How do you set can lights?

How to Install Recessed Lighting | Can Lights | The Home

Tape templates on ceiling to lay out lights. [01:36]
Turn off power. [01:48]
Use stud finder to locate & mark ceiling joist. [01:55]
Check if you have 8 inches of clearance to install lights. [02:04]
Cut holes in ceiling. [02:39]
Rough-in wiring. [02:59]
Run cable into light box and clamp it. [03:13]
Mount light. [03:31]

Subsequently, one may also ask, how many can lights for a 12x12 room?

The typical rule-of-thumb is 24" from each wall, and then 3-5 feet between cans. So in a 12' room you'd probably want two rows of lights. Considering it is a bedroom and you don't need it as bright as a kitchen, you can probably get away with 2 rows of 4 lights for a total of 8.

Furthermore, what is the difference between can lights and recessed lights? When making your decision, it is important to understand the differences between the two sources. General ceiling lights typically use incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs. With the combination of the low voltage bulbs and adjustable trims on the recessed cans, it is much easier to illuminate a room.

Keeping this in view, should I use 4 inch or 6 inch recessed lights?

Size and Layering Size recommendations say to place 4-inch lamps 4 feet apart and 6-inch lamps 6 feet apart. However, these are general guidelines. Smaller task or accent lighting using 2-inch or 3-inch lamps can work in conjunction with well-placed general recessed lighting.

How do you space can lights in living room?

To determine how far apart to space your recessed lights, divide the height of the ceiling by two. If a room has an 8 foot ceiling, you should space your recessed lights approximately 4 feet apart. If the ceiling is 10 feet, you'll want to put about 5 feet of space in between each fixture.

28 Related Question Answers Found

How do you determine how many can lights are needed?

Whatever new recessed lighting you add should work with your existing fixtures. Measure your room to see how many fixtures you will need. A common rule of thumb is that you use one recessed light for every 4 to 6 square feet of ceiling space.

How many can lights in a 10x10 kitchen?

How many recessed lights for 10x10 kitchen? 4 would be sufficient for that space, depending on where you put them.

Can you have too many recessed lights?

In fact, using too many recessed light may leave areas of your room dark and may even cost you more on your electric bill. An expert can help you plan for the right number of lights based on the size of the space and the technical aspects of the light fixtures in question.

How do you calculate lighting for a room?

Multiply width of room x length of room x 1.5 = amount of total minimum wattage needed (assuming an eight foot ceiling). Divide by 60 to get the number of 60-watt equivalent bulbs required. Then, add up the wattage in each bulb in each fixture to figure out how many light fixtures are needed.

How many lights do I need in a room?

As a handy rule of thumb, a sitting room or bedroom will generally require around 10-20 lumens per square foot, while a bathroom or kitchen will need a stronger level of lighting, at around 70-80 lumens per square foot. To work out the lumens you need, simply multiply the square footage of the room by this figure.

What size of recessed lighting should use?

The common sizes for residential recessed light fixtures are 4" through 7" in diameter. One way to answer this question is by considering how far the ceiling is from where you want the light, and how big an area you want to light. In an 8' ceiling, a 4" fixture can work well to provide kitchen countertop lighting.

How do I choose under cabinet lighting?

For best results, choose a finish that closely resembles your cabinets. To ensure even lighting across the counter, use light bars that closely match the width of your cabinets. If you're using puck lights instead, place them 8-12″ apart for even light distribution, or space them out further to create pockets of light.

Are recessed lights out of style?

5 Advantages of Recessed Canister Light Fixtures

But recessed light fixtures usually are not very visible, making them a good choice where you want the light itself to be the design element, not the fixture hardware. The reason recessed lights never go out of style is that they have never really been in style.

How many LED can lights can you put on one circuit?

Each CFL or LED bulb typically gives the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb while drawing 10 watts or less, which is equivalent to a current draw of 1/12 amp. Thus a 15-amp circuit can safely control 180 or more fixtures that use CFL or LED bulbs.

How far apart should 4 inch recessed lights be?

4 feet

Should recessed lighting be symmetrical?

Don't worry about recessed lighting being installed perfectly symmetrical on the ceiling. Sometimes ceiling joists prevent installing recessed lights exactly where you want them. Most people never pay attention to the location of the recessed cans on the ceiling.

How much to install can lights?

Some costs involved with the installation of pot lights are: Installing the lights - $100 to $200 by an electrician. Wiring the lights into the ceiling - $70 to $140 per light. Moving around any obstacles (heating ducts, joists, other wires) - $200 or more per light.

Where should recessed lighting be placed in a bedroom?

Install two small (three-inch or four-inch) recessed can lights on either side of a ceiling mounted light over the bed for a nice touch. If you are displaying a piece of art in your bedroom, install a recessed light above it to create a focal point. Recessed lights don't work everywhere.

Do LED bulbs get hot?

You probably know that LED bulbs run dramatically cooler than their incandescent cousins, but that doesn't mean they don't produce heat. LED bulbs do get hot, but the heat is pulled away by a heat sink in the base of the bulb.

How long does it take to install can lights?

The collar or trim is added on the exterior, and the electrician will connect the wires. Most electricians charge around $65-$85 an hour. It takes roughly ½ to 1 hour per can, depending on how difficult the location is to reach. So the total project will take between 3 and 6 hours, for a total of $780 for 6 lights.

How do you install LED can lights?

Conventional installation method

Layout your light locations on the ceiling.
Cut the hole that you'll install the fixture into.
Run your wire to the light location.
Make your electrical connections.
Connect the driver to the light.
Tuck the junction box through the hole.
Install your light into the hole.
That's it!

Do you need a permit to add recessed lights?

Some recessed lighting fixtures require special wiring and/or a transformer, so you must be at least somewhat familiar with the construction of your home. One final note: Many municipalities require you to pull a permit before installing recessed lighting. Take care of that before doing anything else.