Recessed LED Lights

[crook038]

While building my dream garage I decided to use Recessed lights with LED retrofit kits (trim and LED all in one) I know there are many different ways to light an area, I read a lot of threads and contemplated 4ft fixtures with LED bulbs. I settled on the recessed cans after looking at prices on both ends. I also like the clean look that I will have at the end.
I plan on using white metal liner for the walls and ceiling along with a grey floor. I did calculations and came up with 56 lights total for my 42X48 space (a fixture every 6 feet). The floor to ceiling height will be 13ft when finished. I will wire the lights to switches (insteon 2477s dual band switches) for each bay, front to back. This will give me 2 rows of 7 lights on each switch. Right now I have them all wired to 1 switch for testing purposes.
The retrofit kits are 16W 1200lm 5000K per light, so not much of a load. It isn't the cheapest setup nor the most expensive, but it is exactly what I wanted. Let there be light!

Sean

 

[forAK]

Looks good - minimal shadowing by the tractor.

 

[cybrdyke]

well played, sir! be sure to show us the finished product, please!!
CD

 

[intellect]

Fantastic clean look - without spending more money.... good work!!

 

[Duker]

Sean, I was debating using cans versus strip lights and I think you just tipped me over the edge to use cans in my build. I like the clean look as well. I am trying to calculate the number I need as my walls are 18' high and roof is pitched as I have scissor trusses and will have T&G pine on the ceilings and walls so I lose some reflectivity. I need to get a better handle on using these lighting calculators. Thanks for posting up the pics.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[My Old Tools]

On our house remodel we had 69 recessed can lights. I looked at the LED retro kits and decided I could do it cheaper. I bought white airtight trim rings off of Amazon and standard base LED PAR 38 bulbs at Costco. Not a lot of difference but I didn't care for the flush look of the retro kits.

 

[acer66]

Looks very good and it makes me rethink my plan about the lights in my garage.

 

[crook038]

The LED's are Parmida P-LED-DN5/616W5000KDIM that I purchased from LED Light Club. I purchased the recessed cans, Commercial Electric CAT7ICATA-6PK, from Home Depot. Each fixture with the LED retrofit cost a total of $13.17 which I feel was right in the middle/upper end of my price point.
Sean

 

[prostreetamx]

Probably not an issue for a pole barn and any detached garages but in Las Vegas we use a lot of fire codes from California and depending on the rating of the attached garage ceiling you may not be allowed to put can lights in the ceiling. If the garage shares the attic with the rest of the house you are required to have a fire rating on the common wall and the garage ceiling. We had to wrap any recessed light fixture in a garage with a 5/8" sheetrock sealed box. One way around that was to have a continuous firewall all the way up to the roof sheathing.

 

[indyokie]

I liked the clean look as well, and installed 12 @ 65W equalivant LED's - I get plenty of people that are puzzled and crinkle their nose...then they come over and spend some time under the light and agree it's a great way to get alot of light, pretty cheap to install and run. I like that inside of a garage - a wayward football or hockey puck won't crash a lightbulb / tube.

 

[yeldogt]

FYI: They make similar looking LED fixtures that mount directly into a typical 4" ceiling box --- can buy in low wattage designed for the closet code and higher wattage for general lighting. Makes it easier if going into an insulated ceiling vs the cans.

You have to like the more open light source with both types -- can be brit on the eyes vs the shielding the recessed can lights provide in a house w/ 8' ceilings. The OP has high ceiling - Looks like nice uniform light .. Nice

 

[GarageJoey]

The LED's are Parmida P-LED-DN5/616W5000KDIM that I purchased from LED Light Club. I purchased the recessed cans, Commercial Electric CAT7ICATA-6PK, from Home Depot. Each fixture with the LED retrofit cost a total of $13.17 which I feel was right in the middle/upper end of my price point.
Sean

I know this post is old and I hope the original poster is still around. I am doing this exact setup and wonder how the original poster is going to deal with cutting perfectly round holes in the ceiling liner metal? And what about the ribs? Did you leave the cans low enough to deal with that?

 

[Platonic Solid]

OPs original setup provides 23fc @ 30" workplane. Useless for any type of wrenching. Fine for storage or man cave mood lighting.

 

[pbon]

Today you can buy 7-9” 2000L LED that have practically no can and are IC rated. I considered it but would have needed more than 2.5x as many to get the same light as 4’ LEDs and the light dispersion would not have been as good (cans tend to disperse in a cone). I agree they are not the best choice for a working garage, but fine for a man cave or garage just used for parking.

 

[PFSard]

I know this post is old and I hope the original poster is still around.

If you want to see the OP's last activity, click on his moniker, then "View Public Profile".

Last Activity: 09-29-2019 11:16 AM

 

[Mr_fixit]

I would also buy 20 replacement ones, for when they burn out. Or you'll have a bunch of different styles, colors, etc to drive you nuts.