LED Recessed Lighting Retrofit
Intro: LED Recessed Lighting Retrofit
How to modernize ancient technology in about an hour while improving safety and being "green" at the same time. This retrofit of a seventies-vintage "can light" cost approximately twenty-five dollars for the under-the-counter LED light kit, plug and related hardware. Energy savings? Consider the light output of better than a forty-watt bulb for about six watts--to say nothing of all the heat you WON'T be generating.
STEP 1: Materials
One under-the-counter LED light kit (120 VAC)
One lamp socket outlet adapter
One standard replacement plug
One tube clear silicone sealant (or equivalent)
One 6" PVC wall guard (behind-the
One lamp socket outlet adapter
One standard replacement plug
One tube clear silicone sealant (or equivalent)
One 6" PVC wall guard (behind-the
STEP 2: Tools
One 3" hole saw
One drill
One pair wire strippers
One screwdriver w/multiple bits
One pair side-cutters
One drill
One pair wire strippers
One screwdriver w/multiple bits
One pair side-cutters
STEP 3: Assembly
Turn off power to recessed (can) light
Remove dome and bezel from old recessed (can) light
Remove bulb from can light; replace with socket outlet adaptor
Remove dome from bezel; take care not to damage bezel or dome retaining clips
Find center of wall guard using compass/protractor; check for accuracy
Cut 3" hole (may differ from light kit to light kit) using hole saw
Place new PVC adapter inside old dome bezel; press old retaining clips down onto PVC adapter
Using clear silicone, liberally seal around inside edge of bezel, and outside/inside edge of PVC adapter (neatness counts)
Place light kit inside hole of PVC adapter and press down into sealant; wait until silicone has cured (!)
Using supplied power cord of light kit, make up a shorter power cable using standard plug replacement
Plug modular end of power cable into light kit; plug standard plug into socket outlet adapter
Re-Install entire assembly in old can light as shown
Restore power
Voila! You're done.
Remove dome and bezel from old recessed (can) light
Remove bulb from can light; replace with socket outlet adaptor
Remove dome from bezel; take care not to damage bezel or dome retaining clips
Find center of wall guard using compass/protractor; check for accuracy
Cut 3" hole (may differ from light kit to light kit) using hole saw
Place new PVC adapter inside old dome bezel; press old retaining clips down onto PVC adapter
Using clear silicone, liberally seal around inside edge of bezel, and outside/inside edge of PVC adapter (neatness counts)
Place light kit inside hole of PVC adapter and press down into sealant; wait until silicone has cured (!)
Using supplied power cord of light kit, make up a shorter power cable using standard plug replacement
Plug modular end of power cable into light kit; plug standard plug into socket outlet adapter
Re-Install entire assembly in old can light as shown
Restore power
Voila! You're done.
9 Comments
rob_fed 14 years ago
Transquesta 14 years ago
shooby 16 years ago
Transquesta 16 years ago
naruto the ninja13 15 years ago
Transquesta 15 years ago
What made this project 'special' was that it used new technology to replace the old, thereby cutting down on a lot of wasted heat/energy.
shooby 16 years ago
Derin 16 years ago
LinuxH4x0r 16 years ago