How to Install Pot Lights in a Finished Ceiling

Pot Lights, more commonly known as can lights, are recessed lights that fit above your ceiling and shine light down on the room below. A hole has to be cut in the ceiling to allow the light bulb to cast any light. Pot lights come in three different sizes in general, 4 inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches in diameter. To install the pot light, you'll have to cut a hole in the ceiling, wire the light, and install the trim. Expect to spend an afternoon on this job.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Plastic gloves
• Surgical mask
• Variable Drill with hole saw implement
• Pot light and lighting trim kit
• New insulation
• Marker

Instructions

Instructions

1. Mark the spot on the ceiling with a pen where you wish to install the pot light. Unwrap a coat hanger and jab the sharp end through the mark, inserting the hanger at least a foot or more through the ceiling. Leave the hanger there and enter the attic, putting on your surgical mask and gloves in the meantime. Search through the insulation for the coat hanger. Check that the there's at least 6 inches to the nearest joist on either side of the hanger. Otherwise, adjust the center of the hole to make enough room.

2. Prepare to cut the circular hole in the ceiling where the pot light is to be installed. Connect the hole saw implement to the variable speed drill, put on your protective glasses and surgical mask, and begin to cut the hole. Cut all the way through the ceiling.

3. Return to the attic with the pot light. Place the pot light over the hole and stretch the suspension arms from the pot light housing against the nearby joists. Have a friend check that the pot light is oriented over the hole you cut.

4. Nail the hands of the suspension arms into the joists using a hammer.

5. Wire the pot light to the junction box. Turn off the power. Follow the manufacturer's directions about wiring your specific box, but, in general connect the white and black wires from the junction box to the corresponding wires of the pot light using wire nuts. If there's no ground wire from the pot light, wire the ground wire of the junction box directly to the pot light metal housing.

6. Place new insulation over the pot light unless the pot light should not be near insulation, which is indicated in the packaging. Return to the room below and insert the lighting trim kit into the pot light. Screw in the bulb and turn the power back on.

References

• "What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating"; Johnston, Amy; 2008