Recessed light sources are not lacking in advantages: discreet, elegant and above all efficient. It is the lighting solution that is on the rise these days for home use and rightly so. It can be used as general ceiling lighting rather than more targeted lighting recessed in furniture or elsewhere. Here are a few things to keep in mind before installing them in your home.
Characteristics of a recessed Light
The recessed Lighting is as its name suggests is a set of equipment consisting of a box, a bulb and an outer border. There are therefore several options of finishes surrounding the bulb, whether in aluminum, stainless steel, copper or even steel. It is this bezel that will give the Light its elegance but there are also models without any border, thus offering an even more aesthetic effect to the whole.
The color of the Light also deserves attention, depending on the aesthetic effect you want to have: a discreet and elegant white or black or silver to create a nice contrast. For the bulb, opt for an LED in order to benefit from energy-efficient lighting for longer. You also have the choice between an adjustable LED recessed Light to have a more diffused or more directional light towards a particular point in the room.
Choose your recessed light source
Here is a review of all the criteria for choosing an LED recessed spotlight suited to your needs.
The shape and dimensions of the recessed Light
In addition to the different materials and styles of edging, there are also several forms of LED recessed lights. Round models are the most common, but there are also square built-ins, which are more functional, and extra-flat, very discreet models. In addition, the diameter of the recessed spots determines how many LED recessed lights are needed for a given ceiling, floor or wall area.
Voltage 230V or 12V
The LED recessed spotlight has the advantage of being usable even in the most difficult to access surfaces and also in bathrooms. This is why the criterion of the voltage of the electric current inside it is an important element to take into account. As a choice you have the 220V and 12V models. The first are intended to be recessed in the ceiling and the second are used in the bathroom.
Protection rating against water and shocks
The IP protection index indicates the resistance of your recessed Light to water and shocks. This index is made up of two digits, the first indicating the level of protection against solid objects and the second indicating the tightness of the equipment. For a spot to be installed outside or in the bathroom near water points, you need an IP68 at least. But for a recessed ceiling an IP20 is more than enough.
LED recessed color temperature
In order to get the most out of your LED recessed lighting, it is essential to choose the correct temperature. There are usually 3 levels to choose from, depending on the number of Kelvin degrees displayed on the Light packaging. Choose a cool 5000-6000K light for a work area, a neutral 4000K light for a kitchen or bathroom, and a warm white 2700-3000K for a bedroom.
The power of the recessed Light
When we speak of recessed LED, we must distinguish on the one hand the electric power in Watt and the light power in lumen (lm) of this one. Knowing that this one consumes little electricity, refer rather to the number of lumens than that of watts. For main lighting, the need is 100 lm / m², but for targeted lighting, more is needed. It’s up to you to see what you need in terms of light intensity depending on the use of the recessed Light.
