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Typo
Lv 6
Typo asked in Home & GardenDo It Yourself (DIY) · 9 years ago

using non-ic recessed lights in an insulated ceiling.?

I have found some 3" recessed lights that I really want to use in my house. I would be retro fitting these lights in a ceiling that has blown insulation on top of it.

The cans I am looking at are designed to use Halogen light bulbs. I will be pulling the halogen bulbs and replacing them with LED bulbs. But I can't guarantee that some idiot would not go back with the hotter halogen bulbs years from now.

the problem is that I can't find the style of lights I want in a IC fixture. They are just available in a non-IC fixture.

My question is can I just make a tin cylinder and put a lid on it and then use this to cover the housing?

Do I need to make sure the cylinder has a certain amount of ventilation?

Does it need a open top?

I will be placing them in area where the attic height is less than 24 " and I will be adding more insulation latter on. I am worried about accidentally blowing more insulation in the cylinder.

5 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 6
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    IC stands for Insulation Contact. As in this particular lamp was tested at the UL, and it passes the minimum requirements for insulation contact.

    So, either remove all of the insulation from at least three inches from the non IC can, or install IC units.

    It sounds as if the backside of this project is in an attic. You can go up in the attic with batt insulation, and just piece it in around these cans. Keep a three inch clearance of free air, on all sides of the light cans. Build a damn wall to hold back the blown insulation. And enjoy the stylish heat loss.

    Becuse that bare spot of ceiling will be a tremendous heat loss. Hot attic air will radiate from the ceiling in the summer. Any heat applied to that space in the winter, will radiate out through the void in the insulation blanket.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Recessed Light Insulation Covers

  • 9 years ago

    First, don't believe anything I say because I am not an electrician.

    Tough to work with less than 24" headspace!

    I think your tin cylinder is a great idea.

    I think if you made it (them) 16" high with a large diameter and put a lid on it, it would be able to diffuse and radiate the heat from even the hottest light bulb.

    You could drill some small holes around the top of the cylinder, that wouldn't allow any insulation in.

  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    My local "blow in insulation guy" suggested I replace all incandescent light bulbs in the non IC cans with LED type bulbs, seal up the vents on light fixtures and then just dump insulate over the fixtures.

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  • ?
    Lv 4
    9 years ago

    The written instructions for the luminaires tell you how much clearance is required.

    Typical clearances are 3" and 6".

    A plywood box is usually constructed to maintain the clearance.

    A link to the proper luminaires is noted below. They're about $30 each.

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