Soffet lighting. Throw some ideas out there. Photos

[92nsx]

Well I'm starting the planning stage for what I want to use for my soffet lighting on my Garage. (45x22).

Im looking for some thing easy to install (use hole saw to cut the soffet). Low power draw (led's) but also worried if I use the china led's when 1 goes bad it would **** to replace. But I could also stock up on them so if that happens I could just swap it out for a new one. I'm not looking to light up the neighborhood, just nice accent lighting,

Perhaps 5" recessed lights? What have you guys used?

Im testing with a 3 watt China LED.( 3 - 1 watt leds per light) So far it has been fine. The light it self stays cool, the driver also stays cool, but dam bright at night. I see they have dimmable ones also, so that is a option. These just need a 2-3/8" hole that I can use a hole saw to make the hole.

Also how far should I space them?

 

[bdamico]

I have a version of those in my soffit and they keep burning out; cheap led driver. It takes about 6 months to a year for them in my case to start acting up. I have had 100% failure on two rounds of the same lights (superbright was nice enough to send me replacements). It could be that they are burning out because my soffit in my garage in florida gets very hot but it still *****. Pretty soon I will get a good led driver and run the set off those directly. The lights themselves are good.

 

[Falcon67]

I'm looking for something too, for the house. Not 5" cans - too big and not enough room in the eves. I'd prefer something 2"~3" LED dimable. Not finding anything so far that I like. I bought one of these but don't think the clips will work on thin soffit material.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-P...Recessed-Light-Kit-Fits-Opening-3-in/50121571

Reviews are not encouraging either LOL

 

[92nsx]

Thank you guys! I was afraid for the failure rater with the China LED's and drivers.

So maybe a 5" or 6" recessed light fixture would be the way to go and just put the LED bulbs in them and easily replaceable when they burn out. Then use 6" or 5"

I don't think the soffet would hold the weight of a remodel style slide in light so prob have to use new construction and cut out the sofffet as I go?

New construction
http://www.menards.com/main/lightin...4438158671-c-7499.htm?tid=2719259919572506851

remodel
http://www.menards.com/main/lightin...438157184-c-7499.htm?tid=-6984945218225526208

 

[bdamico]

My problem is the I don't have the depth to put something in like that. All that being said, if you bypass the cheap drivers and use a single good driver say $30-50, those lights you referenced (like the ones I have) should be totally find.

 

[92nsx]

Ok, Ok, I see what your saying. I do have a 24 volt DC power supply. So the next would be to find out what voltage the LED driver actually puts out and if 24 VDC is to much
Looks like this.

 

[klassenl]

Are you set on soffit lights. I see that you don't have any siding yet. Why not put up some nice wall lights with led bulbs. Then if one burns out it is less expensive and very easy to change.

 

[bdamico]

Ok, Ok, I see what your saying. I do have a 24 volt DC power supply. So the next would be to find out what voltage the LED driver actually puts out and if 24 VDC is to much
Looks like this.

It's going to be something more like this (although you will have to calculate your load)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007A4LTLS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's what I'm using for my work bench led lighting or my kitchen cabinet lighting, I think. You can always throw up the lights, see if any of them flicker down the road and then go out and be prepared to put the driver somewhere in your current 110 wiring before the first light and remove all the individual drivers. That's what I'm going to have to do.

 

[92nsx]

I am open to any and all ideas. Just not sure they would work on the gable ends. I want 360 accent lighting all around the garage. Share some photos of what you are thinking of.

I also have no problem with using recessed can lights in the soffet. I have plenty of room to fit them.

By the service door and overhead door, I will also have lights next to the door like this

And maybe some sort of flood light above the overhead door (pointing down) for backing the boat in if I were to get home lake form the river/lake late.

Something like this

Photos are just for reference I'm not sure of what style to use. But feel free to share what you guys used

 

[klassenl]

I used 3 - 4inch pot lights along the yard side of my garage (34 feet) with some Par20 leds. I am quite pleased with the light output. Above the man door put one wall light like your example with a Par20. Very good light without spilling onto the neighbours yard. On the alley side I had some $7 jam jar lights with some 8watt A19 led bulbs from the local hardware store. Again good light for little money. The jam jar lights don't look pretty but they get the job done.

I considered flood lights on the gable ends but my yard isn't wide enough to need the extra light.

 

[matt_i]

I used the same style lights on my shop, but purchased from ledwaves.com. They were "more expensive" and seemed to come from a place selling to commercial construction needs. I noted they use a Hubbell driver, so I hope they are durable.

I spaced them 4 lamps in a 40 foot span. At first it was perfectly evenly gapped but with 1 garage door, 1 man door and 3 windows, I ended up placing the first directly over the garage door, then middle of each wall gap between windows and doors.

I hate the idea of having to put any "carriage fixtures" on my walls just because I think they look crapppy and wouldn't match the rest of my house with ~18yo fixtures.

I have a pic on my phone that I have to dig out. I did make some aluminum backing plates in the shop that keep the vinyl from crushing or waving around the hole. This was piggybacked off the 2x4 bracing which I installed at the midpoint ot the vented soffit panels, 24" in my case.









Edit...

View at dusk with lights undimmed. Believe these are 8W per, 30degree included angle.





I have some internal debate as to whether I should add a 5th light on the right side or leave it alone...

I've also had the same thoughts about backing in my much smaller watercraft...I've found the absolute best is a good spotter...in my mind, its a losing proposition without the floodlights being in the yard looking back up at the door opening.

 

[n20junkie]

I just used regular 3in old work cans installed jn the vinyl soffit. With the 50w halogen it looked great, but was a little rough on the power bill. I went to ebay multi colored LED and it was great. I could change colors all in sync and made for nice holiday effects.

 

[92nsx]

I used the same style lights on my shop, but purchased from ledwaves.com. They were "more expensive" and seemed to come from a place selling to commercial construction needs. I noted they use a Hubbell driver, so I hope they are durable.

I spaced them 4 lamps in a 40 foot span. At first it was perfectly evenly gapped but with 1 garage door, 1 man door and 3 windows, I ended up placing the first directly over the garage door, then middle of each wall gap between windows and doors.

I hate the idea of having to put any "carriage fixtures" on my walls just because I think they look crapppy and wouldn't match the rest of my house with ~18yo fixtures.

I have a pic on my phone that I have to dig out. I did make some aluminum backing plates in the shop that keep the vinyl from crushing or waving around the hole. This was piggybacked off the 2x4 bracing which I installed at the midpoint ot the vented soffit panels, 24" in my case.

As for dimming, what voltage lowered? Is it constant 110 VAC and the DC output is lowered?

Or is the 110VAC dimmed via a normal dimmer switch that lowers the output of the driver?

 

[matt_i]

I have not wired it but I am 95% certain its 120vac to dimmer input, then reduced dimmer output to LED driver input, and the driver output is wired the same.