How to Install Recessed Lighting in a Rough Frame

Mark the location of every recessed lighting fixture on the ceiling joist using your lighting plans or measure from the exterior walls. Mark a spot on the exterior wall 4 feet from one corner.

Measure a distance of 4 to 6 feet into the room from the marked measurement on the wall. Mark this location on the open ceiling joist. Each additional recessed light should be installed 4 to 6 feet from the prior light, depending on how much light you require and the size of the room.

Position a ladder beneath the recessed lighting fixture location. Extend the adjustable hanging arms of the lighting fixture to fit between the ceiling joists.

Attach the arms to the inside base of the joists using the integral clamps on the end of the adjustable hanging arms. Hammer the clamps into the joist, then secure them with 1/2-inch wood screws through the openings in the clamps. The fixtures can slide along the adjustable arms for final placement.

Cut lengths of 12/2 nonmetallic electrical cable, to reach from each light fixture to the next, with wire cutters. Add 2 feet to each measurement. The final cable should reach from the first fixture in the run to the switch box location.

Unsnap the sides from each integral electrical junction box attached to each recessed light fixture. Insert the end of the electrical cable through one of the oval slots in the top of the electrical junction box, beginning with the box farthest away from the power source. Each addition junction box daisy chains to the next recessed lighting junction box.

Rip the exterior sheath from each end of the electrical cable inside each recessed lighting junction box using a cable ripper. This exposes the electrical wires inside the cable.

Strip 5/8 to 3/4 inch of insulation off each black-and-white exposed wire inside the junction box using wire strippers. Connect all white wires together by twisting yellow wire connectors onto each set of electrical wires. Twist all black wires together inside the junction box with another wire connector.

Finalize the connection in each by connecting each bare copper wire to the green wire inside the junction box with another connector. Snap the sides onto the recessed lighting junction boxes.

Secure the loose electrical cables to the ceiling joints with 1/2-inch nonmetallic cable staples. Use a hammer to drive the staples into the wood of the ceiling joints.

Attach a new-work nail-on plastic switch box to a wall stud at your chosen switch location for the recessed lights. Insert the NM cable from the first recessed fixture in the lighting run through an opening in the back of the switch box.

Measure a length of electrical cable to reach from the switch box to the main panel location. Insert the end of the cable into another opening in the rear of the switch box.

Rip and strip the cables inside the switch box in the same manner as you did with each cable in the recessed lighting junction boxes. Connect the two white wires together inside the switch box with a twist-on orange wire connector.

Connect the two bare copper wires together inside the switch box with another orange wire connector. Wrap the end of one black wire inside the box around one brass screw on the side of a single-pole toggle light switch. Wrap the other black wire around the remaining brass screw on the toggle switch.

Tighten the two screws holding the wires on the light switch. Attach the switch to the bottom and top of the switch box using the screws that came with the light switch.