Why Choose a Disk Downlight, Slim with J-Box, or Retrofit in a Can?

Wondering how to plan your recessed lighting or how LED downlights can provide solutions to common lighting issues? Explore the lighting scenarios below to learn how to use LED recessed lights to solve your frequent light problems in residential or commercial settings.

Space Considerations

It is important to consider the space above a ceiling when installing a downlight in your home. You will also need to plan where your lights will be located or determine how best to use pre-existing recessed lighting.

Below are some solutions to common lighting problems regarding space considerations for recessed lighting in residential spaces.

Issue – a narrow crawl space cannot fit a tall, recessed can

Solution – a thin profile downlight with a junction box

Sunco Lighting offers several dimmable, thin profile recessed lighting products that fit in narrow ceiling spaces, including our all-in-one Slims and Integrated Slims which only need a 2” clearance for the included junction box.

        

Also, you can use dimmable Sunco LED Disk Downlights in this instance. Our Disk Downlight is flush mounted to the ceiling when you pair it to your j-box (it also fits inside recessed cans).

Issue – joists located where you need to install a downlight

Solution – a wafer thin downlight to fit under joists or cross beams

It seems that a joist or cross beam will always be located right where you need to install your downlight. This scenario prevents you from installing a recessed can and some thin profile recessed lights won’t fit there either. Lucky for you, Sunco’s Slim Downlights will fit where others won’t. This LED includes a junction box that sits apart from the LED and secures to the ceiling with spring-loaded brackets. You can easily slip these wafer thin Slim Downlights beneath a joist.

Issue – pre-existing cans you cannot or do not want to remove

Solution – add LED retrofit downlights in existing recessed can housings or use LED bulbs

When you move into a new space with pre-existing recessed lighting, you can quickly and easily upgrade to LED with Sunco Retrofits and low wattage BR-series LED bulbs. LEDs reduce your wattage consumption and have long lifespans (up to 50,000 hour lifetime) so it makes sense to upgrade from outdated bulbs.

Insert these dimmable BR-series LED light bulbs with their 110° wide beam angle in a recessed housing:

In addition, you can quickly install LED Retrofit Downlights into existing cans. Retrofits are LED fixtures that slip into cans and secure with spring clips (Disk Downlights can fit in cans, too). Sunco Retrofits are sized for 4” cans or choose the adjustable 5/6” series that fit 5” or 6” cans. These instant on downlights come with an E26 adapter and a TP24 connector to quickly pull power from the recessed can.

NOTE: 5/6 inch Baffle Trim comes in 965 Lumens or 1050 Lumens.

Issue – angled ceilings or vaulted ceilings make it difficult to install a recessed light

Solution – a gimbal downlight to point light where you need it

While angled or vaulted ceilings are a beautiful architectural element, they can wreck havoc on your lighting or cause expensive, custom installation fees in order to get the light you need. A simple solution is to add an LED Gimbal Retrofit light to existing recessed cans so you can tilt the light up to 90° or rotate the light 360° to aim the light where desired.

Specific Lighting Needs

A plan for recessed lighting is best when it involves fast installation and streamlined results. Of course you’ll also want your ceiling lights to fit in with your décor and provide the instant on light you require. These varied solutions help you solve lighting problems.

Issue – want quick install without a can

Solution – all-in-one package

You want to quickly add lighting to your home or office, but you don’t want to deal with the extra expense or time involved in using a recessed can? Sunco has the perfect solution: our all-in-one Slim LED Downlights.

These fixtures include everything you need to install a recessed light in a hole you cut in the ceiling, no can required. Flush mounted Slims come with a junction box (either separate for a wafer thin light or an integrated j-box) and only requires a 2” clearance. Our Slims are IC rated and the foam gasket helps form an airtight seal. This prevents A/C or heat loss into your attic or crawl space.

Issue – dark stairways or hallways and large rooms with insufficient light

Solution – a high lumen count LED to provide bright light

Brighten up your living space or your workplace with high lumen count Retrofits or Disk Downlights. High lumen count lights fill a large space with bright light and can improve safety on stairs and in hallways or other transitional spaces.

NOTE: 5/6 inch Baffle Trim comes in 965 Lumens or 1050 Lumens.

Issue – artwork or architectural element needs an accent light

Solution – a gimbal LED downlight to aim light where it is needed

Accent light can call attention to your favorite artwork or design detail in a room. Sunco’s LED Gimbal Downlight offers the ability to swivel 360° and tilt 90° to point the flexible optic where light is most needed. The Gimbal fits easily inside a 5” or 6” recessed can.

Issue – want to keep existing cans

Solution – add an LED Retrofit or BR-series LED Bulb

If you moved into a home or relocated to an office with existing recessed can housings, you can quickly upgrade your downlights to LED. The Sunco BR-series LED light bulbs fit in cans to provide a wide flood light that fills your space with instant on, dimmable light to suit however you are using the room. You can also quickly install LED Retrofit Downlights to fit your existing cans, whether your cans have an E26 socket or a TP24 connector, our convenient Retrofits come with both connector types.

Fits 4” recessed cans:

Adjustable to fit 5” or 6” recessed cans:

Issue – want an airtight seal on your downlights

Solution – our Slim and Retrofit LED Downlights

Tired of your air conditioning and heating leaking into your attic or crawl spaces or cold and hot air from the exterior entering your room? Sunco LED Retrofit Downlights and Slim LED Downlights offer an airtight seal. These Retrofits fit tight against the recessed can due to their included, spring clips that hook into the recessed can’s ears or slots. Sunco Slims include a foam gasket to help with the airtight seal.

Note also that Sunco’s collection of Recessed Cans (New Construction or Remodel) are also airtight and IC rated for fire safety.

Install in a can:

Install without a can:

Securing Sunco Downlights

Sunco LED downlights secure to recessed cans and also direct mount to your ceiling. Both mounting types deliver a streamlined look with the downlight flush to the ceiling.

Each of our recessed lights secure in different methods:

• Retrofits – secure to a can with spring connectors
• Disk – secure to a can with spring connectors or direct wire to a j-box
• Slim – install in ceiling (all-in-one) with a junction box

With so many recessed lighting choices to choose from you may spend more time deciding than actually installing the light, especially with Sunco’s quickly installed downlights. Explore all the recessed lighting options Sunco offers.