Recessed lighting has become very popular over the past few decades. It is an attractive form of lighting that is installed flush with a surface and makes a room feel bigger. This has made it especially popular in smaller rooms or any room that needs to feel more spacious. They are the most stylish and versatile option for incandescent lighting.

More recent advances in lighting technology have progressed far beyond incandescent lighting, especially in the form of Light Emitting Diode (LED). LED bulbs are long-lasting and energy efficient, which reduces energy and maintenance costs when compared with conventional light sources. As you might expect by the fact that we wrote a blog about it, changing to LED lighting for recessed lighting is not as simple as just replacing an incandescent bulb with an LED bulb.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go as far as installing all new recessed lighting fixtures. LED Retrofit light kits offer a fast and easy method for upgrading existing lighting fixtures without the added cost of purchasing new fixtures.

The ETI Solid Earth Retrofit fixtures that Koopman offer are a high output light in an easy to install retrofit solution. They are dimmable and are rated for damp locations and a temperature range of -4° F to 104° F. They can be used in indoor recessed cans, high hat fixtures in residential, office, retail, restaurant, school, hospital and hotel/motel locations.

Before installing the product or doing any maintenance, ensure you TURN OFF THE POWER SUPPLY at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. As with any job involving electricity, this project includes the risk of fire or electric shock.  If you don’t feel comfortable working with electricity, contact a qualified electrician.  

Do not make or alter any open holes in an enclosure of wiring or electrical components during kit installation.  To prevent wiring damage or abrasion, do not expose wiring to edges of sheet metal or other sharp objects.  Do not alter, relocate or remove wiring, lamp holders, power supply, or any other electrical component.

Make certain that if you need to use a step ladder to reach your recess lighting cans, that you ONLY use wooden or fiberglass ladders when you’re working with electricity. Metal (usually aluminum) ladders are versatile and sturdy, making them a popular choice for household projects. However, they also CONDUCT ELECTRICITY!

Okay I think that’s everything… Let’s dive in!

STEP 1: MAKE SURE RETRO FIT KIT WILL FIT EXISTING RECESSED CAN

With the power to the light fixture turned off at the power supply, start by determining what size lamp holder your existing light fixture has. The ETI Solid Earth Retrofit kit fits only one kind of lamp holder; type E26.

If the existing fixture is not compatible with the retrofit kit, do not install the kit. Also check the rating on your existing fixture to make sure that it corresponds with the retrofit kit.

Finally, check the dimensions of your existing recessed can make sure that the retrofit kit will fit in it.  The dimensions of the ETI Solid Earth Retro-Fit kit are:

All of this is information is important to have before heading to Koopman to make your purchase.