Installing Canned Lighting Cans In Ceiling With Cramped Space

[Nifty]

Ok, as I posted in another thread, I have a cramped attic space and need to install some canned lights:



I need to access the area that is past the end of that yellow tape measurer and I'm not sure what to do.

 

[Nifty]

I'm wondering if I can wire things up down below and then fish up the wiring, etc. into the ceiling? That would allow me to do most of it from below vs. from up above.

 

[sumi]

That's a tricky one, getting the wires to go where they should through that mess...

 

[HayZee518]

For your installation if access space is limited, buy replacement cans instead of "first" installation cans.
The difference between the two is - the replacement types have ears that hold the fixture to the sheetrock when you cut out the circle. New installation cans have two brackets that screw into the sides of two joists. the replacements have a floating junction box, so all the wiring can be done below the installation. then just shoved up into the hole. to minimize tripping of the light's thermal overload, insulation should be removed around the fixture so heat can escape. The bezel plate snaps onto the fixture when you are finished.

 

[Nifty]

Fantastic ideas, thanks!

You mentioned "all the wiring can be done below"... but I'm wondering how that's possible with a bunch of cans all being inserted in different spots? I'm assuming I'll need to go up-top and do some kind of connecting to some extent, no?

 

[Nifty]

AH HA! For some reason I assumed the wires had to be installed to the cans first and THEN fed up into the ceiling. Well, there's no reason why the wiring can't all be fished and fed first and THEN all the connections at the lights be done underneath. Basically similar to this:

(watch at the 8:50 mark)

 

[HayZee518]

Since the only reason you have to go up into the crawl space will be to fish wires, the splices can be accomplished before the lights themselves are shoved into the holes. see fixture picture

 

[Nifty]

Ok, I'm off to Home Depot to pick up some cans / recessed lights! I'm a big fan of LED's so I think I'll splurge for those.

The office is about 8' x 14' and I'm thinking I'll be fine with three lights down the center of the room spaced about 3" apart. What do you think?

 

[HayZee518]

check out the lumen output of those fixtures before you buy! code requirements is 3 watts per square foot.

 

[Nifty]

Wait, there's a code that tells me how much light I have to put in a room?

My room is 8 x 14 = 112. x 3 = 336 sq. ft.

The LED cans I just purchased are "600 lumens / 65 flood watts" each for a total of 195. So, code is saying I need about twice as many lights in this little tiny space?!?