbs is 100 watts each. That's why I'm getting the wonderful bright light, and why the bulbs are too big and hot for this fixture. I called Lowe's, and they said they have a three-bulb fixture - total 180 watts, since the bulbs still can't exceed 60 watts each - that should work. So tonight I'm going to take the new fixture down and replace it with another new one. Sigh.

I got a box of them at Costco and while the color is good, the light throw is piss poor. I'd call it mood lighting, not task lighting.

I know CFLs aren't things of beauty, but that's where you're going to get the most economical task lighting. If you can cram two of those into the fixture, you're golden.

Advice welcome! I will slow down and wait for advice.

than standard incandescent bulbs, close to white light. I do recommend them for dim ambient lighting. I use them in the bedroom for TV watching without reading.

I find the CFLs that are labeled "equivalent to a 100W incandescent bulb" work best for me for task lighting.

The major advantage to the LED lights is that they'll outlive me. The CFLs need changing eventually.

they may be absorbing whatever you try...

The previous chandelier-type fixture wasn't right for the space, and became damaged and had to be replaced. It held five candelabra base incandescent lights. The replacement holds two lights and is much too dim. I'm going to try one more thing - compact fluorescents - but if that doesn't work the best solution is to try again with a new light fixture.

the color is a little harsher but definitely brighter.

not sure what equivalent the small chandelier base bulbs can put out but man do I hate the cheap light fixtures that limit you to a 60 watt bulb. CFLs have saved me with those!

I even found a cfl that fits into this strange brass desk lamp that took those long aquarium or appliance type bulbs (with a regular base). it was limited to a 40 watt bulb - WTF? that was like reading with a christmas light bulb. With the CFL you can actually see print.

good luck, your dilemma has reminded me of the crystal dingleberry chandelier I have in a box in the closet that I have been daydreaming of hanging in the barn/tack room

Pictures, please!

How many horses do you have?

if not actually hooking it up at least get it out of my closet.

hmm horses. There are two usable at the moment, although one has mouth cancer, of all the shitty things. I wrote about him in the lounge about a month ago (might be in my journal, not sure)

then there is an old bum that hangs around with those two plus the new (old) riding mule I just acquired

then I have a herd of useless range horses that at least manage to feed themselves - there are currently 7 of those. 2 are broke to lead but haven't ever been ridden and one is just a long yearling. SIGH

horses? What r u talking about? quite off-topic.

Thanks everyone. I ended up buying a new fixture and hiring an electrician to install it. He did a great job and the new fixture has three 60 watt fluorescent lights that work well and give me plenty of light in my kitchen.

Need advice on lighting - can I substitute LED lights for chandelier-type incandescents?

Last edited Sat Jul 14, 2012, 10:19 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)
I just replaced the ceiling light fixture in my kitchen. The trouble is, I it's too dim. It is designed to hold two 60 watt candelabra base incandescent lights. Can I exchange the recommended lightbulbs with LED lights? Will it be brighter? Will I be able to find LED lights that fit into the sockets? Is this safe?

Thank you in advance for advice. I'm considering taking down the fixture and returning it to the store, but it took a long time to install and I'd prefer not to have to start all over again.

edit for clarity - the fixture requires two candelabra base bulbs, each 60 watts or less.