Recessed Lighting Housing Diameter and Bulb Usage

<h1><font size="2">DIY<br>Do It Yourself<br>How To<br>Howto<br> Recessed Lighting Housing Diameter and Bulb Usage</font></h1>

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Lighting - HELP?
Select one of the 11 topics below:

1 - Where Should / Can Lighting Be Located?

2 - New Construction or Remodel housing?

3 - Insulated, Double Wall, and Air Tight housings

4 - Bulbs - Types of Bulbs and Their Usage

5 - Housing Diameters and Bulb Usage

6 - Trims

7 - Low Voltage (12V) or Line Voltage (120V) MR16 Bulbs?

8 - Lighting Controls - Setting the mood of your lighting system

9 - Choosing the Proper Housing and Trim

10 - Sloped Ceiling Housing and Trim Information

11 - Retrofit / Conversion Kits & Tools

5 - 3", 4", 5", or 6" diameter housing and type of bulbs that can be used?

Housings come in diameters of 3", 4", 5", and 6". The diameter of the housing will depend on the type of bulb to be used and the space available for the housing. Smaller diameter housings are not as deep as larger diameter housings.

The trim selected will depend on the type of bulb used. The proper bulb to use with each trim is listed in each trim description within the web site. The trims for a particular housing are listed at the bottom of each column of housings. The trims listed can be used with any of the housings in that column. There are usually several pages of trims to choose from.

Caution: Do not over-lamp a housing. Make sure the housing you use is UL approved for use with the bulb you use in it. Always keep insulation and flammable materials a minimum of 3" away from your housing, at all times, unless your housing is specifically rated to be in contact with insulation (IC). Because MR16 bulbs generate a great deal of heat, housings used with MR16 bulbs are generally only used in Non-IC applications. We carry a 4" IC housings specifically designed for use with MR16 bulbs (NSLIC-401Q/10) and they will have the UL approval for this application indicated on them. We do not know of a 6" housing that is UL approved for use with a 120V MR16 bulb. If there is any doubt about the bulb housing combination being used, make sure to keep any flammable materials at least 3" away from the housing. For added heat protection or in areas where blown-in insulation is in the installation space, use the NRA-126 heat barrier.

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