Wiring Can Lights In Existing Ceiling

If you have an existing light fixture that you are replacing disconnect it before you begin the process of how to wire recessed lights.

Wiring can lights in existing ceiling.

Remember that the hot black or red wire goes to the brass colored screw neutral white to the silver screw. From above the ceiling find the existing electrical cable that comes from the wall switch and connect it to the new cable strung between the recessed lights. The national electrical code prohibits any connections to dedicated circuits such as 20 amp small appliance circuits in kitchens or dining areas 20 amp laundry room circuits and 20 amp bathroom circuits. Recessed or can lights can be used as task lighting accent lighting or to illuminate an entire room.

To power your new can lights find an existing receptacle or switch box that contains a hot wire on a suitable circuit. If there is a bare ground wire in the fixture often found in ceiling fans and exterior fixtures twist it together with the ground wire from the cable and put a wire nut on it. Run nm b cable from the power source to a switch box and then to the first hole allowing at least 18 inches of extra cable to make wiring easy. Be sure to attach the box cover after making the wire connections.

Make the wire connections inside a new metal junction box. Remodeling electrical boxes or old work boxes are used to add electrical outlets light switches and lights to finished rooms in a home. They re easy to install into existing wiring and the best part recessed light don t go out of style. When installing recessed lighting in an existing ceiling a hole is cut in the ceiling that exactly fits the profile of a special remodeling can to keep from damaging the surrounding drywall.

If you re just adding one the wires in the pigtail include the live circuit wire the wire going to the new fixture and the wire from the existing fixture. When you re doing daisy chain wiring on a light fixture each pigtail usually contains three wires but there could be more if you re adding more than one extra light.