How to Install LED Recessed Lights

Not only more energy-saving, but also greener than traditional recessed lighting, LED light source is now widely used for recessed lighting. It is a great way to upgrade the appearance of a room or the entire house. With the installation of LED recessed light, you can remove the low-hanging ceiling light and floor lamps as well. We will discuss more about the installation of LED recessed lighting fixture in this article.

Preparation: Before Installing LED Recessed Lighting

Step 1: Check the Wiring

Before doing any electrical work in the house, double-check the wiring. Copper wiring is perfect for DIY wiring.

In some cases, the house was wired with aluminum, which does not connect well with other wiring or fixtures, and requires special care. Then you should hire a licensed electrician to do the LED recessed light installation.

Step 2: Map out the Lights

Draw a room plan to determine where the lights should go. This plan not only helps you control costs, but also makes it much easier to see where the lights need to be placed.

Step 3: Check the ceiling

If you're planning to add recessed lights in an insulated ceiling, you should only buy fixtures with housings that are IC rated.

An alternative is to buy or build a cover to keep the insulation away from the light or simply cut away the insulation to prevent from overheating.

Step 4: Purchase light fixtures and tools

Decide which kind of lights are compatible with your housing, ceiling and wiring, and purchase recessed light fixtures based on your room plan. Don’t forget to get all tools and accessories needed.

Installing Recessed Lighting

Step 1: Create recesses

1)      Before cutting your ceiling, check if there are joists in the way. The simplest way to check is using a stud finder. If there is no stud finder, you can drill a small hole and insert a bent wire, such as a coat hanger, to make sure there is enough room between the joists for the fixture.

2)      Cut out a hole in the ceiling of appropriate size and shape. Use either a template or the fixture itself as a guide.

Step 2: Find a power source

The best way to power the recessed light is by connecting it to the wiring used to support an existing light fixture.

If there isn’t one, you have to install and wire a dedicated switch.

Step 3: Run the wires

1)      Drill holes in the joists for the wiring to run through.

2)      Run the wires to all the recesses that have already been created. Make sure there is enough excess wire to connect the fixtures.

Step 4: Install the Fixtures

1)      Turn off the power.

2)      Connect the wiring to the fixture according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

3)      Double-check all connections are tight and properly sealed before moving on.

4)      Feed excess wire carefully back up into the space above the mounting and follow it with the fixture.

5)      Push the light up flush to the ceiling.