The Rules for Putting in Recessed Lighting

Circuit Load

• Before you start installing recessed lighting fixtures, check the circuit load to ensure it can safely handle more work. To do the calculation, you need to know exactly what is on the circuit already. Figure out the total watts used by those other items. If the circuit is 15 amps, load no more than 1,440 watts on it. For a circuit with 20 amps, you are able to go up to 1,920 watts. Determine the number of watts left on the circuit by subtracting the existing watts from the maximum recommended watts. The answer tells you how many watts of recessed lighting you are able to add to the circuit.

Location

• The location of the lighting depends on your use for it. If you're adding the fixtures for task lighting, the fixtures should be over the work surface, such as a kitchen island or a table used for playing board games. Placing recessed lighting right by the wall boosts the light level by reflecting it off the walls. For light that doesn't leave dark shadows in the corners, aim for a series of recessed lights about 3 feet away from the wall.

Spacing

• Spacing is another element of recessed lighting installation. Close spacing requires more light fixtures, which might overload the circuit. Wide spacing results in dark spots in the room. Determine which parts of the room will receive the recessed lighting. For specific task lighting such as a kitchen island area, place the lighting groups 3 feet apart. For general lighting, stick with 6- to 10-foot spacing.

Safety

• Always check to ensure the electricity to the circuit is shut off. After shutting off the breaker, check with a circuit tester as a backup. Keep the breaker panel locked during the installation so someone doesn't accidentally turn the breaker back on. If you aren't familiar with basic electrical work, call an electrician instead of trying to handle the work yourself. You may not hurt yourself immediately, but an improperly wired light fixture could result in a fire eventually.