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LED retrofit recessed lights with no glare?

7 years ago

Hi all, I'd like to replace my 16 year old recessed lights with LEDs. I also want more attractive fixtures! But the retrofit I tried has a lot of glare. Are there deeper retrofits, or other techniques for reducing glare in lights that also look nice? (The top fixture is current light, bottom is retrofit) thanks!

Featured Answer

User

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

The purpose of the black grooved baffle and deeply recessed lamp is to reduce glare. Replacement lamps would be much cheaper and have less glare. If glare is your concern, why not try a replacement lamp first?

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Comments (7)

numbersjunkie
7 years ago
I don't know what brand yours are, but we were able to buy a black interior baffle for our lights that cuts the glare.
Vith
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I guess if you want a black baffle then get those and LED bulbs. Dont particularly need flood bulbs (the LEDs can be pricey).

I dont really know what glare you are talking about, I have retrofits and perhaps you just find them a bit bright. Most of mine are on dimmers so that can be adjusted on the fly.
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User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
The retrofit LEDs are not deep enough for the diameter of the old fixture so there is often a lot of glare. LED replacement PAR lamps should look much better. You can often drop a lamp size. I even use PAR 20 LED lamps in some 5" fixtures.
Stephanie S
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks all! I did find Juno has LED retrofits with either clear or hazy inserts. These look nicer (IMO) than the black baffles, and I presume also offer a glare benefit. Any experience with these? They are $70 each though, so not cheap. I will look at bulb replacement too, but I was hoping to get a more modern, clean look.
dan1888
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Try this. Go to HD or Costco and buy a few A19 15w LED 1600 Lumen dimmable bulbs. Replace the bulbs in your existing fixtures and see how you like the effect. The bulbs are normal lamp shaped bulbs and cost $4-6. Feit makes the 4-pack at my Costco. Philips at HD. 3000K warm.
Stephanie S thanked dan1888
User
7 years ago
This fixture was designed for an incandescent R or PAR lamp that has an internal reflector to direct he light out of the fixture. An LED lamp designed to replace this lamp is designed to shine directly downward in a similar fashion with a similar beam spread.

A replacement LED for an incandescent A19 lamp (typical light bulb) will waste a lot of its light energy inside the fixture so that less light will reach the floor.

Another issue is that replacement lamps have a driver (transformer) built into the base of the lamp and it can get very hot. In a recessed fixture you don't want to add more heat with a non-reflector lamp.

So, go buy an LED PAR replacement lamp which will cost more but it will work properly in the fixture. If yo like it, buy more. I prefer 2700K for a warm light but the actual color differs with the manufacturer.

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