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LED recessed lights with replaceable bulbs?

2 years ago

We're installing recessed lights in an existing house. The house is a single story. There is attic access in some but not all areas. We want recessed lights but after a lot of research I'm really concerned about putting in the integrated LEDs because they're going to burn out. The attic is very hot in Florida and our local power company isn't known for consistent power. We get a lot of surges and brown outs.

So we'd really rather put in fixtures in which we can change the bulbs when they burn out. But can you retrofit this sort of light into an existing ceiling?

Or are there integrated LED lights which are easy to DIY replace? I'm sure that after a year or two, whatever we install will be obsolete and we won't be able to find ones identical to the originals.

We've already had to throw out a beautiful torchier lamp because the integrated LED died and it can't be replaced. Such a waste!

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Comments (4)

wdccruise
2 years ago
"we'd really rather put in fixtures in which we can change the bulbs when they burn out. But can you retrofit this sort of light into an existing ceiling?"

Sure. I used the Juno Recessed Lighting 17 trim (available with many reflector colors; I chose Haze) with the Juno TC1R 4" Line Voltage Remodel Housing and 50W PAR20 bulbs. Juno offers many trims that fit in the TC1R housing.

"are there integrated LED lights which are easy to DIY replace? I'm sure that after a year or two, whatever we install will be obsolete and we won't be able to find ones identical to the originals."

In the ceiling, install retrofit cans with screw connectors for the lamps (example). Then you can replace the integrated trim (example) anytime one fails. You could buy a few extra trims if you want to be sure to have a one that matched an existing one.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
Yes I also prefer a traditional Edison base bulb in a recessed fixture that can be easily switched out. I think the light quality is much better- the light projects down versus the faux cans which seems to keep the light more localized. Mine are new construction housings which are IC rated (insulation contact) since I have a spray foamed roof deck
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Debbie
Original Author
2 years ago
@wdccruise the TC1R housing says "If installed where insulation is present, the insulation must be pulled back 3” from all sides of the TC housing." That's not going to work. But I did find that Juno makes an IC rated retrofit can too. So that might work.

It's the IC23R LEDT24 or the IC1R LEDT24 (in case anyone else reading this is interested)

Thank you for the suggestions. I never knew that finding recessed lights with LEDs was so confusing!
wdccruise
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
"It's the IC23R LEDT24 or the IC1R LEDT24"

No, you cannot use either of these housings with the Juno trim and bulb I recommended above. These housing are for use with Juno (and other brand) integrated LED trims and have push-in connectors. The IC23R is also 6" housing, not 4".

However, you don't have to use a Juno housing. The Juno TC1R housing is 5-1/4" deep so you should be able to use a Ledpax CE1005649 housing (or similar) instead.

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