How to replace this LED recessed light?

[lilcuda]

I’m a noob when it comes to electrical repair. I’ve swapped ceiling fixtures before, but that’s it. Last week, one of our recessed LEDs in the kitchen made a buzzing sound and then went dark. See pic of said LED. I’m wondering how I replace this? I Googled it and some have said you can just pull these down and they pop out. This one doesn’t seem to want to do that. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Norcal]

It might of bonded to the paint, pulling the trim down is how they are removed, after that unplug it & go get a replacement.

 

[lilcuda]

Ok. Thanks. My wife is in the kitchen cooking now, so I‘ll check into it later.

 

[Norcal]

If it has bonded to the ceiling gently working around it with a putty knife should work. Forgot to to put that in the original post.

 

[TRITOON]

I've never been a fan of the all in one recessed lights or light fixtures. I love LED's and they have gotten considerable better, but when they do fail, or if you decide you want a different light color temp, it turns a 5 second job into a light fixture replacement.

Also good luck in finding the same brand, with the same temp, and the same output as the other recessed lights.

 

[rlitman]

I've never been a fan of the all in one recessed lights or light fixtures. I love LED's and they have gotten considerable better, but when they do fail, or if you decide you want a different light color temp, it turns a 5 second job into a light fixture replacement.

Also good luck in finding the same brand, with the same temp, and the same output as the other recessed lights.

Lots of canless lights now have a color temperature selection switch.

 

[Bucko]

Looks like a small gap around the light and the ring. Are you sure it's not a screw in LED bulb?

 

[TRITOON]

Lots of canless lights now have a color temperature selection switch.

I agree and have seen that as an option now. My overall thing, is that between different brands, even when an led light says - 750 lumens, 2700k what you get isn't that.

Ive had ge, fiet, great value, cree, etc brands in identical light fixture, in the same room with a different brand bulb that has the same 'rating'; and its different. Granted most people dont care that much or sit there and stare at two light fixtures, but its worth noting.

I grew up in a household where my mom replaced whatever bulb with whatever was on sale, so its always been a pet peeve of mine.

​

 

[rlitman]

I agree and have seen that as an option now. My overall thing, is that between different brands, even when an led light says - 750 lumens, 2700k what you get isn't that.

Ive had ge, fiet, great value, cree, etc brands in identical light fixture, in the same room with a different brand bulb that has the same 'rating'; and its different. Granted most people dont care that much or sit there and stare at two light fixtures, but its worth noting.

I grew up in a household where my mom replaced whatever bulb with whatever was on sale, so its always been a pet peeve of mine.

​

I know the feeling. When I re-did my basement using canless lights, I bought quite a few extras, just so I wouldn't have that mismatched feeling. So far, I've had to replace two over 2 years out of 35 lights. One failure was due to a leak, so really only one light has failed on me so far. My long-term plan is to re-lamp one room at a time as I start to see failures (hopefully not for a while), rotating the old good ones into spares for the remainder.

 

[Terry D]

That looks like a separate lamp, not part of the trim. If so, no need to remove the trim. Just unscrew the lamp

 

[lilcuda]

I have no idea what kind of light it is. It was installed by the previous owner during a kitchen remodel and based on other things they did, I'm sure it was done the cheapest and easiest way possible. I do know there are metal cans in the attic.

 

[Terry D]

If for some reason you do have to remove the trim and you find it painted in, before you pry down on it, take a sharp razor blade and score around it at the ceiling. Take you time and go slow so not to slip and go across the ceiling , ask me how i know this. Doing this will prevent the paint from peeling off because being stuck on the trim.

 

[sparky 1971]

That sure looks like a separate trim and lamp to me. Try unscrewing the light bulb. If that won't work, try to take the trim ring down.

 

[Meursault74]

3 questions:

1) Did you accomplish the task?

2,) How did you accomplish it?

3.) How many GJ members does it take to change a light bulb?

 

[lilcuda]

3 questions:

1) Did you accomplish the task?

2,) How did you accomplish it?

3.) How many GJ members does it take to change a light bulb?

1. Not yet. Been busy with other stuff, I'll probably get to it on Friday

2. See answer to #1

3. At least 7 or 8!

 

[lilcuda]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to get the light removed and found one that is the same part # on Amazon. Home Depot didn‘t have any that were the correct color temperature. Appreciate the help here. Now I know What to do the next time.

 

[Meursault74]

so, how does that light come out?

When you put the new one in, be sure to torque it to spec and don't forget the anti-seize. Oh, you don't have the light bulb adapter for the torque wrench? I'm sure Snap-on makes ones, but if you don't change light bulbs professionally, the Harbor freight adapter will be ok for you.

 

[lilcuda]

so, how does that light come out?

When you put the new one in, be sure to torque it to spec and don't forget the anti-seize. Oh, you don't have the light bulb adapter for the torque wrench? I'm sure Snap-on makes ones, but if you don't change light bulbs professionally, the Harbor freight adapter will be ok for you.

It’s the pull down, spring loaded type. I had to use a putty knife, not because it was stuck to the ceiling, but just so I could pull it down far enough to grab it with my fingers.

 

[egdede]

They sure went out of their way to make that look like a bulb/trim piece.

 

[lilcuda]

Grrr. Swapped in the new light this evening. It flickers when dimmed.

 

[cybrdyke]

Verify that your dimmer switch is compatible with your light fixture. This information should be available from Cooper.
CD

 

[TRITOON]

Grrr. Swapped in the new light this evening. It flickers when dimmed.

Seriously -

I've never been a fan of the all in one recessed lights or light fixtures. I love LED's and they have gotten considerable better, but when they do fail, or if you decide you want a different light color temp, it turns a 5 second job into a light fixture replacement.

Also good luck in finding the same brand, with the same temp, and the same output as the other recessed lights.

I would be real tempted to pull all of those out and put real recessed lights or you will do this over and over again until they are all replaced anyway. Mark my words, you will replace each and every one of those and you will regret just not doing it all at once.

We have a garage apartment that i just finished pulling out the previous ones the owners installed.

 

[lilcuda]

Seriously -

I've never been a fan of the all in one recessed lights or light fixtures. I love LED's and they have gotten considerable better, but when they do fail, or if you decide you want a different light color temp, it turns a 5 second job into a light fixture replacement.

Also good luck in finding the same brand, with the same temp, and the same output as the other recessed lights.

I would be real tempted to pull all of those out and put real recessed lights or you will do this over and over again until they are all replaced anyway. Mark my words, you will replace each and every one of those and you will regret just not doing it all at once.

We have a garage apartment that i just finished pulling out the previous ones the owners installed.

What do you mean by “real recessed lights“? These all have a housing that is mounted up in the attic.

 

[TRITOON]

What do you mean by “real recessed lights“? These all have a housing that is mounted up in the attic.

instead of the disk led lights, use the recessed housing with a traditional bulb housing. so in the future it will just be changing a light bulb.

 

[yeldogt]

What do you mean by “real recessed lights“? These all have a housing that is mounted up in the attic.

When "recessed" became popular in the 50's -- incandescent bulbs ruled the world. The frames/ cans had to be both deep for the bulb size and robust to take the heat. The whole point of the fixture was to hide the light source ... now there has always been good/better/best/ in the recessed world w/ the big box stores having only lower end stuff. When LED started to take over --- things quickly moved from just buying the proper replacement LED bulb -- to retrofit systems like your example .... where you take out the old trim and bulb and replace the whole lower assembly. Early on in this process they did sell some LED recessed with both a can and the assembly you have .... now most of the lower end LED products just mount to a box w/o any can.

Depending on the age of your house --- your fixture could have at one time had a bulb socket and trim .... or it could have been supplied with what you have now.

 

[yeldogt]

instead of the disk led lights, use the recessed housing with a traditional bulb housing. so in the future it will just be changing a light bulb.

I'm always surprised when people take out decent recessed and replace with the horrible discs lights ... some recessed is junk (where the bulb is flush with the ceiling) ... but -- I have seen nice old school Lightolier metal cans with the two position housing being replaced. Just buy a nice Cree bulb and call it a day .... better all around.

I like good lighting and spend a good amount of time and money trying to get it right .... recessed should be recessed and the light source hidden. If you want little sun spots (so common now in ceiling) .... surface mounted or hanging work better.

 

[lilcuda]

This house was built in the 60s and didn’t have any recessed lights in the kitchen. The previous owners gutted the kitchen and installed these lights in the process. We’re hoping to sell and move out of the area in 5 to 7 years, so we’re not going to reinvent the wheel here.

 

[Viper98912]

I've put in about 200 of those recessed all-on-one LED lights into cans over the past 5 years. And yes, the "cheap/bulk" ones from the local orange big box store. I've only had one fail on me all this time. I do keep a few spares on hand just in case I need them (for color matching/look). For me, no need to put in the expensive ones, nor have the "classic" trim separate from the bulb.