What you should know about Recessed Lighting for Your Home
Lighting Fixtures: NEC 410-66 Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within 1/2inch of combustible material shall be approved for insulation contact and labeled Type IC.
Most State Energy Codes require that all penetrations through an air barrier be sealed so that the interior air barrier is maintained. Sealing applies to all penetrations including the service entrance, conduit, cables, panels, recessed luminaries, electrical boxes, and fan housings.
Step 1 - The basic finish of the installed recessed light fixture.
For this recessed lighting fixture, the lamp socket is mounted up inside the enclosure at the default position to accommodate the incandescent reflector light bulb.
Step 2 - This light socket mounting plate may be adjusted or removed.
The lamp socket adjustment will allow the recessed can lighting to expose more of the light bulb resulting in more light being cast into the area.
Step 3 - Removal of the light socket plate assembly.
When the wing nut is removed, the socket bracket assembly plate can be lowered out of the recessed fixture enclosure.
Step 4 - Removal of the light socket.
The lamp socket is removed from this assembly simply by squeezing together the two metal brackets that hold the socket in place to the metal plate.
Step 5 - The socket is now ready for the can light trim.
The lamp socket is now ready to be inserted into a variety of trims of your choice and lighting application.
Process for Installing Recessed Can Lights
A typical job invoice will include an assembly of the parts necessary for installing recessed lighting and will include the fixtures of your choice and the trims that you have selected.
The necessary wiring and circuit components will depend upon your individual recessed lighting installation.
The recessed lights can be controlled by a standard light switch or dimmer switches depending on the recessed lights you select.
Depending on the number of fixtures you decide to add, a new circuit may be required.
NOTE: Each home electrical project requires careful planning. See our list of Helpful Low-Cost Home Project Guides: Home Electrical Project Guides
Important Electrical Code when Installing Recessed Light Fixtures
410.66 Wiring Methods recessed lighting fixtures Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within 13 mm [1/2 ] of combustible material shall be approved for insulation contact and labeled Type IC
410-66 Lighting Fixtures recessed lighting fixtures Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within 1/2inch of combustible material shall be approved for insulation contact and labeled Type IC.
410-66 Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within 1/2inch of combustible material shall be approved for insulation contact and labeled Type IC.
NOTE: This is a partial list of electrical codes. Other codes may apply. Some codes may be updated.
See the Electrical Code area for more information: Home Electrical Codes
Electrical Tools
Electrical Materials
Large Straight-Slot Screw Driver,
Medium Straight-Slot Screw Driver,
Small Straight-Slot Screw Driver,
Awl,
Lineman's Pliers,
Needle-Nose Pliers,
Crimp Pliers,
Wire Strippers,
Sheath Knife,
Black Electrical Tape,
Red Electrical Tape,
White Electrical Tape,
Green Electrical Tape,
Yellow Wire Connectors,
Red Wire Connectors,
Ground Crimps,
Claw Hammer,
Volt Tester,
Felt Marker
The electrical tools for each project may be different depending on the individual project requirements and the access to install electrical devices.
More about Electrical Tools
The electrical parts list will depend upon each individual project and the requirements
to wire specific devices added to the project.
More about Electrical Parts
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Question:
How difficult and what's involved in replacing a pendant light to a recessed over my sink?
Answer:
As for the kitchen light over the sink - this would be my procedure for a client:
Turn off the circuit to the fixture and remove the existing fixture and the electrical box. Make sure there is space to accommodate your choice of recessed lighting - this would involve looking at any obstacles which could interfere with the physical size of the recessed can. Understand that the wiring may need to be junction and extended to reach the new fixture termination area. Also - an inspection of the attic, looking at the existing fixture position and location will give you a good indication of what obstacles there may be. Much depends on whether your sink is on an exterior wall, or an interior wall. This would make a difference with space needed to accommodate the new recessed light.
If you find that the area is favorable to a recessed light, then you may need to use what is referred to as a remodel can. This would enable the fixture to be retrofitted into the existing ceiling from the kitchen instead of installing the rough-in or new-construction style can/fixture from inside the attic. Examine the fixture instructions carefully, especially the areas having to do with heat emitted from the fixture and factors having to do with the installation and the proximity of insulation in the attic space.
Recessed Lighting Installation:
NEC 410-66 Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within 1/2inch of combustible material shall be approved for insulation contact and labeled Type IC.
Most State Energy Codes require that all penetrations through an air barrier be sealed so that the interior air barrier is maintained. Sealing applies to all penetrations including the service entrance, conduit, cables, panels, recessed luminaries, electrical boxes, and fan housings.
NOTE: This question is based on a specific project. Ask The Electrician provides help for your electrical project: Ask Electrical Questions
Recessed Lights Flickering When Appliances are Turned On
Lucinda, from Randolph, Minnesota asks:
We purchased our home as a foreclosure so no history was provided, bought as is, the home is 10 years old. Periodically when either the furnace kicks in, or if another appliance is turned on the recessed lights will flicker. This morning a repair technician was here to fix our central air conditioner and he was concerned that the basement lights flickered quite a bit after the central air turned on after he fixed it. The lights that are flickering are in a finished basement with recessed lights. Is this something we should get checked out and should we be concerned about it?
Dave's Reply:
Lucinda, Yes - you should be concerned about his conciliation and you should have the electrical system checked out. A qualified electrical contractor would be able to make a series of electrical inspections and voltage tests that will help locate the problem so it may be corrected.
Recessed Lighting Designs and Installation Factors Installing Recessed Lighting: Factors to Consider when Choosing Recessed Lighting: I am installing recessed incandescent fixtures in a basement room with no ceiling insulation.
Installing Recessed Lighting How to Install Recessed Light Fixtures in a Bathroom Location: Which recessed light fixtures should I buy for a bathroom?
Installing Outdoor Recessed Lighting Selecting Outdoor Recessed Lighting Fixtures - The type of recessed light can itself will depend on the type of attic space you have, the type of insulation and the local energy codes in your area. The trim type should be rated for outdoor use. One trim you may consider is a shower trim where there is a tempered glass or plastic lenses mounted into a trim that has a gasket.
Install Air Tight Recessed Lighting for Efficiency I removed the burned out spot light bulb in the recessed light fixture and I noticed a draft coming down from the attic, is there some sort of gasket that's available to place around the neck of the new bulb...
Installing Pot Lights How to Install Recessed Pot Light Fixtures: Some types are constructed so that the insulation can come into contact with the fixture housing and there are others that give a specific distance based on the heat that will be produced and other factors.
How Many Wires are Allowed in a Recessed Light Box Installing and Wiring Recessed Light Fixtures: NEC 314.16 and Box Fill, What does it mean when a light fixture wire box specifies a maximum number of wires?
install recessed lighting - 1856
Wiring Light Fixtures
Electrical Project Skill Level:
Beginner to Intermediate.
Electrical Tools Required:
Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, Non-Metal Step Ladder, and a Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time:
Depends on personal level of experience, ability to work with tools for install lighting fixtures, and the available access to the project area. Electrical Safety:
Identify the lighting circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.
Electrical Wiring Parts and Materials:
Electrical parts and materials for home lighting projects should be approved for the specific project and compliant with local and national electrical codes.
Electrical Codes and Inspections:
Installing additional electrical wiring for lighting should be done according to local and national electrical codes with a permit and be inspected.
This is a testing tool that is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.
This is great to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring, is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets
Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency
Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included
Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect, Very handy and easy to use.
A wire stripping tool used to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets.
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