DIY question

[Atvar]

I have a finished basement with a drop ceiling. The previous owners of the house mixed recessed lighting with fluorescent panels. I would like to remove all the fluorescent panels and replace them with recessed lights. The fluorescent lights are too bright to have on and the basement really only has two small windows so i think this would be a good choice.

My question is how hard is this? What lights would be best for a drop ceiling install if I were shopping at home depot or lowes? Is it just a matter of removing the panel and putting in a new ceiling tile with the light in it and wiring it in?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[BigJ]

What you need is Non-IC New Construction housings (I'm going to make a relatively moderate assumption that you don't have insulation up in your basement and especially with a drop ceiling). The New Construction housings simply sit on the rails of the drop ceiling. You cut holes in the drop ceiling panels.

Remember that it is against code for the drop ceiling to support the wire. It must be tacked to the ceiling.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: BigJ
What you need is Non-IC New Construction housings (I'm going to make a relatively moderate assumption that you don't have insulation up in your basement and especially with a drop ceiling). The New Construction housings simply sit on the rails of the drop ceiling. You cut holes in the drop ceiling panels.

Remember that it is against code for the drop ceiling to support the wire. It must be tacked to the ceiling.

Or supported by clips attached to the drops from the ceiling.
The devices are commonly known as "Caddy Clips".

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: BigJ
What you need is Non-IC New Construction housings (I'm going to make a relatively moderate assumption that you don't have insulation up in your basement and especially with a drop ceiling). The New Construction housings simply sit on the rails of the drop ceiling. You cut holes in the drop ceiling panels.

Remember that it is against code for the drop ceiling to support the wire. It must be tacked to the ceiling.

Or supported by clips attached to the drops from the ceiling.
The devices are commonly known as "Caddy Clips".

I don't want to get him confused now

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: BigJ
What you need is Non-IC New Construction housings (I'm going to make a relatively moderate assumption that you don't have insulation up in your basement and especially with a drop ceiling). The New Construction housings simply sit on the rails of the drop ceiling. You cut holes in the drop ceiling panels.

Remember that it is against code for the drop ceiling to support the wire. It must be tacked to the ceiling.

Or supported by clips attached to the drops from the ceiling.
The devices are commonly known as "Caddy Clips".

I don't want to get him confused now

ooops,my bad.

Never mind </ rose ann roseanna danna>

 

[TwiceOver]

Marked... I have the same issue.

 

[Atvar]

Thanks for the replies. No insulation and I will tack the wiring. I can use the same line that is feeding the current lights correct?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Atvar
Thanks for the replies. No insulation and I will tack the wiring. I can use the same line that is feeding the current lights correct?

Yes you can. Just be warned, depending on how many lights you're adding, you may exceed the amperage for the line.

What else do you have on that circuit?

 

[0roo0roo]

since theres already a circuit up there its much easier. but yea, make sure its within limit of circuit

 

[Atvar]

Excellent. There isn't anything else on the circuit and I am not going to add anymore lights...just replace what is there so I should be ok. I found this at lowes...it isn't non-ic but would this work?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn...269-LWSIC32&lpage=none

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Atvar
Excellent. There isn't anything else on the circuit and I am not going to add anymore lights...just replace what is there so I should be ok. I found this at lowes...it isn't non-ic but would this work?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn...-38269-IC22&lpage=none

That's fine. Just don't forget to pick up trims too.

As a very general rule:

If you don't have insulation, you can use Non-IC or IC cans (make sure the trims are matched up with the cans).

If you do have insulation, you only use IC cans.

 

[Atvar]

That makes sense. I found the trims on lowes.com so I have all the model numbers etc written down. I am a diy noob as you can tell but I am trying to learn to do some stuff myself. This doesn't seem like it would be too difficult. Famous last words!