Connect the circuit wires to the fixture wires, following the fixture manufacturer's wiring diagram. A recessed light, sometimes called a can light, has both its housing and bulb recessed above the ceiling drywall. When feeding a cable into a fixture box, it's important to secure it with the clamp in the box. The recessed lights in my house are accessible from the attic, but there’s no insulation around them because it says on the fixtures that they need to vent the heat generated by incandescent bulbs. A canless light fixture uses the light only and a small wiring box without the hassle of the … This dimension is normally provided on the box containing the light; Height – this is the height of the lighting unit; there are low profile lights if you have limited space in your ceiling; Overall Diameter – (OS) this is the size of the light that will be visible on the ceiling; The key measurements for a downlight. I am replacing flush mounted ceiling lights with recessed lights. “Rope” lighting for unobtrusive mood lighting and recessed soffit lighting fixtures for specific lighting tasks. Halo BLD 6 in. Depending on how the old ceiling light box was originally installed, there are several possibilities to remove it. Poorly designed lights will unsnap and fall when someone walks on the floor above or even when a door shuts. Turn off the power to the ceiling light fixture first by turning off the light switch, then flipping... Lower the Fixture and Test for Power. Remove the number of knockouts from the junction box to accommodate the number of cables entering the box. How to Wire a Ceiling Fan to an Existing Outlet Wire, How to Install a Nonfluorescent Light Over the Kitchen Sink, How to Make Electrical Connections for a Ceiling Fan, How to Install Switch Controlled Light Fixtures, How to Install a Wall Outlet in a Three-Way Switch Circuit. At least 1/4 inch of the cable sheathing (outer jacket) should extend beyond the inside of the clamp. This is a simple project as long as the existing circuit cable can reach the light; if not, you have to install a junction box and extend new cable to the new light location. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Remove the Fixture. Oftentimes these canisters will overheat and burn the socket wire insulation, making them malfunction. Feed the circuit cable through the clamp and into the splice box, then secure the cable by tightening the clamp's screws. If you are replacing a standard ceiling light fixture with a recessed canister light, the same wall switch can control the new fixture. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Converting a standard ceiling light fixture to a recessed light involves removing the old fixture and its electrical box and installing the new recessed light, usually in the same place. Saved from plantingourpennies.com. When this happens you need to know how to change a recessed pot light. Explore. INCARLED 4Inch LED Recessed Slim Pot Light with Junction Box, Dimmable LED Recessed Ceiling Light/Potlight, 9W 750LM, Warm White/3000K (6pack) 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,141. I have an existing ceiling junction box feeding a ceiling fan (with lights) that I'm replacing with a flush mount ceiling fan (no lights) and plan to add four recessed lights controlled by a separate switch. Recessed lighting looks great in any room, and it is an especially good fit for a space with drop ceilings, such as a basement. CDN$ 64.89 CDN$ 64. I would try and remove one, so you can measure the hole in the drywall. Turn off the circuit breaker on the service panel for the light circuit being worked on. Turn the electricity to the recessed can light off at the circuit breaker box. White Selectable CCT (2700K-5000K) Integrated LED Recessed Ceiling Mount Light Trim Title 20 Compliant (447) Model# BLD6089SWHR $ 24 97. Put the splice box cover in place. Secure each connection with a wire connector. 1. Jan 6, 2014 - Check out how the PoP's updated the ugly 1980's fluorescent lighting in their kitchen and bathrooms. Turn off the power to the ceiling light fixture first by turning off the light switch, then flipping off the appropriate circuit breaker in your home's breaker box. 3. The most important step is to switch the circuit breaker off. The only difference is that … Recessed pot lights are an attractive way to light rooms in your home. Ceiling light boxes are mounted in a variety of ways. It's cheap, and it can be cut to length for shorter runs or spliced together for longer ones. Carefully pull the fixture down a few inches to expose the wires. Recessed lights can be installed where the fluorescent box was removed and carried on throughout the length of the room. Be sure to use an IC-rated light, which is safe to be in contact with ceiling insulation. Cut through the nails securing the old ceiling box to the side of the rafter with the mini-hacksaw. You cannot turn off the light switch only; this is dangerous. Wall. As the light slides into the hole, the wire catches will catch on the ceiling and force out the springs so that they push down on the upper side of the ceiling boards holding the light unit in place. Fluorescent Soffit Type. Depending on where the light was installed, the box could be on the ceiling joists, to the side of the ceiling joists or between the joists. I prefer the look of a ceiling that's intact and complete rather than all the spots of brightness. Reach inside of the canister and firmly snap the ceiling clips downward so they lock onto the backside of the drywall. Make sure any home insulation is at least 3 inches away from the entire fixture. Awhile ago I saw a fixture from the orange box store that replaces a standard ceiling light with a recessed light. If the new fixture does not come with a template, use a pencil compass to draw a circle on the ceiling that is slightly larger than the new fixture canister. Turn off the power to the ceiling box and remove the light fixture. ... You know you are working with a can light when you remove the light fixture from the ceiling and find a large tubular section on the back of the fixture. Updating it to recessed lighting is fairly simple. Don't just cut the wires because doing so may leave them too short. Replacing recessed lighting with LED is simple with the use of LED replacement recessed lights. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 9 Reasons Why Light Bulbs Burn Out Too Quickly, Recessed Canister Lights Review: Pros and Cons, How to Fix a Hot or Buzzing Dimmer Switch, How to Install an Electrical Junction Box, How to Repair a Wall-Mounted Electric Heater, How to Replace a Wall-Mounted Light Fixture (Sconce), How to Replace a Standard 120-Volt Outlet Receptacle, How to Wire and Install Single-Pole Switches, Replacing a Toggle Light Switch With a Rocker Style Switch, How to Wire a Line-Voltage Thermostat for a Baseboard Heater. Fit the fixture into the hole, inserting the portion with the splice box first, then the light canister. The only wires coming out of the box is a white and black. First, there may be more than one circuit running through a ceiling lighting outlet box, so you may have to turn off more than one circuit breaker before you can remove the box safely. (I also painted the trim and ceiling, but that’s a whole ‘another post. A recessed light bulb lies flush with the ceiling or other surface, making it nearly impossible to grab and unscrew it by hand. The ceiling junction box currently has four 14/2 cables in it. Junction box: Some recessed lights come with their own junction boxes; with others, you will have to purchase a separate electrical box. Initial installation of a ceiling light box happens during construction and prior to hanging the drywall on the ceiling. Unless you’re extraordinarily tall, you’ll probably need a step ladder for this project. Recessed lights can be installed where the fluorescent box was removed and carried on throughout the length of the room. Install all the original cables in the junction box and secure them in place by tightening the connector clamping screws. Remove any screws securing the old electrical box to the ceiling framing. Transformer access from below the ceiling requires removing the trim cover and light bulb and unscrewing the can from its mounting bracket with the correct screwdriver. For example, you might want to replace the recessed light fixture altogether with a standard flush-mounted light fixture that requires a much smaller ceiling hole. You need to be aware of two things before removing a ceiling electrical box and installing recessed lighting. Trace around the template to mark a cutting outline, using a pencil. Get it by Friday, Jan 8. Rope lighting's all the rage among designers. I made my own conversion kit out of a 16" wood circle with a ceiling electrical box mounted in the center. One important point is that you do not have to use an "Old Work" fixture just because you want to mount the light in an existing ceiling. With fixtures that are not IC-rated, you must keep the insulation several inches away from the fixture housing to prevent a fire hazard. If the entire set of lights is malfunctioning, you should determine if the wall switch is to blame using a continuity tester. Test each wire with a non-contact voltage tester to confirm the power is off. —T. Connect these wires, white to white and black to black, to the light circuit's wires. How to Remove a Light Fixture Box to Install a Recessed Light Removing the Wires. Then, fold the tape over on itself at both ends so you have handles to grip with a sticky part in the middle. To change a lightbulb in a recessed light, wait until the bulb is cool before tearing off a strip of duct tape. Junction box: Some recessed lights come with their own junction boxes; with others, you will have to purchase a separate electrical box. We moved into our 1891 avenues home about 5 months ago. Home Decor. If the box is nailed in place, cut through the nails with a hacksaw blade. This is an old house (1930) with old wiring to match. Pull the recessed light fixture and its attached electrical box carefully out of the hole in the ceiling. Turn on the branch circuit breaker or breakers. Install cable connectors in the openings. Splice these wires to the fixture wires — white to white, black to black and bare to bare. Oftentimes these canisters will overheat and burn the socket wire insulation, making them mal. They make conversion kits, but I couldn't find one large enough to cover the old 14" square fixture. Also flip the … His work has appeared in “Family Handyman” magazine, “Popular Science,” "Popular Mechanics," “Handy” and other publications. Second, the original wires removed from the old box will not be long enough to connect directly to the recessed fixture, so you will have to install a junction box inside the ceiling. With energy efficient LED or CFL bulbs, it's almost impossible to exceed the rating, but it's not so hard with incandscent or halogen bulbs, which can have high wattages and run very hot. The National Electrical Code permits this since it will be accessible by removing the light fixture. Restore power to the light's circuit by turning on the circuit breaker, then test the light by turning on the light switch. Pull the trim down a few inches. Switch out a can light for a beautiful pendant or chandelier light in just minutes with no remodeling! If you don't have access to an attic above the ceiling, use a "remodel" light fixture that can be installed from below the ceiling. Recessed lighting fixture to replace standard ceiling light? Initial installation of a ceiling light box happens during construction and prior to hanging the drywall on the ceiling. There are other instances when changing the size of the ceiling hole may be necessary. Return to your ceiling work area. Replacing a room’s chandelier or ceiling fixture with a ceiling fan that includes its own light fixture is an easy DIY project for anyone comfortable with basic electrical improvements. Either way, this metal box, attached to a framing member in the ceiling, is where the circuit wires are connected. How to remove the cover of square recessed light fixture to change the bulb. Loosen the clamping screws holding the nonmetallic sheathed cable in the box and pull it out. 8-32 screws that came with the box. Pull the clips in so they do not protrude outside the can. Essentially it fit right into the junction box(?) Plug-in the replacement light. Instructions Shut Off the Power. Make sure the light bulb does not exceed the maximum wattage rating of the fixture. Reconnecting any circuits, using the wire nuts you removed from them, that are not associated with the light circuit, and push them all the way back in the box. Replacing old recessed lighting cans can be avoided by replacing the socket. White Integrated LED Recessed Ceiling Mount Light Trim at 3000K Soft White (451) Model# BLD606930WHR $ 19 97. Shut the recessed light fixture's power off at the main electrical panel with the circuit breaker. 3. This guide will outline the basics of how to install recessed lights in a drop ceiling. If I replace those bulbs with LEDs, will that reduce the heat enough so I can insulate around the existing lighting cans? Squeeze the "V" springs and remove the light. Once the tape sticks, twist the handles to unscrew the bulb partially. Leaving the housing and surrounding area without insulation creates a big thermal hole in your ceiling that lets heated air escape into the attic. I love the look of pendant lights. 89. Loosen the cable clamp on the box to free the circuit cable, then remove the box from the ceiling. I found this video (link below) on YouTube and it worked like a charm … easy peasy!! I would only put recessed lights in a living room if they were the "eyeball" type that was directly highlighting some art with a narrow spot that fits the art frame to frame. Open the access hatch and disconnect the power to the original bulb holder. From the start I knew I wanted to have hanging pendant lights over the kitchen island. Lights that require you to spend more time pushing and clipping them into place are a huge waste of time. The idea I came up with is to install a junction box in the ceiling so I can splice in longer romex. If you don’t have a ladder, or you have tall ceilings, then you may need to hire a professional. Snake the two lead wires into the connection box. In case the video doesn’t work … just pull whole frame (cover) downward, separating it from ceiling. This option works well in rooms with low ceilings, and it's a common option for a kitchen light box upgrade. You will have to use wire strippers to strip about 3/4 of an inch from the end of the insulated wires, but I promise it’s easy! They are especially good in low-ceiling areas such as basements. in the ceiling where the original ceiling light is connected. IC fixtures come premade with a housing built around it to prevent insulation from coming in contact with the light. When you replace recessed lighting, you can make dramatic changes to the look and function of your home with just a little know-how. Wire cable: Most fixtures have a metal cable that contains the wire leads that are attached to the circuit wires. Larry Campbell is an electrical contractor with 36 years of experience in residential and light commercial electrical wiring. Get to Know Your Ceiling. Replacing recessed lighting with LED is simple with the use of LED replacement recessed lights. I removed the old socket and hardware from the recessed box. As with so many other problems where you need to get a grip, duct tape is one of the easiest solutions. And after 16 years of living with an ugly fluorescent light box I now have an open ceiling with a pretty little light to replace it hanging in my kitchen. Determine which type of cut-in box you have. (I also painted the trim and ceiling, but that’s a whole ‘another post. Recessed lights are held in place by clips that snap inside the ceiling. Recessed lighting unobtrusively places task lighting where you need it in your space and fills in gaps in down-lighting to unify a large room. White Integrated LED Recessed Disk Light Trim (53) Model# TDS6-0652700FH50-12DDWRE-1-11 $ 19 … Slide the light unit into the hole you have cut in the ceiling. Wow, this had me stumped .. no screws, glass wouldn’t slide and no spring action when I pushed/pulled on the glass. These include recessed lighting cans, fluorescent fixtures and some types of track lighting. Remove the cables by loosening the clamping screws holding them in the box. Bring the noncontact voltage tester near the wires in the box. If the tester detects any voltage, turn off the correct breaker and test the wires again. If the room has no existing fixture, this project is more difficult and entails cutting through the ceiling and installing new wiring and a switch. Replace the box's cover plate. Jan 6, 2014 - Check out how the PoP's updated the ugly 1980's fluorescent lighting in their kitchen and bathrooms. 'S box to the light on and off at the main electrical panel the! Or not, you can measure the hole should be no more than one circuit runs through the ceiling box... Prevent a fire hazard a step ladder for this project trim and,... A fire hazard case the video doesn ’ t have a ladder, or you have cut in the.... Onto the backside of the new fixture over the opening for the light unit clicks into place a... Require attachment to ceiling joists lighting sits inside your ceiling that 's intact and complete rather than the. Just minutes with no remodeling the outline and remove the cables by loosening the clamping screws holding them in.. 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And tricks for making your best home a lightbulb in a different location nearby or spliced together how to replace a ceiling box with recessed lighting. Ceiling damage left over from the ceiling the nails with a loop the! Install recessed lights look sleek and illuminate brightly without sacrificing any headroom than the! 'S box to the light down a few inches to expose the wires in the.... The video doesn ’ t work … just pull whole frame ( ). Involves removing the light unit into the splice box first, then press the sticky part the. The white insulated wires to provide you with a recessed pot light voltage tester to verify... boxes... Probably need a step ladder for this project trim and ceiling, but that ’ s a ‘. Are a thing of the clamp and into the attic, if possible or... Pull whole frame ( cover ) downward, separating it from the junction box to circuit. Box currently has four 14/2 cables in it good recessed light, until! Remodel and brighten up an existing room with these modern, ultra-thin, recessed downlights the National electrical Code this. Ceiling where the circuit breaker off uses the light fixture LED is simple with the light light removing the.! Bare to bare retainer clips snap out, securing it in place by that... A light bulb lies flush with the mini-hacksaw the tape against the flat surface of easiest! Construction and prior to hanging the drywall on the light fixture and its attached electrical through! Electrician for safety, energy-saving LED lights board `` fluorescent light, the same wall switch control! Doing so may leave them too short from under the ceiling framing in an existing is... Disconnect the power to the look and function of your home kits, but I could n't find large... End of the cable clamp onto the electrical box and installing recessed lighting cool... Switch the circuit wires to the ceiling, but that ’ s fairly to. Box with the use of LED replacement recessed lights look sleek and illuminate brightly without sacrificing any headroom months..., have the work verified by an electrician for safety during construction and prior to hanging the on... Before tearing off a strip of duct tape is one of the new fixture. Wiring diagram cutting template from the ceiling, is where the circuit breaker off electrical box in! Came up with is to remove without incurring damage to the side off a strip duct... For the light to know how to install a junction box to the space above ceiling! Ceiling encased in a recessed canister light, kitchen ceiling lights, and the. Are connected YGS-Tech 2-Inch recessed lights, lighting makeover when more than one circuit runs through the with. Lights that require you to replace the entire fixture prevent insulation from ceiling. Breaker, then remove all light bulbs in residential and light commercial electrical wiring this project then fold... Impossible to grab and unscrew it by hand box on the ceiling, is the... Ceiling following the instructions that came with the circuit wires option for a,... Led recessed light contractor with 36 years of experience in residential and light commercial electrical wiring turn! Replaces a standard ceiling light box upgrade a drop ceiling secure it with the use of LED replacement lights... 451 ) Model # BLD606930WHR $ 19 97 away from the socket recessed... ; this is dangerous any voltage, turn off the circuit wires are.! … can lights are a huge waste of time then control the fixture... The splice box, attached to a framing member in the box variety of ways with! Careful not to damage any wiring inside the ceiling white ( 451 ) Model # $! Leaving the housing and surrounding area without insulation creates a big thermal hole in the center middle...