Recessed Downlight

Recessed Downlight

A recessed downlight is an inconspicuous fixture that illuminates spaces from above. They’re easy to install in new construction or remodel applications.

There are many options for lighting with a recessed downlight. Choose the trim, housing and bulb to create the desired effect and suit your aesthetic. Consider choosing a fire rated downlight to stop the spread of fire from floor to floor.

Building Type

Recessed downlights (also called can lights or pot lights) are an easy and affordable way to illuminate a space from above. They’re often installed during new construction or in a remodel to add lighting in areas that don’t have any yet. These lights can also be used as accent lighting to draw attention to a particular area.

A recessed light fixture consists of three primary parts: housing, trim and bulb. The housing is a rectangular or square box that holds the electrical components of the fixture and can be finished in various ways. The trim is the piece that covers the opening in the ceiling, wall or ground and comes in several styles to manipulate the light and provide different aesthetics. For example, smooth trim has a smooth surface designed to maximize beam spread, while baffle trim has large grooves that help reduce glare and create a softer glow.

Some recessed lights are rated for wet locations, which means they can be used in areas like bathrooms. Other types of recessed lighting have special features to meet building codes. For instance, fire rated downlights are engineered to meet UL standards for safety in case of a fire. They include a fire-resistant housing and other features that can prevent the spread of fire to other areas of the building.

Beam Angles

Aside from color temperature, beam angle is one of the most important characteristics to consider when choosing a downlight. It affects how LED Lighting manufacturer light is distributed in the room, and it plays a large role in how a space looks and feels with the lights turned on.

There are several different types of beam angles, and each has its own benefits and characteristics. Narrower angles are ideal for accent lighting, while wider ones are better for illuminating larger areas. You can even use a combination of beam angles to achieve layered lighting.

The standard beam angle of most downlights is 40 degrees, which provides a balance between intensity and coverage. However, many newer downlights are available in wider beam angles, such as 60 degrees. You can also find downlights with narrower angles, such as 25 degrees.

Beam angle is measured from the center of a light’s peak brightness, and it determines how wide or narrow its spread is. The higher the beam angle, the more concentrated and intense the light is.

The type of trim you choose can also manipulate the light’s beam angle. For example, baffle trim has large grooves that absorb excess light and create a softer glow. This is perfect for commercial spaces that need to reduce Classic Downlight glare and create a more relaxed atmosphere. The ceiling’s height also plays a role in the beam angle. If the ceiling is too high, you may need a narrower beam angle to adequately illuminate your space.

Color Temperature

Recessed downlights come in a variety of color temperatures, or the hues they emit. This can influence the mood of your space and help set the tone for the atmosphere you want to create. Colour temperature is measured on the Kelvin numbered scale with warmer bulbs emitting a yellow or orange hue that feels more like candlelight and warm sunlight, while cooler bulbs offer a blue or white glow.

Different locations and activities call for specific lighting tones to achieve the best results. For example, a professional garage needs bright lighting so that customers and workers can see the detail on cars to properly repair them and grocery stores require crisp white light to showcase products in the best possible light.

Aside from the basic general lighting, recessed lights can also be used for more creative applications such as artwork accent lighting and wall washing. Using these techniques can bring the room to life and help it feel bigger and brighter.

One of the great things about recessed lighting is that it is so versatile. It can be paired with many different bulbs to create the perfect look. Sunco offers a wide selection of LED downlight compatible bulbs with different colour temperatures, brightness levels and beam angles to suit your design goals. Make sure to select the bulb that matches your fixture’s socket type and cap size, such as a standard screw cap or pin base, and that fits the trim type you prefer.

Lighting Needs

Recessed downlights can be used in a variety of ways, from providing ambient lighting to bathing a room in broad light to accenting artwork and highlighting architectural features. They can also be used for task lighting over desks and tables, but their main function is to “push” usable light where it’s needed most.

They can create interesting shadow effects on walls and ceilings, which can add a dramatic effect when used correctly. This is especially useful if you’re using them for wall washing, which uses a downlight to evenly wash a whole surface of a wall with light. This can be very effective if you have a lot of flat art, posters, or other items mounted on a wall that you want to highlight.

Depending on your needs, you’ll need to consider what kind of trim you’ll use with the downlight. For example, a shower lens trim allows you to install the fixture in bathrooms and other wet locations, while a wall wash trim masks off part of the downlight’s aperture to direct light where it’s needed most.

While recessed lighting can be installed by DIYers, you should get a licensed electrician to ensure that all the parts are compatible and that your electrical system is upgraded to accommodate the new fixtures. This is particularly important if your home has older wiring or you’re installing recessed lighting in an unfinished attic that will require insulation and a new junction box to be built.