Recessed can lights have gained a reputation as the go-to fixture for inexpensive ambient room lighting. But they have their drawbacks. When placed in an upper ceiling and not sealed and insulated, they can bleed energy. When improperly insulated, they can present a fire hazard.

One answer from Philips, released this week, is an ultra-thin surface-mount LED fixture. Measuring only 5/8-in. deep, the SlimSurface LED is designed to look like a recessed can when viewed from below. To create a uniform glow, Philips places LEDs at the edge of the fixture, relying on a specially designed lens to distribute the light (what they call their Edgelit technology). This approach is is similar to that used in their SlimStyle LED light bulbs, which were introduced earlier this year. 

The SlimSurface is available as a square (4-in. and 6-in.) or round (5-in. and 7-in.) luminaire. The fully-integrated fixture (the LED itself is not replaceable) is has a rated life of 50,000 hours. 

The fixture comes in two color temperatures (2700K and 3000K); two lumen levels (630 and 980) and two color rendering indexes (80 CRI or 90 CRI). It can be dimmed to 10 percent using ELV (electronic low voltage)-type dimmers. The light is also Energy-Star certified, using as little at 10 watts of power and producing 70 lumens per watt. 

MSRP for the new light, which will be available from lighting distributors Oct. 23, starts at $40. We’ll be getting one in soon for a closer look; check back for an update.

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