LED Recessed can lights
- Thread starter mrichied
- Start date
Cans are dead. Canless is the way to go. These are a little fancy, but you get as much light out of a 3" hole as you would normally get out of a 6" hole. Plus, they swivel. https://www.liteline.com/20000327/luna-series
For the more boring type....any wafer light will do....
Good luck,
CD
For the more boring type....any wafer light will do....
Good luck,
CD
75gmck25
Well-known member
If you already have drywall or wood ceilings, these can-less lights are very quick to install. The attached metal box is for all the electrical connections, and you can get them in different diameters. (4", 6" etc.). The are rated for contact with insulation, and for damp locations.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithoni...-Recessed-Kit-WF6-LED-30K-WINGSTACK/302576652
Brcuce
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithoni...-Recessed-Kit-WF6-LED-30K-WINGSTACK/302576652
Brcuce
kabinenroller
Well-known member
I just remodeled our kitchen and installed 14 four inch and retro fitted 8 six inch fixtures. Everything came from E conolight. https://www.e-conolight.com
They are local to my area but sell nationwide. Good prices especially when the run %off sales. The are a subsidiary of Cree so the products are top quality.
They are local to my area but sell nationwide. Good prices especially when the run %off sales. The are a subsidiary of Cree so the products are top quality.
rlitman
Well-known member
I'm in the process of installing a bunch of similar fixtures. They're amazing! And the best part is that I can install them exactly where I want, even if that spot is straddling a ceiling joist!
tfi racing
Well-known member
Exactly.No need for cumbersome cans anymore with the wide array of LED product available now. My only concern with many of these products is where does one turn to when one driver fails and and how well will the replacement match up with the existing units in terms of lumens,colour and dim-ability,sadly many of these LED companies are here today and gone tomorrow,future servicing of a lot of this stuff will present some new challenges...
Valid concerns.
For this particular product, a replacement would be a new driver and light, not just a driver.
As for future proofing an LED product, it can be challenging. But we already have these challenges with existing products. There are tons of incandescent fixtures that are no longer available, ballasts that are discontinued, trim kits that you cant find, dimming systems that are obsolete, etc....so it's nothing new in the lighting world.
CD
rlitman
Well-known member
What I'm currently doing with an open ceiling is hanging the driver boxes from the joists with velcro. If a light fails, I have enough of a loop left in the romex to pull the driver out of the hole to replace it.
But my plan is to buy some spares, and worst case scenario, I re-light a whole room and pull the working lights from there to replace spares, so that at least each room doesn't have a mismatched set.
slow
Well-known member
Same here, I have 14 GE led replacements in my can lights, 5 in the bathroom, 4 in the master and 5 in the kitchen. I had 2 spares, (that I have used) next comes consolidating them from one room and generating 4 more spares... I should have bought more spares but figured 2 would be good, i've used the 2 over the last 3 years.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Same as above - went with generic 6" cans when I did the laundry and kitchen, then just used LED bulbs. If I do more, it'll be canless.
RocketScott
Well-known member
I ordered 6 of those for a kitchen remodel from build.com
They seemed like the best solution since I only have about 6" of clearance above the plaster.
I went with the 4000K for a brighter white light but I'm putting them on a dimmer. We'll see how it turns out.
They seemed like the best solution since I only have about 6" of clearance above the plaster.
I went with the 4000K for a brighter white light but I'm putting them on a dimmer. We'll see how it turns out.
Have these in my kitchen, living room and basement. Wicked lights. Fit even on a truss as my light layout landed on 2 of them.
The basement are 4000k and the kitchen 3600k I believe. Matches other lights bette
They are bright as heck and spread well being edge lit
The basement are 4000k and the kitchen 3600k I believe. Matches other lights bette
They are bright as heck and spread well being edge lit
RocketScott
Well-known member
Wow, after seeing your pictures I'm wondering if 6 might be too many for our kitchen, four might be plenty.
rlitman
Well-known member
Kitchens and workspaces need a lot of light. Other living spaces, not so much.
Keep in mind that even if you completely covered a ceiling with these, you'd still not get it brighter than what you get outdoors in full sun.
PhysicsDude
Well-known member
Canless "wafer" lights are the way to go.
The only downside is you can't swap out bulbs, so you gotta make the right choice the first time. In my house I put all the lights on dimmers and erred on the bright side, so I can just dim the lights if I feel they're too bright.
Unless you buy the really expensive ones, most LED canless recessed lights advertise more light output than they really have... like any other chinese LED product.
The only downside is you can't swap out bulbs, so you gotta make the right choice the first time. In my house I put all the lights on dimmers and erred on the bright side, so I can just dim the lights if I feel they're too bright.
Unless you buy the really expensive ones, most LED canless recessed lights advertise more light output than they really have... like any other chinese LED product.
Lights were delivered to day and all I can say is WOW!
No more worrying about layout because there may be a rafter or joist in the way. I know rlitman mentioned you could straddle a joist with them, but seeing is believing. They are not even 1/2" thick! As long as you got a place where you can stuff the driver box (and they do have extensions for the cord) you can just about place these things anywhere
No more worrying about layout because there may be a rafter or joist in the way. I know rlitman mentioned you could straddle a joist with them, but seeing is believing. They are not even 1/2" thick! As long as you got a place where you can stuff the driver box (and they do have extensions for the cord) you can just about place these things anywhere
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Falcon67
Well-known member
Our kitchen area is a good 12L x 12+W counting countertop area and 4 cans with BR-30 LED bulbs @ 3500K light it up very well.
rlitman
Well-known member
I can't think of a reason why you would want to extend the cord. In case you want to replace the fixture, you'll want to be able to access the driver box, so putting it out of reach of the hole seems like a bad idea to me.
Yes, seeing is believing. These are real game changers.
I just put up 22 of these. I've got 17 more to go (I'm lighting 1000 sq-ft, across 6 rooms and a hallway), but they install faster than any other lighting I've done before.
I agree - very easy to install, will never use a 'can' again
I did run into one small problem - the Z Wave Dimmer I was going to use didn't work right and I also read in some of the reviews that certain dimmers would make a 'buzzing' noise. Someone recommended the 'ELV' version which is about twice as much as a normal dimmer (~$75) but it would still be worth it (ELV = Electronic Low Voltage)
Lutron DVELV-300P-WH 300-Watt Diva Electronic Low Voltage Single Pole Dimmer, White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006UUI88/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I did run into one small problem - the Z Wave Dimmer I was going to use didn't work right and I also read in some of the reviews that certain dimmers would make a 'buzzing' noise. Someone recommended the 'ELV' version which is about twice as much as a normal dimmer (~$75) but it would still be worth it (ELV = Electronic Low Voltage)
Lutron DVELV-300P-WH 300-Watt Diva Electronic Low Voltage Single Pole Dimmer, White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006UUI88/?tag=atomicindus08-20
PhysicsDude
Well-known member
I tried 3 different Zwave dimmers on my cannless LEDs, and the best one was the GE 14294, and is decently priced at ~$39. Even with one 6W LED wafer it dims down to ~5% brightness fairly linearly without flickering.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUCZA1C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUCZA1C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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Think a bit harsh ..... IMO there is no poorer light then the surface type LED fixtures from the big box stores .... including the retrofits. It's like doing a series of old style surface mount FL ..
You can still purchased high quality traditional recessed lights and install LED bulbs -- that way you get a hidden light source with a quality reflector.
The driver/module recessed w/ connection box are very nice .. but unless you purchase from a company that will guarantee a matching replacement -- your done if one fails in 5 years.
rlitman
Well-known member
For my part, I needed the surface mount for the wider beam angle to make up for a low ceiling. Yes, there is a bit of glare from surface fixtures. I got around this by installing more closely spaced fixtures than called for by the floor square footage alone, and running them a bit dimmed.
However, the same lights are available in a recessed and gimbal mount configuration as well, should you need that. Those configurations cannot straddle a joist however.
Yes, the driver and light go together. So you need to be sure to leave wiring room to make replacing the driver by pulling it out of the hole easy.
When transferred to Philadelphia after grad school I purchased a small commercial building from the late 1800's -- it had high ceiling and exposed services ... a girl around the corner who happened to be a lighting architect introduced me to a few things .. good lighting being one. Most people don't give lighting much thought -- but, it really can transform a project. Unfortunately -- the big box stores don't sell any of it. I always hire a LA for my projects. Today is a real challenge -- really good LED lighting is available ... but it extremely expensive. Single retrofit recessed down spots being an exception .. and the controls are all over the place.
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Here is a list of compatible dimmers. The first Lutron (DV-603P-LA) is only $22
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAUTMM/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAUTMM/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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Lelandwelds
Well-known member
Those canless are cool but my diffused LED cans were incredible cheap and provide a high CR I quality light. Not to long ago one incandescent used more power than my entire living room does today. They are acceptable.
Melan
Member
Take the lamps a little smaller. I recently looked for a new solar panel and regretted that I did not put many small lamps instead of a few large ones. Of the brands are a good Sunforce.
It's good that unlike a simple electrician, the panel did not close, it would be ...
We went with cans, but that was because we wanted to use Philips Hue bulbs. I like the Hue stuff, it's just limiting though as the bulb selection kinda *****. But it's nice to be able to control the lights from anywhere and paired with an Echo dot I can just tell Alexa to turn off all the lights, etc. I had big plans for doing more smart home stuff, but my first controller died and I've got too much stuff that is more pressing, like replumbing the whole house.
Well there are a number of ways to 'skin the cat' when it comes to home automation. I prefer Z Wave devices and use HomeSeer software. I did find a compatible Z Wave Dimmer that will work with these led wafer type lights. It was expensive, ($115) but I still think these lights are well worth it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HT4M3E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HT4M3E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Not really any different than any other light source. Fluorescent, CFL and HID all color-shift and diminish over time. Anything new wont look the same as the existing does.
Fixture styles always are changing, regardless of the type of light source. Fixtures that you could get a few years ago, you cant get now. This isn't new.
No company will guarantee a matching replacement for 5 years. If they do, they're lying.
CD
BEGA will provide matching modules for 20 years .... and previously with an MR16 bulb you could always get a quality Sylvania or GE bulb .. they all matched.
I dont doubt that someone told you that, but it's laughable... and likely impossible. As technology advances, they're not going to be able to make the same products as they are today. Legislation wont allow it. Neither will the competition. No, they're not going to make a bunch of products and store them for 20 years to use as replacements.
As for MR16's, they diminish and color shift over time, just like other sources.
Very pleased with it. It can appear to be a little overwhelming, but if you just take it slowly it all falls into place. HomeSeer runs a sale about twice a year where their software is 50% off. They just had their sale during the month of May and they should run it again in November. They just came out with some pretty cool dimmers that have several colored led lights along the side which you can set up as 'status' lights - a door is open, or a light is on kind of thing. Unfortunately, they don't work with these led wafer lights. Also, some of the HomeSeer dimmers have a 'multi-tap' function which you can use to control other lights and dimmers
https://homeseer.com/lighting/
It's in the warranty -- they are very reputable company. German .. others are doing the same ... Aculux has started as well. I'm not sure what regulation will not allow a replacement module. They use the same modules for many different fixtures ... it's not like they have to stock hundreds ... And yes MR16's do age .. but you can replace them inexpensively and start over.
I use a lot of Bega lighting ....
We have 100 years of perfecting the incandescent bulb -- they give great light in many applications .. I just do see great savings in trying to switch out 7 or 8 bulbs in a given application .
ddawg16
Well-known member
I disagree.
Cans allow for more options....
I have 18 6" cans in the 1st floor of my garage. They currently have LED trims in them...because Costco was having a sale...the LED 'and' trim was as cheap as just the trim piece for the lights.
If you go with the type up above, you loose a lot of flexibility...and they cost more.
If I want, I can take out my existing LED's and toss in any type of bulb I want as long as it has an Edison base.