recessed lights on exterior eaves

[aruba]

Hi,

What type of recessed lighs are designed for exterior use in the eavetroughs? I looked at my local Home Depot, but none of them specifically mentions exterior usage. The closest one I could find was a recessed bathroom/shower light. Do they need to be IC rated?

Thanks!

 

[ddawg16]

Exterior use is not an issue....your trim is what you need to be rated for the exterior....

I would suggest using an air tight trim....

The can will be up inside a soffett....and only needs to be IC if you have insulation up there.

 

[Steevo]

There shouldn't be insulation in the eaves of your house, so IC rating is a moot point.
My house has can lights under every corner of the soffits, and they appear to be standard recessed cans. I do use outdoor (CF) flood bulbs in them though.

 

[lakee911]

That sounds like a really cool idea! Do you have pictures of a house at night with them lit?

 

[Steevo]

That sounds like a really cool idea! Do you have pictures of a house at night with them lit?

I don't seem to have any pics of that.
I'll try to remember to take some when I am home next.

 

[Zeke]

You should buy these at the electrical supply house. I think you can even get SS ones if you have a lot of moisture.

 

[Falcon67]

The house next door have can lights in the eves but I didn't see what kind they were when the house was being built. I'm wanting some for our house now - of course - but I'm thinking LED and smaller than a can light. The onces I see in the home centers that go in a regular ceiling won't fit at all. It's have to be fairly short and go in from below.

 

[Cougar]

IIRC we used remodeling cans in the soffits.

 

[cuttincircles]

Here is a shot of my garage done with 4" pots.

 

[jkeyser14]

There shouldn't be insulation in the eaves of your house, so IC rating is a moot point.
My house has can lights under every corner of the soffits, and they appear to be standard recessed cans. I do use outdoor (CF) flood bulbs in them though.

I wouldn't say the IC rating is a moot point. A can light in the soffit can come very close to touching the roof decking depending on the roof pitch and overhang.

 

[jerseywild]

I have seen a lot of houses with lights in the eaves. It is a real nice touch with the right house.

 

[Greatbear]

I would use IC-rated fixtures in soffits since there is often very little inside area among the framing, especially in gable ends. The fixtures essentially reside in small boxes, sometimes fully closed, depending on construction. Using an LED lamp in the fixtures is the best bet, IMO.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I put three in the overhang I built on. I bought the at HD and they were rated for bathroom use. They have plenty of air movement around them so I figured the moisture wouldn't be much worse than a bathroom in the winter.

There's pictures some where in my refurb thread.

 

[jvitez]

Interestingly enough, I just added two more 6" cans to the side of the garage. I used the same as the builder, regular non-IC rated fixtures. We build with raised heel trusses here with blocking separating the soffit from the attic space, so no chance for insulation contact the way we build.

If you don't have raised heel trusses, then definitely use IC rated fixtures. There's nothing special about exterior vs interior, since the eaves are protected. The trim makes much more difference in maximum bulb wattage and allowed locations.

 

[madosta]

Interesting. I am looking for something like this as well, a 4" can and LED weatherproof.

 

[Falcon67]

Interesting. I am looking for something like this as well, a 4" can and LED weatherproof.

I looked at those and the cost is about 3 times what a regular 4" remodel can runs. I can see using the remodel stuff - just have to be dang careful where you cut the hole to make sure the thing fits in the space. I'd probably use a very low watt CFL and wait for LED pricing to come down some.

 

[CitadelBlue]

I looked at those and the cost is about 3 times what a regular 4" remodel can runs. I can see using the remodel stuff - just have to be dang careful where you cut the hole to make sure the thing fits in the space. I'd probably use a very low watt CFL and wait for LED pricing to come down some.

Suggest looking for the 'low profile' 4 inch cans and they DO sell CFL flood lights ......