Recessed Ceiling Lights

Recessed ceiling lights are a fairly new concept. However, the look has changed tremendously, since their inception. Recessed ceiling lights have always been a great way to add an unobtrusive modern flair to your home. The new designs are much smaller, so these devices will blend into your home even better. Recessed ceiling lights can be used in a variety of rooms and ways to add much needed illumination.

Recessed ceiling lights are the perfect addition to any room in your home. Depending on the fixture you choose, they can provide task or down lighting. Some recessed ceiling lights allow you to direct the illumination by adjusting the movable fixture. Most people choose to have a professional install recessed ceiling lights for them. However, a beginning do it yourselfer can accomplish the task in about 5 to 6 hours. If you are familiar with installing lighting and other home projects, you can complete the task in as little as 3 hours. If you decide to install the fixtures yourself, the most important thing to remember is plan ahead. Before you even begin the process, you will want to use an existing fixture to tie into for the electrical current. Then, you can layout the location of the supporting joists and the placement of the illumination devices.

Before you begin the installation of your new recessed ceiling lights, you should cover all of your furniture and flooring with drop cloths. This will prevent dust from getting all over these items. Next, you will want to layout the location of the devices allowing about 6’ to 7’ between each fixture. The easiest way to install the fixtures is between the same two joists, however, you should keep the number of joists down to a minimum. This will prevent the hassle of trying to thread wiring through multiple joists.

You can now turn off the power at the main panel. For your safety, use a voltage tester to ensure the wires are not receiving any current. Then use a stud finder to determine the location of the joists. Drill a small hole in the area where the recessed ceiling light will be installed and poke the hanger through it. The hanger will need to go about 7” or 8” up in order to install each device.

You can use the templates provided by the manufacturer to outline the area to be cut for each recessed ceiling light. Cut the hole using a drywall saw. This is where the process gets a bit messy. Once each hole is cut, install the mounting hardware and electrical box for each fixture. If the electrical box will be in contact with insulation, you will need to purchase specially designed units.

Once this step is complete, reach into each hole and drill into the joist no more than ¼ the width of the joist. Pull the wire through each joist starting at the original electrical source and connect it to each other. You should leave about 1 ½‘ of wire dangling through each opening. Then connect all of the wires with wire nuts, lift the can for each recessed ceiling light into place, and install the trim. You can now place the bulbs in the fixture. It is a good idea to have an electrician inspect your work before you use your new illumination fixtures.

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