Either way, you need some lights! One of those lights should be controlled by a switch. You can replace that light with a can light without have to deal with re-wiring the switch itself. Then you can extend that circuit to install 3 or 4 more recessed lights in that area. I don't want to scare you off, but if you read through to the end of the post I'll explain the one thing I failed to do that nearly knocked me out cold.
But please, for now, keep reading. The trim the white part is sold separately. Buy the can light - Go to the electrical section of your favorite big box store. Look for 6" recessed lighting housing just tell the guy in the orange aprons that it's your first time installing "can lights" in your basement. Easy to use voltage line tester. Click to buy from Amazon. Test the circuit with a line tester - Test the circuit with your voltage line tester to make sure that it's dead.
Better yet, test it before turning off the power to make sure the tester is working properly, then turn off the power and test again to make sure there no current running through it. Remove the old light - Okay, the power is off. Your wife is yelling at you from upstairs because you accidentally killed the power to the TV while figuring out which circuit breaker to flip. Deal with it woman, your man is going to provide you with light for God sake.
Unscrew and dis-mantle the old light. Un-wire it. DON"T cut any wire unless you must, you'll want all the length you can get. You'll have to wire this circuit back in when you install your can light. It's not a big deal but just be aware. Technically it works but it's a safety violation almost anywhere in the world and won't pass inspection. You must join wires within an accessible junction box. Each recessed light you install comes with the appropriate junction box.
Install the new recessed light - Nail the can light in between the floor joists. They have adjustable support racks so the width is adjustable.
Wire the can light - It should come with some ridiculously hard to read instructions that are way to small for mortal man. I don't have room in this post to explain every step but even if I did I think I'd make you read them anyway, it's a right of passage that I wouldn't want you to miss.
Or, run upstairs quickly and explain that the sound you just heard is a minor setback and the power should be back on shortly. Then go back and read those books you bought but just skimmed through. Great Electrical Books for Beginners I would highly recommend that you read at least 1 but preferably 2 professional books on the basics of electricity and electrical wiring.
Here are two of the electrical books I read, both of which I thought were excellent. The first time I did this exact project I didn't test the line didn't have a line tester then.
I prepped and marked and followed the line and thought I had killed the power but when I went to cut Big blue arc of light, and a big shock that knocked me off the chair I was standing on. I was fine. I was at least using the proper rubber coated wire stripper for cutting the wire so I'm sure that helped. If there's one thing you do, buy and use a simple voltage tester.
Now what are you waiting for? Try it this weekend. Go to Home Depot at lunch and buy the can light, a line tester and a wire stripper and get started.
Or go to amazon right now and order them for delivery straight to your house. If you follow the steps in this article you are doing so of your own will and volition, I cannot be held liable for any injuries that you may incur. While the housing is arguably the most important component in terms of installing recessed lighting, the other components are also necessary! The second major component that comprises recessed lighting is the trim you decide to get, which is a predominantly aesthetic consideration.
This is a decorative component and may include features such as shades or reflectors. In fact, in addition to the wide area of coverage it provides, the trim of recessed lighting is another advantage to this type of lighting. You have a lot of control in terms of the style and functionality of the recessed light when you know about all the various trim options that available.
That is why it is important to select the right trim for your specific needs. However, if you want to use recessed lighting in a living area, you can use baffle trims to provide a softer light. The third and final component needed for recessed lighting is — you guessed it — the bulb! The bulb is what will ultimately provide the light, of course. While recessed lighting can be used to get maximum light coverage in an area of the house, the type of bulb you decide to get still plays an important role.
When all three of these major components come together, you have recessed lighting! However, to get the most out of your recessed lighting, you need to ensure you install them correctly!
This consideration comes down to whether or not your home is insulated and whether you plan on insulating it in the future. Like with installing recessed lighting post-construction, homes can also be insulated after the fact with certain methods. When homes are insulated during construction, fiberglass is typically used. When finished walls need to be insulated , cellulose insulation is blown in through carefully cut holes in the wall.
Regardless of which method you use to insulate your home, if your home is insulated or will be insulated in the future, you need to use a recessed light that is IC rated.
The IC rating of a lighting fixture refers to an Insulation Cover rating, which advises you on the suitability of this type of lighting fixture in a wall or ceiling that is insulated. This is an important safety consideration to make! While not all homes are insulated, there are many benefits to insulating your home. From maintaining optimal indoor temperatures in your home to saving on your energy bill and reducing your carbon footprint, the advantages of insulation go on.
If your home is already insulated or you plan on insulating it in the future due to the great benefits , you will need to ensure that you install IC-rated recessed lights. The trim you settle on will alter the effect of the light provided by the bulb you decide to get, as discussed earlier.
In terms of lighting technology, incandescent lighting is considered the oldest technology we still use today. These lightbulbs function with a filament. However, this type of lighting is known to get hot while generating light. The rest? You guessed it: heat! While it could work, it may not be the best option for your home. Halogen bulbs are rather similar to incandescent bulbs as they both function with a filament.
However, the filament in this type of lighting is encased in a capsule that contains what is known as halogen gas. While these lights last longer than their incandescent counterpart and burn slightly brighter, they get even hotter!
Again: they could work, but there might be a better option. As electricity reacts with the gas in the chamber, the tube begins emitting light. However, due to the twisted tube shaping of these bulbs, they might not be the perfect choice for your recessed lighting. Ultimately, it depends on the trim you decide on! In terms of lighting technology, LED is the newest type of bulb featured on this list. LED lights are becoming increasingly popular due to the many benefits they provide users.
When it comes down to the best trims for your basement, it really depends on how you plan to use your basement space!
Not only does your trim conceal the recessed fixture that is behind it, but it also directs your light the way you want to use it. Even the color of your trim plays an important role. The darker your trim, the more you will diminish the brightness of your light. We looked at briefly earlier in this article.
The first step to installing recessed lighting in your finished basement is selecting the housing for your lights, in addition to the trim and bulbs. Luckily, there are plenty of options! You will need to repeat this process to update different lighting fixtures to recessed lighting.
When working on your basement lighting, you should switch off power to that area in your house. Once you have done this, you will need to remove the junction box, which is above it, in the ceiling. You might need to use the saw to separate the junction box from the joist it is attached to. This template is for you to trace onto your ceiling and is typically between 4 and 6 inches in diameter. The trim will cover this edge later. Those wires we mentioned earlier?
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