How to Install Can Lighting
Can lighting (also called "recessed lights") is a wonderful way to add light to a room without taking up any of its space. It is often used to illuminate specific areas like countertops, beds or tables and is not very hard to install if you are handy with some basic tools and you follow the steps below. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Protective eye-ware
- Drop cloth
- Ladder
- Stud finder
- Pencil
- Drill with 1/8 inch bit
- Wire coat hangar
- Tape measure
- Face mask
- Drywall saw
- Romex wire
- Fish tape
- Wire strippers
- Wire nuts
- Electrical tape
- Can lights
- Light bulbs
- Vacuum cleaner
Instructions
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Installing the Lights
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1
Remove any furniture that is underneath the spot where you plan to install the lights.
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2
Spread the drop cloth on the floor underneath. When you cut holes in your drywall ceiling, a lot of dust will be generated, so it's a good idea to cover your floor, especially if it's a carpet or rug.
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3
Position your ladder under the first spot where you want a light recessed. Take the stud finder and run it along the ceiling in order to locate the studs. Lightly mark the ceiling at the centers of each stud you find. If you plan to install two or more lights in an area, move the ladder to subsequent spots and mark the stud centers. You will be installing the lights in between the studs.
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4
Take your drill with the 1/8 inch bit, and drill a hole directly in the center of the spot where the first light will go. Take your wire hangar and straighten it out. Then stick the end of the straight hanger into the hole you just drilled, and push it straight in until it hits some resistance. Take note of how far the hangar went in so when you take it out of the hole you can measure the distance with your tape measure. Recessed lights usually require at least 8 inches of height in order to be safely installed. Check the requirements on the can lights you are installing and make sure you have the required clearance space.
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5
Take the hole pattern that comes with all can lights and place it at the exact spot on the ceiling where you want the light to go. Take your pencil and trace around the pattern.
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6
Put on your face mask and carefully cut out the hole in the drywall. Cut the hole as exactly as possible: most can lights today will mount via clips directly to the drywall ceiling, but the hole you cut has to fit the pattern with very little deviation.
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7
Repeat Step 6 for every light you plan to install. You can remove your face mask once all the holes have been cut.
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8
Run Romex wire from hole to hole using the fish tape, if needed. Trim off about 8 inches of extra wire at each end, and strip off 1/2 inch of the wire casing at each end.
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9
Turn off the circuit breaker that carries the power source you will be tapping into. Make sure that there is Romex cable going from the power source to the closest ceiling hole you have just cut. Most people tap into the ceiling light that is usually in the center of a room.
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10
Connect the Romex cable from the power source to the first can light, making sure the wires connect white-to-white, black-to-black and ground-to-ground. Use the wire nuts and electrical tape to ensure good wire connections that will not come apart or expose any bare wire.
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11
Install the first can light by setting it into the hole and fastening it according to the manufacturer's directions. Make sure that all the wires are set within the ceiling as you place the can.
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12
Screw in a light bulb rated for the can, and then place the can's lens and/or collar in place. You can now move on to install any additional lights.
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13
Install the second can, if there is one, and connect the wires in the same manner as you did with the first unit. Then attach it to its spot in the ceiling, screw in a light bulb and install its lens/collar. Repeat this step for as many cans as you are installing.
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14
Remove the drop cloth once all the cans have been installed, and then vacuum the area. Turn on the circuit breaker to the power source, flip on the room's light switch, reset any furniture you removed and then enjoy your new recessed lights.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you are installing only two or three can lights and are tapping in to a ceiling light, your circuit breaker should easily be able to handle the extra load. If you are installing more than three can lights, however, check to make sure the power source you will be tapping in to can handle the extra power draw.
