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Hi All:
I need to place recessed lights into my 12/12 pitch ceiling. Is there any way to avoid the $32 or so for the steep slope cans? They seem to have you by the short hairs with these cans…
Is there a general rule of placement for these cans? I have a cathedral ceiling which ranges from 13′ to 25′ high. I suspect more cans than less will be better…and at $50 a pop (can+trim+bulb>$50)…
Thanks for any tips,
Bruce
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We used eyeball trim on regular cans for our pitched ceiling (much more moderate pitch than 12/12, but I think it would work). I think they look fine and they give off more light than the recessed baffle trim because the lamp is fully exposed down in the room. You can also direct them toward the areas that need light. I am not a lighting expert, just know what worked at my house. In the big picture, $50/fixture aint bad if it does what you need it to do. With the 12/12 pitch, it seems to me like the recessed baffle trim would really be cut off on the downslope side of the fixture, though.
*I bought a few of the normal cans and eyeball trims to try exactly what you suggested. Look to me like they will work, although very close to vignetting the bulb on the trim at the 12/12 pitch.The sloped cans are oval...so you are right, the trims are cut. They have you by the short hairs...How many cans did you install skader3? Wish you had more?Thanks for the tips!
*You'll probably find that the eyeball fixture will not look straight down on anything greater than a 6/12 pitch. I suspect you will be cross lighting the room to cover wall to wall.Since the same cans are used with both eyeballs and regular trims you might consider trying both and mounting a can with an extension cord so you can move it around for effect. I'm assuming you haven't covered up your rafters or trusses yet, but even if you have and are using remodel cans, someone could stand on a ladder and hold the can.Try also a few different bulbs. If you use straight trim you can cross light with a larger variety of bulbs (higher wattage) which will get more light across your 24' wide room. Most commonly available eyeballs will accept a max of 3 3/4" diameter bulb or about 45 watts. You can get a 4 3/4" diameter bulb up to about 150 watts in regular trim. Then try a variety of beam spreads.Consider both very low and very high mounting positions on the vault - both side of the vault - as well as right down the middle. A narrow spot from 20+ feet up will spread to the opposite wall and not be a focused spot when it finally arrives.You always need more light than you think. If you think 2 per row might do it, go for 3 or four; if you think 2 columns will do it, go for 3. Use dimmers on all the cans and the more controls the better to adjust and provide lighting for the whole room or just where you need it at any given time.Have fun.
*Don't forget the drip pan to capture the eventual condensation...
*Thanks for the tips Ralph. I have purchased an assortment of bulbs with the two types of cans...so I have to experiment. I just completed my stairs...so now I am moving on to installing the cans.Do recessed cans condense and drip mongo? These are IC new construction cans...and will be burried in (under I guess is more correct) R38 batts. I guess if the cans get cold enough they will drip...is that your point? I'll just keep the lights on all the time...that'll keep 'em warm. HA! The whole building process has been a blast. Now that I am inside, there are many more decisions to make more often...which has slowed down my progress some. Pretty quick to frame together 150' linear feet of walls, set those I-joists, subfloor, etc.Thanks folks!BrucePS---> One thought I had...I have 3 skylights in the cathedral ceiling. I need to build the box frames around the skylights...and I can probably place cans in that "flatter" surface to illuminate downwards. $50 a can isn't bad...until you need 20 of them. Thanks again!
*I hung up two cans last night to get a feel for how I like them. One was a "flat" ceiling can with an eyeball trim and the other a Juno 12/12 slope can ($8 vs. $32 respectively). I actually think I like the eyeball better. I do not have a trim kit on the Juno can...maybe that's the difference. Had the same bulb in each. The cans pull out for my finished ceiling (sheetrock and T&G pine eventually...) Any reason why not to go with the "flat cans" and eyeballs? Did seem to work just fine. It might be a matter of taste for the eyeballs in general. Would love to hear comments...Thanks much!Bruce