Recessed Lighting Products Within the Recessed Lighting category, there are 3 primary types of products: housings, light modules, and trims. Each of these products are required to create recessed downlight kits. The recessed lighting category has transformed in the last decade as LED technology has become a more efficient alternative to traditional recessed lighting. An LED downlight is a hybrid made up of an LED light module and a trim.
Housings The picture on the left is of a New Construction Housing, meaning it’s meant for applications still in the building phase. Note the New Construction Housing has adjustable mounting brackets allowing for the housing to be mounted to studs The picture on the right is of a Remodel Housing. The remodel housing is meant for use in applications where the construction is finished and a drywall ceiling exists. The entire remodel housing can fit into a 6” round hole in the ceiling.
Adjustable Bracket – This housing has an adjustable bracket that can be adjusted up or down to fit abnormally small or large bulbs.
Sloped Housing/Super Sloped Housing – These housings are meant for pitched ceilings allowing for a straight downward light on a sloped ceiling. Sloped Housings will work with ceilings that slope between 10° and 26.5°. The Super Sloped Housings will work with ceilings that slope within the range of 30° and 42.5°. See images below. Recessed Trims There are a variety of trims available in different sizes, styles, and finishes.
Open or Splay Trims – Open Trims are just as the name infers. They are open in the middle and allow for the bulb to fit right up against the trim itself. Open trims do not include lenses (or diffusers) because the bulb itself takes up the space where the lens usually would. They are sometimes called Splay Trims. See picture below: Shower Trims – Shower Trims include a glass or acrylic lens that protects the bulb. Most all shower trims are Wet-Location Rated and are ok to use in bathrooms and showers.
Eyeball/Gimbal Trims - Eyeball Trims are adjustable and allow the user to point the light in any direction. They are great for showcasing artwork, or displays, or to even light up areas that may not get enough light. Eyeball trims hold the bulb in place and therefore require the housing be stripped of any brackets or plates before installing.
Wall Wash Trims – Wall Wash Trims are designed so that light is directed in one direction towards a side and not aimed downward. These are often used to showcase artwork, or light up dark areas. They are similar to what eyeball trims do, except Wall Wash Trims are not adjustable. Specialty Trims – Trims with specific purposes. Some trims, like Pinhole Trims are used to lower light levels and concentrate light on one very specific area.
LED Retrofit Downlights Explained An LED Retrofit Downlight is a hybrid product that includes an LED Light Module and a Trim. In other words, these LED Downlights take the place of the bulb and the trim. They can be installed into either a New Construction or Remodel Housing, just like traditional trims. Here are the parts of an LED Downlight: Like traditional trims, LED Retrofit Downlights come in a variety of sizes, styles and finishes.
Color Rendering Index (CRI) CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a quantitative measure of how accurately an LED light source can reveal the true colors of various objects compared to a natural light source. The higher the CRI rating, the better the LED light source is at rendering colors as true and as accurate as possible. True and brighter colors are revealed when a high CRI rated light is used.
NICOR LED Downlight Colors and Finishes Black, Nickel, Oil-Rubbed Bronze, and White. Baffled downlights are also available, but only in white. LED Retrofit Downlight types Gimbal/Eyeball – Allows the user to aim the light in any direction. This is usually done to accent specific areas or features in the home such as artwork, or areas that may be hard to brighten up with lights that point straight down.
Square - Square LED Downlights are available in regular and adjustable LED Retrofit Downlights. Don’t worry, you don’t need a square housing to make these work. They are designed to fit into traditional housings. Surface Mount - These will fit in housings and junction boxes (also called J-Boxes) allowing them to be mounted in more applications, and places where housings may not fit. Notice how shallow they are in depth. These are sometimes referred to as disk lights.
New Construction Downlight Kits New Construction Downlight kits are not the same as LED Retrofit Downlights. Retrofits are easy to install because you can use an existing housing. Installation is as easy as screwing in the Edison adapter and connecting mounting clips to hold the LED retrofit downlight in the housing. New Construction Downlight Kits are not designed for retrofitting (as their name implies). These kits come with their own housing, their own LED Module, and sometimes their own Trim.
Not all Kits are designed for New Construction applications. Remodel Kits, which include a remodel housing and an LED downlight, or other combination of light and trim, are also common.
Terminology Any of the words Downlight, Retrofit, Recessed, and Light can be used in conjunction with one another. It’s all about knowing what each one means: Downlight – A Light Fixture aimed downwards New Construction – Refers to the type of housing. New Construction Housings are designed with brackets and are meant to be installed before the ceiling is complete. Remodel – Refers to the type of housing. Remodel Housings are designed to be installed into existing ceilings.
