AGAIN: cans vs. LED cans

11 years ago

My builder has included 30 cans in my house plan, and each additional is $60 (materials / labor).

I'd like to switch all cans to LED but they are telling me that it is MUCH more expensive to do this (Electric company). What I'm seeing online at even Home Depot, the fixture prices look similar.

So what is the difference in my cost? Do you think it's volume he buys?

I'd like to do the 4" LEDs throughout the house, with directional in our home theater room.

What parts do I need to be including? Maybe I'm not including all the parts of the fixture to make an appropriate comparison?

I know I need the metal fixture part, then a baffle / trim kit per fixture + a bulb. Is the material cost really double for the LED lights?

Featured Answer

srobertb

11 years ago

We are renovating our home and our architect insisted we go with LED. I think there are about 40-50 of them total. Specifically a full can (4" and 5" throughout home) and a led retrofit kit. The kind that screw in and have the trim and led that fits in.

A quick google search shows that there is a newer option for new construction/major construction. The electrician just wires an outlet box in the ceiling and the LED fixture fits right in. There is no need for a can. It looks exactly like a recessed LED when installed. These are about $10-$20 cheaper for materials than going the full can and retrofit route- especially w/ the electrician's discount I'm sure. Install is very simple. Single gang ceiling boxes can't be more than .25 cents a piece. We are going with these once I brought them up to the architect.

It's new tech so the electrician and contractor may be wary. After showing it to them I'm sure they'll warm up to it.

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Comments (10)

Rachel (Zone 7A + wind)
Original Author
11 years ago
Let me elaborate.

I mean, doesn't the electrician have to buy:

Can
Trim Kit
Bulb

If I get the Cree 6" 2700K LED w/ integrated trim (these are on-sale at HD from $16.97/ea) that replaces the trim kit and bulb price, so it shouldn't be DOUBLE the cost, right? There is no difference in wiring for them because the Cree 6" is an edison bulb screw in replacement.

I just really don't want to pay for the standard trim + bulb and then retrofit since I am starting from nothing.
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Rachel (Zone 7A + wind)
Original Author
11 years ago

Can you link me to what you are talking about? I can't figure out what I'm looking at. The ones I'm seeing are $20, but I can't see the difference if this is a retrofit kit or the whole fixture / light in one.

Are they called disk lights?
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Rachel (Zone 7A + wind)
Original Author
11 years ago
Sorry, it's not letting me link properly...

Like THIS one?

So all I'd need is extra-deep junction boxes in the ceiling and no cans at all?
srobertb
11 years ago
Just like that! I do not know if you need a deep junction box. Personally I hate working in junction boxes so I would go deep if wiring myself. An electrician would not care I don't think. It says it wires into most standard junction boxes.

There is also the issue of warranty and replaceability. With all LEDS (I have a lot of experience designing and building LED lighting for reef tanks and coral propagation) you get duds. I would make sure your electrician will warranty installing a new one if they burn out (within a reasonable time frame). We have yet to have that conversation so I can't say how it will go.
Rachel (Zone 7A + wind) thanked srobertb
Rachel (Zone 7A + wind)
Original Author
11 years ago
Can I buy these in bulk? I mean, the price is a little high, but when you consider you don't have to buy the bulb it seems like that + energy efficiency is a no-brainer.

Don't they get hot? No? ALRIGHT!

I'd buy 60 of them, from China direct... maybe?
PRO
Springtime Builders
11 years ago
Here is the Philips version.

I really hope these surface mounted LEDs will kill recessed cans. It's not just the upfront costs, recessed cans are notoriously leaky and an energy efficient home's worst nightmare. They act as little chimneys that suck conditioned air out of your house. Often times, the air is being supplied through nasty places you dont want to breath air from. So in many ways, recessed cans can be a poor choice for health reasons.

Ban the can!

Kick the can!

Recessed lights are evil
mshahmd
11 years ago
Mama R,

Randomly came across this thread.

Our contract had very similar language, 35 cans and $65 for each additional can.

Im guessing this is common? We ended up with 70 cans.

I figured when the builder quotes you a price of $XXX/sq ft, that should include the cans.
PRO
Springtime Builders
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
70 is a lot of recessions. Hopefully you dont have a vented attic.
mshahmd
11 years ago
Yeah it is, if I could do it over again I would have developed a comprehensive lighting plan. However, we also have a fully finished basement.