Table of Contents This PDF includes a number of Learn articles that we have written that we hope will help you with your Recessed Lighting project. Moreover, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any other questions that you may have. Have a bright day and good luck with your project! Recessed Lighting Guide & Information 3 Ways To Choose Between Recessed Light Covers Why Pick An Adjustable Trim? The Battle Of The Baffles Why Use A Pinhole Trim? Why Use A Reflector Trim? Recessed Shower Lighting FAQs How to Choose a Recessed Shower Light Square Recessed Lighting For Eye-Catching Design Wall Wash Recessed Lighting Trims FAQS How to Wash a Wall With Light Recessed Housing Types Installing Recessed Lighting In New Construction Installing Remodel Recessed Lighting Recessed Lighting And Insulated Ceilings Vaulted Ceiling Lighting Ideas How to Light a Vaulted Ceiling How to Light a High Ceiling LED Recessed Lights - Not Just For Ceilings Outfitting Recessed Can Lights: LED Light Bulbs, LED Retrofits, Or LED Housings? Cheat Sheet For Choosing LED Recessed Light Retrofit Modules Damp Location Vs. Wet Location Recessed Lighting Ways To Use Recessed Ceiling Spot Lights How To Choose Light Bulbs For Your Home: Recessed Cans How to Layout Recessed Lighting in 4 Easy Steps How To Install Recessed Lights In A Drop Ceiling How to Get More Out of Your Recessed Cans How to Install Recessed Lights Recessed Lighting Guide & Information What Are Recessed Lights? As the name suggests, it is a light fixture, or luminaire for the technical lighting crowd, that is recessed. A traditional recessed light fixture is installed into a ceiling and is composed of three main parts. One, a housing that rests above the ceiling. Two, a trim which can be seen at the ceiling opening. Three, a light bulb which, obviously, provides the illumination. They can be halogens, fluorescents, traditional incandescents, or even replacement LED lamps. Speaking of LED, the last couple of years has seen the introduction of a wide assortment of high-quality LED recessed lights and LED retrofit modules. A retrofit module replaces your existing recessed fixtures trim and light source and improves its energy efficiency. Normally, LED recess lights consist of just two parts - a housing and a trim (which includes the LEDs). Using Recessed Ceiling Lights Recessed can lighting typically provides most or all of the general lighting in a room. They can also be used as good task lighting when directly focused over a particular area. For example, a good tip when installing recessed lighting in a kitchen is to place some, or all of them, directly over the counter. This way the can is illuminating not only the entire kitchen but also providing direct light over the counter where a lot of kitchen-related tasks are performed (e.g., cutting, chopping, cleaning, etc.). Types of Recessed Lighting Reflector and remodel and wall wash, oh my! There are many different types of can recessed lighting options available. Different light sources (e.g., LED and halogen), shapes (e.g., round and square trims), trims (e.g., baffle and adjustable), and different housings (e.g., news construction versus remodel) are available based on your project needs. Check out our recessed lighting guide infographic (on our website) to help learn about what kinds of housings, trims, and lights are out there, and which ones will work for you. Housings ●
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New Construction - As the name suggests, this housing is used during new construction before the ceiling drywall is in place. You can also use this kind of housing, which includes adjustable length T-bars, in a drop ceiling, acoustic ceiling, or suspended ceiling installation. Remodel - Used when the ceiling drywall is already in place. A hole will need to be cut in the ceiling at the installation location with the provided template. The housing is then pushed through the hole and rests on the ceiling. IC-rated - Designed for use in ceilings when the housing will be in physical contact with the insulation. You can only use a non-IC housing when the insulation is at least 3 inches away from every part of the housing. Air Tight - This type of downlight housing prevents most of the air flowing through the fixture either from the space above to the room below, or the room below to the space above. Use an airtight housing when you want to minimize the cost of heating or air-conditioning a room. Sloped Ceiling - For use when you have a sloped or vaulted ceiling. Low Profile - Housings that are less than six inches in height. Trims ●
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Adjustable - This trim allows you to aim the light at a piece of artwork, like a sculpture or a wall hanging. Baffle - The concentric circular grooves inside this trim that surrounds the light source minimizes glare. Glass - Looking to add some "sparkle lighting", flare, color or some sort of light patterning to decorate your room? Look no further than a glass trim for recess cans. Pinhole - This kind of trim has a very narrow opening for the light to pass through. Reflector - As the name suggests, reflectors have a smooth, shiny cone surrounding the light source that reflects the light allowing you to maximize the amount of illumination into your room. Shower - It has a glass diffuser and a special rubber gasket that together prevent most of the moisture in the space below, like tubs and showers, from passing into the recessed downlight. Square - Pretty simple. These are square-shaped. Wall Wash - This kind of trim has a partial opening so that light is emitted only through that opening of the ceiling can light thus producing an asymmetrical light beam that will "wash" the wall, drape, wall hanging, fireplace, etc. with light. Light Sources Finally, there are a number of varying light sources that can be used. For smaller low voltage recessed ceiling fixtures (miniature, 2-inch, 3-inch, and some 4-inch) the most likely light source choices are LED or MR halogen. You could either choose an LED recessed fixture that includes the LEDs built into the housing or trim, or use a traditional housing and trim and then purchase an MR halogen or MR LED replacement light bulb. To use line voltage you could choose either an LED recessed can, again with the LEDs built into the trim or housing, or a halogen, compact fluorescent, traditional incandescent, or an LED replacement lamp. These kinds of lamps have PAR, BR, or R light bulb shapes. Different Sizes Recess lights are available in a number of different diameters, or sizes, ranging from two to six inches. In both residential and commercial construction 6-inch large recessed lighting seems to be the most common. However, this does not mean that the smaller sizes are not popular. For example, one of our employees has both 6-inch and 4-inch ceiling recessed lighting in their home. In fact, he wrote a post on our blog about adding seven 4-inch adjustable recessed ceiling lights to two different rooms in his home to accent wall pictures. You can check it out at http://blog.pegasuslighting.com/2012/01/new-home-project-remodel-recessed-li
ghts/. Miniature recessed lights are most commonly used to illuminate smaller areas, like the inside of a cabinet, bookshelf, or niche. These recessed lighting kits include both the housing and trim and range in size from two to a little less than four inches in diameter. After these small recessed down lights you have 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch, and the previously mentioned 6-inch sizes. These are the sizes that are mostly used in ceilings. With all of the larger downlight fixtures you will need to purchase a housing and trim separately. Please note that it is not recommended to use a housing from one manufacturer and trim from another. Doing so will probably negate the warranties as well as the UL listings. Finally, trims from one manufacturer may not always fit the housings from another. What's In A Name? Recessed lights are known by many names. Maybe you call them pot lights? If you do, then most likely you are from Canada, eh. Others also call them can lights, downlights, and high hat lighting. We tried to find out why recessed lights are also called high hats but could not find anything. Do you know why? Let us know. We are curious. Recessed Can Light Installation & Layout Tips For general lighting applications a good rule of thumb is to space recessed ceiling light fixtures a distance that is equal to about half the ceiling height. For example, if a room has an 8-foot ceiling, you should probably space the lights about four feet apart. This rule of thumb should be used only as a baseline. Depending on the lighting needs of the space you may want more or less illumination. Wondering what your recessed lighting layout should look like? Well, we get this question a lot. So, we wrote about it. Not only do we provide four easy steps to help you figure it out, this post has a number of comments from others about their specific layout questions with answers from one of our lighting specialists. Definitely make sure to check out this post. Looking for a visual guide to help you with your layout? We aim to please. Make sure to view our infographic about laying out recessed lighting in 4 easy steps. Bottom line, when determining your recessed lighting plan first take some measurements of your room, decide if you want to highlight anything in the space and how bright you want specific areas, take into account the spacing guidelines mentioned above, and finally, try to avoid any shadows in the corners of the room. Recessed Lighting Installation Tips If you are looking to add can ceiling lights to a room or you want to know how to update recessed lighting we have included directions in our Learn Center. Have no fear! Whether you have access to the area above the ceiling or will be installing from below, it really isn't too difficult of a project. However, cutting through drywall will make a dusty mess, so our biggest piece of advice is to use a drop cloth. Please note that our install steps assume that you already have an existing power source in your ceiling at the locations where you will be installing the can recessed lights. If not, then first wire the location with electricity. We recommend hiring a licensed electrician. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting 3 Ways To Choose Between Recessed Light Covers Unless you have an extremely specific goal in mind for your recessed lighting, this may not be as easy a decision as you might think. But here are four considerations to help you make up your mind: Location Where you are using your recessed lights makes all the difference in the world. If they are going up in an office or workspace, you may want to consider baffle recessed lighting trims, because they are designed to soften light, reducing headache-inducing glares that harsh lights can sometimes cause. If you want to install your lights in a dining area or sitting room, decorative glass or square trims may be a great option to make a statement. If you want to accent some interesting architecture or widen a narrow room, you can use adjustable or wall-washer recessed lighting covers to get exactly the effect you need! Light quality What is your purpose for installing recessed lights? If your goal is light layering, you may want to choose more subtle trims so the light from your cans will blend really well with your other fixtures. If recessed lights are going to be the primary light source in a room, you will probably want several spaced strategically to optimize the shape of the room. Light source While most of our trim designs are available with different light sources, your trim and light source decisions should be codependent. Some light sources, like LEDs, have very specific looks and functions that - while there are still a lot of design options - may limit your creative potential. Your best bet is to decide whether the trim or the light source is more important to you, and go from there! Just make sure you do your homework and know the limitations of each feature. How To Install Recessed Lighting Trims There are a lot of different kinds of recessed lighting trims, but trims typically attach to the recessed housing via coil springs or torsion springs. Coil springs look like miniature trampoline springs, complete with little hooks on the ends. There are usually two springs, and you affix them to the socket plate by inserting the little hooks into grooves or holes in the socket plate or on the sides of the housing. The location of the grooves varies by manufacturer, so make sure to check the installation guide that came with the trim. Torsion springs look like wide-angled wire "Vs" with bent ends. They also come in pairs. To install a trim with torsion springs, pinch the two sides of each spring together in each hand and insert into the corresponding holes in the socket plate or housing. Once the bent part of the springs is above the tab, you can release and simply push the trim into place. Some trims require additional steps for installation - for example, an adjustable eyeball trim needs to be connected to the bulb socket before the trim's springs can be attached. Follow instructions provided with your individual trim for best results. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims Why Pick An Adjustable Trim? Many people find the stationary illumination of regular downlights limiting. If you want to highlight a decorative object with a typical recessed light, you actually have to put it directly below the light. But adjustable trims used as accent lighting make it possible to direct your light at any angle, so wall hangings, paintings, sculptures, etc. can be highlighted without needing to be moved. You can also use directional recessed lighting on your wall, ceiling or under cabinets for flexible task lighting. Customer Lighting Project Spotlight Some of our customers have used adjustable trims for picture lighting, and the results are fantastic! To see how a dark painting can suddenly become a well-lit work of art, we have created an animated image on our website to show you. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Adjustable Recessed Lighting Trims The Battle Of The Baf es Sometimes, picking your recessed lighting trim can be tough, so we decided to pair some of them off in a schoolyard brawl to help you out! Just kidding. But we can offer you some pleasant comparisons instead... Baffle Trim vs. Open Trim Where are you using your recessed lighting? If it is in a more commercial or industrial setting, a plain old open trim, maybe even reflective, might be a good idea because you are typically trying to get as much light as possible in that kind of environment. But if you are looking to light a home, or an office, or a home office, you might want to consider a nice gentle baffle trim. Baffle trims are the medicine men of can lighting, capable of relieving weary eyes and possibly even preventing glare-induced headaches. Pair a baffle trim with a dimmer and you will never get in a domestic fight with your lighting again! Black Baffle vs. White Baffle Since baffle trims are meant to reduce glare, people often like to choose black baffle trims because the dark color works to further dilute the brightness from your recessed cans. But when the light is not in use, some people don't like the way black trims look in the ceiling because (unless the ceiling is also black) they can look a bit like rabbit holes to Wonderland above your head. For this reason, some prefer white baffle trims, which still get the job done but can be a bit brighter than black trims for obvious reasons. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Baffle Recessed Lighting Trims Why Use A Pinhole Trim? Pinhole downlights are basically mini indoor spotlights. If you are trying to highlight something with a very precise beam (say, a work of art or an object in a display case), a pinhole light trim may be all you need to make your dreams come true. These puppies are good for really focusing light from above onto a particular spot below without much "spill light." If you are more of a visual learner, you may find our little illustration below helpful. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Pinhole Recessed Lighting Trims Why Use A Re ector Trim? If you are trying to decide between a reflector trim and a baffle trim, there are some important things for you to consider. Though structurally interchangeable in most cases, reflectors and baffles are functionally opposites. Reflector trims amplify and intensify light, while baffle trims subdue and soften it. It's a lot like the differences between settings on a water hose nozzle - the "mist" and "jet" settings both release water, but they affect the water in very different ways (namely, one refreshes you on a hot day and the other is good at knocking over pails you are trying to fill). The shape of the nozzle settings makes all the difference, and the same is true for reflector and baffle trims. If you want a lot of bright, intense light, the smooth, shiny inner cone of a reflector trim will do the trick. But if you want gentler light, more suitable for residential lighting, the concentric circles that line the inner cone of a baffle trim will work to your advantage. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Reflector Recessed Lighting Trims Recessed Shower Lighting FAQs Q) Can I safely install a recessed shower light in a bathroom that is already finished? A) Yes. If you are completing a remodel project and the ceiling drywall is already in place, simply order a remodel housing as an accessory with your recessed shower lighting trim (rather than a new construction housing for the shower light). The LED shower light retrofit modules, which are compatible with most already installed shower light housings, are also a great option for remodel projects if you are replacing existing recessed shower lights. If you are looking for lighting that is energy-efficient and long-lasting, you can't go wrong with LED shower lights. Q) How do recessed shower lights block water damage from moisture accumulation? A) The glass diffuser and rubber gasket on each recessed shower light trim prevent water from entering the light fixture. Q) What type of shower recessed lighting trim provides the most uniform distribution of light? A) Trims with domed glass diffusers tend to distribute light evenly, so they are great options for recessed shower lighting. Q) What is the best way to choose between recessed shower trims? A) It depends a lot on your preferences! Check out this blog post we wrote about choosing recessed shower lighting. Simple Shower Safety Taking a shower in the dark is not only incredibly frustrating, it can actually be dangerous. It is a lot easier to slip and fall, bump your head or cut yourself unintentionally when you are trying to bathe in a poorly lit environment. Recessed shower lighting is one of the best solutions for bathroom illumination because unlike most lighting, it’s rated for use in damp locations so it is safe to use even in wet environments like a shower, bathtub or Jacuzzi®. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Shower Recessed Lighting Trims How to Choose a Recessed Shower Light When I say “bathroom lighting,” what image pops up in your head? If it's a beautiful vanity area accented with stylish wall sconces, or an illuminated mirror above the sink, you're like most people. The vanity is important to light properly. It can be incredibly annoying to have inadequate light for makeup or shaving, so it's typically what people (including us!) think of first. This article is about the part of the bathroom that is frequently forgotten in terms of lighting: the shower. For some reason, recessed shower lights get left off the lighting plan often. The result is a shadowy, unwelcoming space - hardly the place you'd want to spend your first few groggy moments of the morning. Whether you're adding shower lights to your finished bathroom (an easy project with special remodel recessed housings), or choosing the shower trim you'd like to use in a new bathroom, this article should help you decide which product is right for you. 1. Find A Moisture-Resistant Trim: The most important feature of your new shower light is a "wet location approved" trim. All of the shower lighting trims we sell include a glass diffuser and a rubber gasket - these work together to completely prevent water from getting into the light fixture. 2. Select Your Style: Recessed lighting is often (mistakenly) thought of as an unobtrusive form of lighting that tends to all look the same. That's far from true! You can find a number of traditionally styled recessed lights; but if you're looking for a more unique trim, there are a variety of options. The lens of the trim can make a big difference - you can choose between frosted, opal glass, fresnel, or albalite. If you're looking for a very uniform distribution of light (typically a good idea for the shower), consider a trim with a domed glass diffuser. 3. Find A Compatible Light Bulb: MR16 or PAR20 halogen lamps are common for shower recessed lighting, but newer LED retrofit modules on the market enable you to incorporate energy-efficient LED lighting into your bathroom. "Module" denotes that the LED lamp is included in the product and not sold separately. View on our website Learn > Buying Guides > How to Choose a Recessed Shower Light Square Recessed Lighting For Eye-Catching Design Where is the best place to use square recessed lighting fixtures? Square trims look best in small spaces where they can be the focal point. For this reason they are commonly used in bathrooms, hallways, or above sinks. One of the great things about square recessed downlights is that they are both functional sources of light and attractive as décor! Why are square recessed light trims more attention-grabbing? Traditional circular recessed can lights are designed to illuminate a space without attracting attention. That's more or less the reason they are "recessed" in the first place - to be as out of the way and out of the limelight as possible, while still providing great light. But some people like the look of recessed lights, not just their function. Square trims for recessed lighting have sharp angles that not only draw the eye inherently, but can be used in more interesting ways because of their geometrical properties. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Square Recessed Lighting Trims Wall Wash Recessed Lighting Trims FAQS Q) Why should I use wall washer lighting? A) Perhaps the biggest appeal of washing a wall in light is that it provides smooth, even illumination. Wall wash lighting will minimize the texture of a surface and gloss over walls with imperfections. Wall washer lighting is also often used as a design trick to make a small spaces feel bigger. Since there is an added emphasis to vertical surfaces, the eye tends to perceive a room with wall washers as larger. Lighting can greatly affect the overall feel and space of a room. For this reason, wall washer lights are great additions to rooms that are smaller in size. Q) Can I create wall wash lighting in a room with a sloped ceiling? A) Yes! Wall wash lighting is extremely flexible in terms of its application. Just use a wall washer lighting trim specifically designed for sloped ceilings. Q) How do I choose between trims with baffles or reflectors? A) Baffle trims minimize glare while reflector trims maximize light output. Consider which effect is more important in your wall wash lighting project and choose accordingly. We also offer trims with neither a baffle nor a reflector, as well as adjustable trims in our selection of wall washers. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Trims > Wall Wash Recessed Lighting Trims How to Wash a Wall With Light It's a staple in hotel, art gallery, and museum lighting design, and for good reason. Wall washing recessed lighting makes a statement, calling attention to architectural details, sculptures, fireplaces, wall hangings, and more. It's an easy way to create a dramatic effect in virtually any room. Tip: Wall washing also makes a room feel larger. Since you're emphasizing the vertical surfaces, it tends to create a visual expansion effect! Here's how to reproduce the look using recessed lights: 1. Find A Wall Wash Recessed Lighting Trim. It should have a partial opening so that light is only emitted through the opening (see this page) for examples. Do you have a sloped ceiling? Most people think washing a wall with light is impossible with a sloped ceiling, especially if the angle is pointing away from the target wall. It's not! You just need a wall washing recessed lighting trim for sloped ceilings. 2. Determine Your Mounting & Spacing Guidelines. The "mounting distance" is the number of feet between the wall and your recessed light on the ceiling. The "spacing distance" is the number of feet between each recessed light. The rule of thumb here is for your mounting distance to equal your spacing distance. To determine that, take 1/3 of your ceiling height and you have it! Mounting and spacing distance should be 2-3 feet for ceilings up to nine feet high. Mounting and spacing distance should be 3-4 feet for ceilings between nine and eleven feet high. 3. Position The Trim On Your Target Wall. The opening should be closest to the wall you want to wash with light. Some wall washing trims have adjustable openings so you can control the light output even more closely. *Note: Wall washing is different from wall grazing, which creates more shadows to emphasize texture. Whereas a wall wash tends to "smooth out" a wall and minimize its texture due to the even illumination, a wall graze creates dramatic high and low levels of light on irregular surfaces (such as brick or stucco). If you're going for a wall grazing effect, you need to place the light fixtures much closer to the wall - the typical guideline is somewhere between six and twelve inches. As always, let us know if you have questions! View on our website Learn > Lighting Design > How to Wash a Wall With Light Recessed Housing Types There are different types of recessed light housings designed for specific needs. Your project will help you to determine what kind of can you will need to use. Will Ceiling Drywall Already Be Installed? If so, then you want to look at a recessed light housing for remodels. These cans are designed to sit on top of the ceiling drywall inside the ceiling cavity. To install, you would cut a hole in your ceiling and slide the remodel can through the hole until it is completely inside the ceiling cavity. If there is no ceiling drywall in place because it is a new construction project or a big remodeling job then you could choose a new construction recessed can. Instead of resting on top of the ceiling drywall, this type of housing includes adjustable length T-bars that attach to the ceiling joists. Will There Be Any Insulation Touching the Housing? The exterior of a recessed housing will get hot when the light source is turned on, especially if it is an incandescent light source like halogen. So, if any insulation is in direct contact, or even within 3 inches of any part of the housing, then you will need to use an ic-rated recessed can. This type of housing has an exterior heat shield to ensure that the insulation does not catch on fire when the recessed ceiling light is turned on. Limited Space Inside Your Ceiling Cavity? Sometimes the space inside your ceiling where a recessed housing is going to be installed is limited. In these situations, a shallow recessed lighting housing might just be exactly the solution you are looking for. These low-profile recessed pot lights are less than six inches in height so they can fit inside that shallow ceiling cavity. Do You Have a Vaulted or Sloped Ceiling? A vaulted ceiling looks fantastic in a great room or family room. The room becomes spacious and airy. If this describes your space, then make sure to install a can for sloped ceiling recessed lighting. Want to Be Energy Efficient? So, let's state the obvious. Adding recessed lighting to a room basically punches holes in your ceiling. If you want to ensure that no conditioned air gets into the non-conditioned spaces, like an attic or ceiling cavity, then you should explore a sealed or air tight recessed light. As the name suggests, the housing is constructed so that no air from the conditioned space below transfers into the non-conditioned space above. This can increase your heating and air energy-efficiency, especially if you have a lot of recessed downlights in a room. Do You Have a Drop Ceiling? Many offices and commercial spaces, including some basements in homes, have drop, suspended, or acoustic ceilings. If this describes your project, then you will want a new construction can. Since these types of housings have adjustable T-bars, the pot light is not installed directly on the ceiling which is not possible for a drop ceiling. If you did, I guess the ceiling tile would, well, "drop" to the floor below from the weight of the recessed fixture. Recessed Housing Parts And Installation Tips A recessed can housing consists of multiple parts. ● Some type of socket for the light bulb to fit into. ● A type of enclosure for all of the necessary wire connections. ● A mechanism to firmly attach the housing on the ceiling. ● Another mechanism that allows the recessed trim of your choice to be installed inside the housing. ● If the pot light is low voltage, then it will also have an integral transformer to step down the voltage from 120 or 277 volts to 12 or 24 volts. ● Installation Perhaps the easiest type of recessed housing installation is when there is no ceiling drywall in place. For example, in a new construction project or a drop or suspended ceiling. In these situations you just attach the housing to the ceiling joists using the adjustable T-bars and then wire the housing to the electrical power. With no existing ceiling in place there is a lot of room to work. However, while adding a recessed light when there is an existing ceiling is a little more involved it does not mean it is too difficult. You will need to cut a hole in the ceiling, bring the wiring from the ceiling into the room through the hole, wire the housing to the electrical wire, and then maneuver the housing through the hole until it is in place resting on the ceiling. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Housings Installing Recessed Lighting In New Construction Installing recessed lighting when there is no ceiling drywall in place has to be one of the easiest ways to do it. You can see all of the ceiling joists, existing electrical wiring, and you will know immediately if there are any spaces in the ceiling where a recessed downlight cannot go because of heating and air ducts, pipes, etc. Create a Lighting Plan As with any lighting project, make sure to create your lighting plan before buying your new construction can lights. Your plan will dictate how many downlights you will need, the diameter, light source, any whether you require air-tight, low-profile, or IC-rated housings. Number Of Housings First, pick a starting point for that first new construction housing. If you want a little extra light in one space in your room, then start there and space all of the other cans around it. For even light throughout the room, place the first new construction can light in the center of the room and go from there. What is your ceiling height? Take that number and divide it by two. This is the general spacing you would want between your new construction downlights. For example, if you have an 8-foot ceiling then space the housings 4 feet apart. For a 12-foot ceiling they should be 6 feet apart. Now, of course, there are exceptions. If you want more light in a room then put the housings closer together. We usually recommend to "overlight" a room and then control the light output, or brightness, with a dimmer. Diameter Perhaps the most popular new construction housing diameter is the 6-inch size. This size is ubiquitous in a lot of new home construction today. This diameter housing is line voltage, usually inexpensive to purchase, and accommodates a number of standard lamp sizes. However, a lot of them in a room can consume a lot of ceiling space. The diameter decision is probably a very personal choice depending upon the design aesthetic you are going for, your budget, and whether you want line voltage or low voltage housings. Line voltage new construction recessed lights usually range in diameter from 4 to 6 inches. A low voltage housing can be 4 inches or smaller in diameter and has an integral transformer to step down the 120 or 277 volts in the ceiling electrical wiring to 12 or 24 volts. If you want a smaller diameter housing then you could select a halogen low voltage recessed light or, even, a smaller diameter new construction LED recessed lighting housing. Light Source You can choose between standard incandescent or compact fluorescent reflector light bulbs (usually in the larger diameter sizes only), halogen (both low and line voltage) as well as new construction LED recessed lights. Each light source has pros and cons and there are no wrong decisions. When choosing your light source here a few things to keep in mind. ● Dimmability - incandescent, halogen and many LED new construction can lights are dimmable while compact fluorescent are not. ● Cost - while incandescent light bulbs are probably the cheapest purchase initially, they will require more frequent replacements compared to your other choices, increasing your costs to operate over time. An LED recessed light is the least expensive to power. Moreover, since LEDs can last tens of thousands of hours, or many years, you will not need to worry about replacing that light source for a very long time, thus reducing your costs to operate. In the middle are halogen and compact fluorescent. Both of these light sources are more expensive than a standard incandescent reflector but much cheaper than LED. Plus, halogen and compact fluorescent have higher rated lives over incandescent (thousands of hours) but less than LED. Between the two, a compact fluorescent reflector lamp is more energy efficient than halogen however probably not as bright. ● Heat Output - halogen and incandescent light sources generate much more heat when they are turned compared to LED and compact fluorescent. ● Color Temperature - incandescent and halogen new construction recessed cans have a warm color temperature whereas compact fluorescent and LED recessed cans can range between warm and cool in color temperature. The warmer the color temperature the more yellow the light. Type of New Construction Recessed Housing Beyond the standard new construction can light there three different types to choose. ● Air-Tight - the entire housing is sealed preventing the conditioned air from the room below entering the non-conditioned space above. ● Low-Profile - each of these new construction recessed cans are less than 6 inches in height. ● IC-Rated - this housing has an exterior wall to ensure that the heat generated from the light source in the new construction housing does not touch any insulation in the ceiling and cause a fire. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Housings > New Construction Recessed Lighting Housings Installing Remodel Recessed Lighting Installing a recessed can light in an existing ceiling is a little more involved than when there is no ceiling, but definitely not impossible. It can be a little dusty since a hole must be made in the ceiling but nothing a drop cloth and vacuum cleaner cannot handle. You might need to do some drywall patching too but that depends on the project. An Easy Recessed Lighting Remodel Project One really easy project for remodel recessed lighting is to install one where there is already a ceiling light. You will just take down the ceiling light fixture already there and remove the junction box in the ceiling. You might even be able to use the existing hole from where the old light fixture was to install your remodel housing. So, either use the existing hole or make it bigger if necessary, pull the wiring through the hole, connect your housing to the wiring, and then slide the housing through the hole. Install your trim and light bulb if necessary and voila you are done. Well, you might need to clean up the dust. Installing Multiple Remodel Can Lights If you are adding new ceiling lights as opposed to just swapping out existing ones then your first step is to layout where you will place your remodel housings. Try to determine where your ceiling joists are, which direction they go, and what electrical wiring you will have access to in the ceiling. Then, draw a diagram of your room and layout your new lights. If you need to bring additional electrical wiring to your planned remodel can locations there are some really cool drills and bits that you put through a hole in the ceiling and then drill holes through your ceiling joists without having to make lots of openings in your existing ceiling. The fewer openings in your ceiling will mean less patching at the end. Which Remodel Housing Is For You? What light source would you like to use? An LED remodel recessed light is very energy-efficient and will cost much less to operate and maintain over its life then incandescent, halogen, or compact fluorescent. However, there is a higher initial cost. Will you have any insulation within 3 inches of your new remodel can? If so, then you will have to go with an IC-rated remodel recessed light. A housing's exterior that is inside your ceiling cavity or attic will get hot when the light is on. If any insulation were to come in to contact with the housing then you are at serious risk of fire. An IC remodel recessed housing has an exterior wall to protect against this risk. Two other options in remodel lights are low-profile for shallow ceiling cavities (less than 6 inches in height) and air tight. An air tight can is sealed so that no conditioned air from the room below transfers to the non-conditioned space above. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Housings > Remodel Recessed Lighting Housings Recessed Lighting And Insulated Ceilings If you are installing recessed lighting on the top floor of a house, in a ceiling directly under an attic, or in a basement ceiling there is usually insulation installed in these locations. Insulation is a combustible material. If it gets hot enough it will cause a fire. Therefore, it is an absolute requirement to install IC-rated recessed housings in these situations. Any light source inside a housing will generate heat. Even LED. Of course, some light sources, like halogen, generate more heat than others. Either way, a recessed can and insulation should never touch. IC recessed lights are housings with outer walls that remove the risk of fire from a hot housing touching insulation. Some might call these fire rated recessed light fixtures. IC-rated lights are available for any kind of project. Whether your need is for a new construction or remodel housing. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Housings > IC Recessed Lighting Housings Vaulted Ceiling Lighting Ideas A slanted ceiling does present some challenges when adding general lighting to a room. For example, some vaulted ceilings meet in the middle leaving no room for a ceiling fixture. Enter a solution. Sloped ceiling light fixtures help you illuminate otherwise difficult to light spaces. In addition, choosing recessed lighting sloped ceiling fixtures over traditional hanging or ceiling lights might provide more even light throughout your room depending on how the space is laid out. Sloped or cathedral recessed housings are designed to work with the angle of your ceiling so that the beam of light shines down. While this effect is achievable with standard housings and adjustable trims, a sloped recessed housing offers a cleaner look and more flexibility to adjust the pitch. Developing Your Lighting Plan Make a sketch of the angled ceiling room making sure to include any table or floor lamps your currently have or may have in the space. Then, layout where you want the housings to be installed. Keep in mind that a sloped ceiling increases in height toward the middle of the room. A general rule of thumb when laying out recessed cans is that you should divide the ceiling height by two and space your sloped ceiling downlights accordingly. Selecting the Right Sloped Recessed Lighting Housing There are different recessed lighting sloped ceiling options available to you. If the slanted ceiling is already installed you will need a remodel housing. These will be installed through a hole cut in the ceiling. Otherwise, you can choose a new construction sloped ceiling housing. This kind of can has bars that adjust and are attached to the ceiling joists. Many times the area above a vaulted ceiling is insulated. If this is the case, then you will need to select an IC-rated sloped ceiling housing. This will ensure that the heat generated from the light source inside the can will not cause a fire. Finally, you could also choose an air-tight recessed light which restricts any airflow from the conditioned room below flowing through the housing into the non-conditioned space in the ceiling. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Lighting Housings > Sloped Ceiling Recessed Lighting Housings How to Light a Vaulted Ceiling Vaulted ceilings can be great assets to any building, giving rooms a much more spacious, airy feel. But all that extra space can also be a challenge to light. What's the best kind of lighting to use on a vaulted ceiling? We're glad you asked! Start With Recessed Lighting. If your ceiling has any kind of slope to it, it will almost definitely benefit from a healthy spread of can lights. You really can't go wrong with recessed lighting in a vaulted ceiling because their versatility, inconspicuous design and customizable illumination. There are many kinds of recessed trims you can pick from, and we recommend choosing fixtures with housings specially designed for vaulted ceilings, like these. There are a lot of different ways to space your recessed lights, so take into consideration what effects you want the light to have. You might choose to spread recessed lights across the whole ceiling, or keep them mainly around the wall border. There's no right answer here, and for extra help, check out our blog post on laying out recessed lights. Recessed lights do great as the primary source of illumination, especially when paired with interesting pendant lights that create a beautiful layered look in your vaulted room. Use Pendant Lights To Fill The Extra Space And Jazz Up The Room's Style. Pendant lights and recessed lights are the dynamic duo of vaulted ceilings, so make sure you take full advantage of both! Pendant lights don't work in every room, so if you have a vaulted ceiling, go crazy. If you prefer something a little more practical (like a ceiling fan) or dramatic (like a chandelier), who's to stop you? Your vaulted ceiling gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to what type of space-filling light fixture you want, so go with your gut. The sky's the limit. For More Challenging Architecture, Try Something Linear. Strip lighting looks really nice with ceilings that are rounded, especially if you can hide it behind some kind of lip. If your ceiling has rafters or some other warehouse-esque unevenness to deal with, you might consider track lighting. Track lights are very versatile and give nonconventional ceilings a hip, artsy look that could be just what you were looking for. Want More Natural Light? If you can make it happen, skylights are awesome for vaulted ceilings because the angle of your ceiling will let in more sunlight than a typical flat roof might. This is a fantastic way to light any room without spending anything on energy bills. Have specific questions about lighting your vaulted ceiling? Let us know! View on our website Learn > Lighting Design > How to Light a Vaulted Ceiling How to Light a High Ceiling Large rooms can be nice, right? In them, you can spread out, or have parties – they're so versatile and the decor possibilities are seemingly endless. But when you're charged with making a huge space feel full and cozy - like a home - things can get real. Suddenly, the room is an ocean, and you are drowning. While you can add furniture and wall hangings to your heart's content, there's nothing like a quality lighting scheme to fill a room without making it feel cluttered. Warm light bouncing off the ceiling and walls gives you control over the entire area of your space. It will turn a huge cave of a room into a place that can envelop you. Here's how: Divide Your Room Into Three Sections. Add Lighting To All. If you're at all into art, photography, or design, you've probably heard of the rule of thirds. Applied to a room, this rule has you split the wall into 3 equal, balanced parts - the top, the middle, and the bottom. These are your three different "design levels." Furniture or wall paneling can go at the bottom, art or other wall hangings in the middle, and the top remains as is. By adding lights to each of these layers, the space will feel fuller and more cohesive, with focal points to diminish the room’s large, intimidating feel. Add table lamps, step lights, or uplights to the bottom portion. Floor lamps, wall sconces, or low-hanging pendants can go in the middle. The top should have recessed cans, track lighting, or larger, higher hanging lights or fans. Finally! You Can Make Your Hanging Light Dreams Come True. Speaking of hanging lights – you now have permission to go wild. In small rooms, with lower ceilings, you can have a few small pendants, or maybe a modest chandelier over a table. But in your room? Almost anything goes, because you have the space for it. How about an elegant set of lanterns or a giant, modern blown-glass pendant? Now is the time to make a statement. Whatever lights you choose, they'll be able to fill up the top third of your room, and add a nice focal point so filling the rest of your space won’t be quite so overwhelming. Don't be afraid to light your room with multiple chandeliers of different styles. This can help you subtly divide the room into different areas - dining, lounging, etc. Be Generous With Recessed Cans. A high shadowy ceiling is a comfort to no one. That alone can turn an otherwise beautiful room into a spooky cavern. However, recessed lights can fix this. Their sleek, modern design allows them to provide great ambient lighting without making the ceiling look too cluttered. You can use them on their own, or to supplement the ambient light provided by a hanging fixture. To get rid of those creepy shadows against the walls, install lights closer to the edge of your ceiling. To pull focus on a single point, place cans in a square or circle around the central fixture. You can install adjustable cans or even lights for sloped ceilings, so you can have just the right lighting scheme. Track Lighting Is Your New Best Friend. Track lights are adjustable light fixtures mounted on an electrified metal track. When you install these lights on your ceiling (even your sloped ceiling – dream big!), you can turn them in almost any direction and adjust them whenever you feel the need. You can aim the track heads in different directions for even illumination around the room, or to highlight certain areas or features. They can wash or graze you walls with light – another way to eliminate shadows and/or highlight texture. Have You Been Blessed With Serious Architecture? Flaunt It, Please! Coves, cathedral ceilings, beams, high display shelves, arches and the like need the night kind of lighting to avoid that uncomfortable, imposing feeling. Accent fixtures like tape lights, rope lights, and puck lights in the right places will add texture and warmth to an otherwise bare-looking space. View on our website Learn > Lighting Design > How to Light a High Ceiling LED Recessed Lights - Not Just For Ceilings When people hear "LED downlight," they think about a ceiling installation. It's no wonder: LEDs excel as recessed can lights. They are directional by nature in terms of beam spread, so they sync well with the design of a recessed lighting fixture. This is one reason why many people choose to replace recessed light fixtures that they currently have with LEDs. However, recessed LED lighting fixtures are not just for ceilings. They may be installed in cabinets, display cases, alcoves, shelves, and more. The cool operating temperature of LEDs, along with the fact that they can be incorporated into incredibly small light fixtures, makes them perfect for such applications. LED recessed light fixtures that are installed in the ceiling as general lighting typically include three components: a housing which rests above the ceiling, a trim which can be seen at the ceiling opening, and an LED light source. Smaller LED recessed lights are typically used as accent lighting in areas that highlight decorative items. Called LED mini recessed lights or LED mini can lights, they feature low-profile trims that allow for a narrow beam of light. Typically, the trim and housing are built-in to the light fixture to form a single unit. We offer a number of adjustable mini LED recessed can lights, so you can direct the light focus exactly where you need it. Advantages - Energy Efficient! We are often asked what the advantages are in terms of using LEDs as a source for recessed lighting fixtures rather than incandescent lights. The primary advantage of opting for recessed LED lighting fixtures is energy efficiency. LED can lights have very similar light output and color quality to incandescent downlights, but they use about one-fifth of the power. That added efficiency translates into dollars saved on your energy bills. So, not only do many customers prefer the visual effects of LED can lighting, they also enjoy the savings. An even more compelling advantage is the long lifetime that LED recessed lighting fixtures offer. Many LEDs have an estimated rated lifetime of 50,000 hours. That translates to seventeen years of use from an LED recessed downlight that is left on for eight hours a day, seven days a week. An incandescent recessed light with the same light output might have a rated life of just 2,500 hours. This longer lifetime means fewer replacement light bulbs to purchase and install, a benefit of all LEDs, but it's particularly valuable for LED recessed light fixtures, which are generally more difficult to access than pendants, table or floor lamps, and wall sconces. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > LED Recessed Lighting Out tting Recessed Can Lights: LED Light Bulbs, LED Retro ts, Or LED Housings? When using LEDs in your recessed can lights, should you install completely new LED housings and trims, use LED retrofit modules, or simply switch out your light bulbs for LEDs? A customer once contacted Pegasus Lighting with that very question. She wanted to use LEDs in her recessed cans, and asked us about the advantages and disadvantages of LED housings/trims, retrofits, and light bulbs in order to make her decision. So, our lighting experts went to work crafting an answer. Here's what they had to say: When Using An LED Lamp With A Conventional Incandescent Housing And Trim... This option is by far the simplest. Just unscrew that old incandescent or halogen light bulb and replace it with an LED lamp. Depending on the size of your recessed can, you can use LED reflector lamps or A lamps. Advantages: ●
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Easy To Alter. It only takes one person to screw in a light bulb (usually). So, if you don't like how your new LED light bulb looks or performs, you can switch it out for a different one with minimal hassle. Since LED innovations are still evolving and LED efficacy is increasing dramatically each year, using LED light bulbs gives you more freedom to try out new technology. With a more extensive LED system, it would be annoying and expensive to try to keep up with new technology. Generally Cheaper Upfront. L
ED light bulbs for recessed cans can cost anywhere from around $10 to over $100, while the prices for LED retrofits and LED housings and trims range from around $30 to over $200. Disadvantages: ●
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Could Trip Your Circuit Breaker. LED light bulbs and conventional recessed can lights are not always compatible. Some of the LED light bulbs used in halogen and incandescent recessed lights might cause a heat sensor inside the housing to trip your circuit breaker. This is because LED lamps generally direct heat up towards the ceiling and the fixture's heat sensor, while incandescent sources project heat down and out of the recessed light. Shortened Rated Life. The excess warmth in the ceiling might reduce your light bulb's rated life, depending on how the LED's system manages heat. If the lamp doesn't have well-designed "heat sinks," high temperatures trapped in the housing will cause the its light emitting diodes to degrade at a faster rate. Possibly Unattractive. Not all LED light bulbs look good in open recessed lights. Those with more high-tech designs may look out of place within a subtle, conventional housing. Or, the LED lamp may stick too far down in the housing and provide too much direct glare. May Not Be Dimmable. Not all LED light bulbs are dimmable. If dimming your recessed lights is a priority, make sure the LED lamp you choose is dimmable. Also, whenever changing from some type of incandescent light bulb to an LED light bulb, you may have install a new dimmer that is compatible with LED lamps. When Using An LED Retrofit Module With A Conventional Incandescent Housing... An LED retrofit module is a fixture that attaches to your current standard housing, replacing both the old light bulb and the trim. To install, you just need to attach the fixture's base adapter to the existing socket, and secure the light in place with built-in clips. Advantages: ●
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Convenient Package. The LED retrofit module includes an LED light source, LED driver, and recessed trim all in one fixture, so you don't have to worry about keeping up with multiple parts. Easy To Install. Retrofitting your recessed lights with these fixtures is a quick do-it-yourself project. You don't have to tamper with the housing or make any huge changes up in the ceiling, so you can be done with the installation in just an afternoon. ●
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Easy to Replace . Because the LED retrofit is so easy to install and comes in just one piece, you can uninstall it just as easily. If, for instance, more advanced technology hits the market in the next few years, it will be very simple to change out your fixtures for different ones. Better Heat Management. LED retrofit modules are designed and built to last in your ceiling. Because manufacturers are aware that heat may be a problem, retrofit modules are equipped with better heat management systems compared to LED light bulbs. Higher temperatures won't have an effect on their rated lives. Nice To Look At. LED retrofits come in a variety of low-profile and decorative styles meant to look attractive on the ceiling. They're generally more aesthetically pleasing than exposed LED light bulbs in recessed cans. Least Expensive. For many installations, this option will give you the most energy savings for the least cost upfront. You can get a good LED retrofit for around $30. Reliable. Many manufacturers provide great warranties for their LED retrofits. Some last as long as 7 years! Disadvantages: ●
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Sizing. A retrofit's compatibility with incandescent housings can occasionally be an issue. Retrofit modules don't always fit in each and every manufacturer's housing. Possible Dimming Issues. Just like LED light bulbs, not all LED retrofit modules are dimmable. In order to dim your lights when using LED retrofits, opt for fixtures specifically labeled "dimmable." Also, whenever changing from some type of incandescent light bulb to an LED retrofit, you may have to install a new dimmer that is compatible with that LED module. When Using A Dedicated LED Housing And Trim... The final option is replacing your conventional housing/trim with a new system. For example, if you wanted a 2-inch recessed light, you would need a 2-inch housing and a 2-inch trim. Advantages: ●
Guaranteed Functionality. When you invest in an LED housing and trim, you're purchasing a complete lighting system. It has been tested, and all the parts are compatible. So, you don't have to worry about tripping any circuit breakers or malfunctions from mismatched technology. ●
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Reliable Rated Life. LED recessed lights are designed specifically for use in the ceiling. Therefore, they're equipped with systems necessary to deal with the excess heat and strain that come along with the location. The entire system is also generally under warranty for 3-5 years, so you can be confident that it will do its job well. Often More Attractive. Manufacturers take the time to make sure their LED can lights look nice. They put effort into seamlessly integrating the LED lights into each fixture so they look natural and provide the kind of quality light we expect from your recessed cans. You can even find LED recessed lighting fixtures with special decorative trims. Disadvantages: ●
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Removing Your Present Recessed Light Could Be a Real Problem. If you now have a new construction housing installed in your ceiling, you might have a significant problem trying to remove it for the new LED housing - unless you have direct access to your ceiling. If, on the other hand, you presently have a remodel housing installed in your ceiling, this could be removed much more easily. In either case, be sure to determine which type of housing you already have installed before you decide to replace it. Parts Affect The Life Of The Whole. If the LED driver (the power source of the LED downlight) needs to be replaced long before the LED light source dies, it might be difficult, if not impossible, to replace. You may have to install an entirely new fixture. Replacement Parts Could Be Hard To Find In The Future. LEDs and LED recessed housings are still a new technology. So, we have no way of knowing if manufacturers will be able to provide replacement LED modules in 15-25 years, after the rated lives of your first LEDs run out. This again means you might need to replace the whole system. Yet Again, There May Be Dimming Issues. Just like LED light bulbs, not all dedicated LED housings and trims are dimmable. In order to dim your lights when using new dedicated LED recessed downlights, opt for fixtures that are labeled as "dimmable." Also, whenever changing to a dedicated LED recessed light, you may have to install a new dimmer that is compatible with that LED recessed fixture. Higher Initial Cost. U
nlike LED retrofits and LED light bulbs, installing an LED housing and trim requires you to purchase more than one component. You need both the housing and the trim for this project. View on our website Learn > Buying Guides > Outfitting Recessed Can Lights: LED Light Bulbs, LED Retrofits, Or LED Housings? Cheat Sheet For Choosing LED Recessed Light Retro t Modules If you've decided to retrofit your recessed lighting with LEDs but are unsure which product is right for you, this step-by-step guide should help you determine which LED retrofit modules to order. 1. What size do you need? If you are replacing existing recessed lights, you need to purchase an LED retrofit module that matches those dimensions. If you're unsure, just measure the diameter of your existing recessed downlights (not including the trim). Your LED retrofit module will be either four, five, or six inches in diameter. 2. Where is the installation location? If you are installing in a bathroom or any other area where moisture might accumulate, make sure to select an LED retrofit module that is "wet location approved." 3. What kind of trim do you prefer? There's a lot of variety - whether you are looking for an adjustable trim, a standard white trim, or one specially designed to maximize light output, you'll have your pick. Here are a couple of terms to know: a baffle trim will minimize glare from the downlight. Baffle trims are popular in residential applications. A reflector trim does just what it sounds like - reflects the light in order to maximize light output. Reflector trims are more common in commercial buildings, but there are exceptions to every rule! 4. What about lumens, watts, & color temperature? Each of our LED retrofit modules is labeled with light output (lumens), energy consumption, (watts), and warmth in color appearance (color temperature, measured in Kelvins). Many consumers aren't familiar with using lumens as a point of reference because in the past, the degree of light output directly corresponded with how many watts the light bulb consumed. (Everyone knew that a 100W incandescent light bulb was much brighter than a 40W). Therefore, everyone simply shopped by wattage. However, that logic doesn't work for energy efficient lighting. An LED might use only 11 watts of power but might emit 600 lumens of light - which is the equivalent output of a 40-60 watt incandescent. If you are still more familiar with watts than lumens, this chart may help you understand what kind of light output you'll want to look for to emulate a 40, 60, or 100W incandescent light bulb: Incandescent Wattage Lumen Output 40 Watts 360 Lumens 60 Watts 615 Lumens 75 Watts 960 Lumens 100 Watts 1100 Lumens 150 Watts 2850 Lumens Color temperature measures the relative warmth or coolness of light appearance. The higher the color temperature, the "cooler" the light. A color temperature of 4000K emits a "cool white" light; whereas a color temperature of 2700K delivers a warm, yellowish glow. View on our website Learn > Buying Guides > Cheat Sheet for Choosing LED Recessed Light Damp Location Vs. Wet Location Recessed Lighting A wet location rated outdoor recessed light can safely have direct contact with water. This kind of exterior recessed light will keep water like rain, shower water spray, sleet, or snow from harming the light source inside. A damp location rated outdoor recessed light may be exposed to condensation but should not have direct contact with water. You can use a damp location rated downlight in a covered outdoor area or in any bathroom where water spray will not reach the light fixture. All of our recessed lights are damp location approved. The easiest way to check for wet location approval in our outdoor recessed can lights is to look in the title of the product. It will say "Wet Location" in the product name if the recessed light can be used in unprotected outdoor area. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Outdoor Recessed Lighting Ways To Use Recessed Ceiling Spot Lights Spotlighting in Multiples One feature you will see in designer lighting as well as lighting in places like a commercial space is the multiple recessed spot light. In these modern fixtures, you may see up to four or five light bulbs - which swivel independently, of course. Ceiling spotlights are great for creating flexibility with your lighting. You can create a dynamic swath of accent light, which is handy, since many of the things you want to display are not best accented with a single spotlight. A table displaying statues or other decorative objects might benefit from a triple recessed spot light, for example. That way, each displayed item pops the way you want it to. Residential vs. Commercial Uses of Recessed Spot Lights Recessed downlights are great for both home and retail display lighting. In the home, recessed spotlights are the perfect way to accent art work. The great thing about them is their flexibility. If you want to bring something your daughter painted to life - to really make the painting special - but then, in three years, decide you want to move things around (not that she would EVER create ANYTHING that wasn't GENIUS), you will be glad you are able to very easily swivel the spot light. Similarly, design-conscious retailers often use recessed spot lights because their displays are in constant fluctuation. You see a lot of multiple swivel ceiling lights in larger clothing stores, for example. How Good is LED Recessed Lighting for Spotlighting? The question is bound to come up. You want to know if LEDs are good for recessed swivel can lights. The answer is absolutely yes. LED lamps are great for display lighting to begin with. They are efficient and bright and come in a variety of color temperatures. They generally pay for themselves quickly with energy they save AND they give you great light. What's not to like? LED recessed lighting is a solid way to go for recessed spotlighting. View on our website Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Recessed Lighting > Recessed Spot Lights How To Choose Light Bulbs For Your Home: Recessed Cans This is another article in a series dedicated to helping you create a home with beautiful lighting by choosing the best light bulbs. Recessed lights can be a little complicated, but once you've got the basics down, it's smooth sailing! The first thing you'll need to do is determine which light bulb size your recessed light fixture takes. Here's what you'll see among recessed lighting options: BR30, MR11, MR16, PAR16, PAR20, PAR30, PAR38, R20, R30, R40. Wow. Let's break that down a little: The number following the letters in a recessed light bulb indicates size: it's the diameter of the light bulb in eighths of an inch. So, a BR30 is 30/8 inches, or three and 3/4 inches. An MR11 is 11/8 inches. So, you can swap out a PAR30 for an R30 or a BR30 - they are all the same size. The PAR denotes the light bulb has a parabolic aluminized reflector on its inside, directing light out. That PAR coating maximizes the light output that you'll get from the light bulb. If brightness is your #1 priority in a recessed light, choose a PAR lamp in the appropriate size. The majority of PAR lamps are available in a flood beam spread, but spot beam PAR lamps are also out there. Many PAR lamps are approved for use in wet locations. The MR indicates the light bulb has a multifaceted reflector on its inside. The facets help gather light from the filament to create a very concentrated light beam. MR lamps are primarily available in smaller sizes - they are all about beam control, which is typically desirable for a narrower light beam. You can choose your beam spread (i.e., narrow flood, flood, spotlight) for many MR lamps. Moving on to BR: Want to take a guess on what it stands for? This is another reflector lamp to maximize brightness, but this time, the light bulb itself has a bulged shape to direct light out. One disadvantage of the BR lamp is that it's a little longer than the PAR and MR, which means it tends to sit lower in the recessed fixture - and perhaps, protrude from the bottom of the recessed light fixture. Finally, the simple R. As you might assume, it stands for reflector in this case. There is a mirrored coating on the back of the light bulb to improve light output. Now that we have those light bulb names deciphered, you should know that they are available in an array of light sources, including incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent, cold cathode fluorescent, and LED. Halogen is probably the most popular of the bunch for recessed light fixtures. It renders colors very well, it's affordable, and it gives you a lot of light output. If you're looking for efficiency, though, halogen is not your target. LED has a higher price point, but it also gives you a longer lifetime and lower energy use! CFLs and CCFLs are also viable energy efficient options, but remember you should avoid the CFL if the gradual start-up drives you crazy - or if you plan to turn the lights on and off frequently. (You'll lower the lifetime of a CFL if you use it in less than 15 minute intervals). CCFLs give you the efficiency of a CFL without the delayed start-up (or the diminished lifetime from frequent power cycles). View on our website Learn > Buying Guide > How To Choose Light Bulbs For Your Home: Recessed Cans How to Layout Recessed Lighting in 4 Easy Steps We received a question on Twitter about how to layout recessed lighting and realized it was a great topic for a how-to. If you're using recessed lights (aka cans, high hats, pot lights, or downlights) to provide the general lighting in a room, follow these tips to create the ideal level of brightness: 1. Ready Your Sketchbook. Use a blueprint of the room to pencil in exactly where you want the recessed lights to go. Before you start, take measurements of any furniture in the room and create paper shapes that are correctly scaled for the blueprint. This way, you will be able to see where the light will fall. 2. Decide If You Want To Choose A Focal Point. If you know of a particular spot in the room that needs a recessed light directly above it, that should be your starting point. Laying out recessed lighting in a kitchen? You might want to be sure there is a light directly above the stovetop or sink. Planning for recessed lights in the living room? You might have a specific reading chair that you already know needs extra lighting. If you fall in this category, center that first recessed light exactly where you want it and space the rest of the lights around it (see Tip #2 for spacing). If you prefer to simply space the recessed lighting evenly around the room without any particular focal point, place your first light in the center of the room and go from there. 3. Follow The Ceiling Height Rule Of Thumb. To determine how far apart to space your recessed lights, divide the height of the ceiling by two. If a room has an 8 foot ceiling, you should space your recessed lights approximately 4 feet apart. If the ceiling is 10 feet, you'll want to put about 5 feet of space in between each fixture. Use this rule as a base line, though. Depending on the brightness or darkness of the décor in the room, the type and wattage of light being used, and the purpose of the recessed lights (general, task, or accent lighting), you may want to space the lights either closer together or further apart. To compensate for these issues, a smart strategy is to "overlight" the room with dimmable lights and then control the brightness with dimmers. 4. Avoid Shadows In The Corners. Make sure to place recessed lights approximately three feet away from the wall. You must be careful to avoid creating shadows in any corner, as this will have the visual effect of lowering the ceiling. As long as the lights reflect on the wall at the appropriate distance, they will make the room seem brighter and larger. View on our website Learn > Lighting Design > How to Layout Recessed Lighting in 4 Easy Steps How To Install Recessed Lights In A Drop Ceiling A drop ceiling is a very common feature in offices, basements, theaters, and schools. It's made from a metal grid and "tiles" or "panels" hung below the structural ceiling. Also known as a secondary ceiling, suspended ceiling, T-bar ceiling, or false ceiling, it most often conceals air ducts or pipes for a clean look in a previously unfinished area. Often, these ceilings feature recessed can lights - a sleek option to illuminate a space without diminishing any headroom. Whether you're building a brand new drop ceiling complete with recessed cans, or adding them to an existing ceiling, you'll need to accommodate some special electrical and structural needs with your installation. Follow these steps to add recessed lights to your drop ceiling: 1. Find The Right Lights. Heat is your biggest concern when choosing recessed lights for your ceiling. If a light generates too much heat, especially around plastic surfaced or fiberglass panels, it can create a fire hazard. LED recessed light fixtures run cooler than other light sources, so they're generally your best option. You should also choose lights with adjustable mounting arms, or heavy duty clips that can attach to support wires or bars above the ceiling. 2. Layout Your Lights. Use graph paper to make a scale drawing of your room, so you can plan where each light should go. You should space them out according to your ceiling height, any focal points that you want to add, and how bright you want your room's ambient light to be. For more detailed advice on how to layout your recessed lights, check out this article: How To Layout Recessed Lighting in 4 Easy Steps. 3. Establish Supports. Drop ceilings are too delicate to support the weight of recessed lights on their own. Also, as your structure settles and shifts, the drop ceiling will move. Install extra wire supports over the tile to help hold the lights - one wire for each of the four corners of the tile. Using support bars or blocks with an additional frame that rests on the ceiling grid will work too. Make sure you can mount the light so it's flush with the face of the tile. For more info on using wire supports, check out this article from eHow. For more on support bars and frames, read this article from Armstrong World Industries. 4. Cut Holes. On each ceiling tile where you're adding a recessed light, trace the light's outline. Do this in the exact center of the tile, and double check that the opening is sized according to your light's installation instructions. Cut the first hole out using a keyhole saw or utility knife. Dust off any loose particles and set the panel back into its opening. 5. Position The Lights. Take out one panel next to the panel you just cut. Place the light up over the cut panel and attach it to the supports. Make sure it's positioned over the hole. 6. Wire The Lights. If you're not familiar with how to wire your lights to power, it's best to hire an electrician. Most municipalities require a certified professional to connect the lights into your home's main electrical box and inspect the circuit. This can be very dangerous to do if you're not trained for it. 7. Finish Up. Install the light bulbs into the cans (if necessary) and snap the trim ring onto the housing. Turn on the lights, and voila! View on our website Learn > Lighting Design > How to Install Recessed Lights in a Drop Ceiling How to Get More Out of Your Recessed Cans Converting a recessed light fixture into a hanging light (or pendant light) is not only possible, but it's a pretty straightforward project that you can most likely do yourself in just a weekend. So how can you make this happen? First, choose your pendant lights based on where they’ll hang in your space. If you’re going to put them over a counter, kitchen island, or table, you can choose ones that will hang slightly lower. This will provide bright task lighting without getting in the way. If you plan to install them in hallways or open areas, pick lights that will hang very close to the ceiling so they don’t eat up your headroom. To install the pendant lights in your recessed cans, you’ll need the following: ●
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Recessed light converter kit Small vanity plate to cover the old recessed hole in your ceiling Screwdriver Painter’s tape Ladder Circuit tester Before you begin, make sure your city doesn’t have any codes requiring a licensed electrician to perform the conversion. Here’s how you convert the light: 1. Turn off the power to each light you’re working on by switching off the circuit breaker. 2. Remove the old recessed can. Twist out the light bulb, remove the casing, and release the clips. You should then see the socket hanging down from the hole. 3. Install your converter, following the kit’s instructions. You may want to use your circuit tester here to make sure the power is really off. 4. Get ready to hang the pendant. Connect the cap to its fixture and thread the wires through the cap and the vanity plate. 5. Connect the wires of the converter to the wires of the pendant fixture. Follow the directions that come with your pendant to do this correctly. 6. Test the wire connection by adding a light bulb to the pendant and switching the power back on. When you see that the light works, turn the power back off. 7. Temporarily secure the vanity plate to the ceiling with the painter’s tape. Note: A vanity plate is often necessary because the hole left by the recessed can is larger than the pendant cap. If this isn’t the case, then you can skip this step. 8. Finish off the installation. Attach the fixture cap flush to the ceiling, remove the tape, and switch on the circuit breaker. View on our website Learn > Lighting Tips > How to Get More Out of Your Recessed Cans How to Install Recessed Lights Adding recessed lights to your home? If there's already an existing power source in the ceiling and an electrical switch in the wall, the installation is fairly easy. You can save a lot of money by tackling the project yourself rather than hiring a professional. If you have access to the ceiling from above (i.e., from the attic), the project is even easier. However, we offer a wide selection of remodel recessed lighting housings so that you can install from below as well. Follow These Steps To Install Recessed Lights If You Have An Existing Power Source In The Ceiling: 1. Turn off the power. 2. Determine where the ceiling joists are using an electronic stud finder. (You need to install the recessed lights between the joists). 3. Trace the outlines of your recessed cans onto the ceiling in your desired layout. If you need help, check out our article on How to Layout Recessed Lighting in 4 Easy Steps. 4. Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the ceiling in the center of each tracing where you want the lights to go. Check for obstructions. If you have an attic above the ceiling, you can simply check visually; otherwise, you can insert the straight section of a wire coat hanger in the hole and spin it around. You'll have to reposition the lights if you find any obstructions. 5. Cut the openings for each recessed light. The easiest tool for this is a drywall circle cutter. Make sure not to cut through any existing cables in the ceiling. (Tip: place a tarp on the floor beneath). 6. Disconnect existing fixtures from the power source, if necessary. 7. Pull the electrical cable to the first recessed light. Leave about 18 inches of wire hanging from the ceiling as you continue to pull wire to each light fixture. This extra 18 inches gives you enough slack to wire the new fixtures. If the attic is above the ceiling, run the wire through the attic. If you are installing from below and the area above is a finished floor, you need to fish the wire through the framing of the ceiling using a long flexible drill bit. 8. Insert the electrical cable into the fixture's junction box and wire the light, using twist-on wire connectors to make the connections. Remember: the fixture's black wire goes with the black house wire, white wire goes with white wire, ground wire goes with ground wire. The manufacturer's instructions will help with this. Continue making all the connections and then stuff the wires in each fixture's junction box and fasten the covers. 9. Rotate the housing into place in the ceiling so that the mounting tabs are secure. Attach the baffle and any trim you are using to the housing (follow the manufacturer's instructions: installation steps may vary depending on the model). 10. Install the light bulbs, turn on the power again, and you are finished! View on our website Learn > Projects > How to Install Recessed Lights