# Good LED lights for recessed ceiling use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032 "2013-09-17T06:33:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/1 "2013-09-17T06:33:48Z")
I’m trying to save on electricity, and have eliminated virtually all incandescent lamps from my apartment. But I have a lot of recessed “can” lights, and due to heat build-up, CFLs do not last anywhere near as long as they should. They even have a tendency to shut themselves off if used for too long. So I’m looking for recommendations for 120 volt LED lamps that will be happy in a can fixture, base up, replacing a 13 watt CFL. Dimmability not an issue. Not all that picky about the color spectrum, don’t need a “warm” (aka brownish) look. Bonus points if it is available at Home Depot, where I can use my PayPal card. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/2 "2013-09-17T13:45:12Z")
Something’s wrong with your can lights if CFLs don’t last and/or overheat. I’ve had the same set of CFLs in the can fixtures in my living room for 3-4 years, and they get probably 10 hrs a day, and they NEVER overheat or shut off. The ones in the bedroom are the same way- probably 3-4 years on them, and while they get less use, they haven’t shut off, burned out or otherwise had any issues. That said, they make BR30 sized LED floods for can fixtures- they are a tad small in a R40 sized fixture, but put out plenty of light. Wal-Mart sells theirs for about $20 each. We have them installed in the can fixtures in the garage doorway and front doorway- places where the instant-on of a LED bulb is a big advantage over a slower CFL bulb. There are also R40 sized floods, bu problem is, they’re upwards of $30 each. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/3 "2013-09-17T13:51:40Z")
[Home Depot](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-9-5-Watt-60W-A19-Warm-White-2700K-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-1-Pack-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-1U110/203991774#.UjheCn_PVF8) has a nice 800 lumen bulb by Cree for about $13 that’s supposed to be happy anywhere an incandescent is. Available in 2700k (warm white) or 5000k (daylight). ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/4 "2013-09-17T14:28:10Z")
I do not personally have the can fixtures so I have no experience with your problem, but in other forums people are enthusiastic about the Home Depot [Ecosmart LED retrofit kits.](http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-6-in-9-5-Watt-65W-Soft-White-2700K-LED-Downlight-E-ECO-575L/202240932#.Ujhh039tdP4) The bulbs are manufactured by Cree. These are not just light bulbs, but rather bulbs mounted in a bracket designed especially for insertion into recessed can fixtures. Read the reviews. Multi-packs are slightly cheaper than the single bulb I linked to. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/5 "2013-09-17T21:14:06Z")
I’d agree that installing an LED trim is the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/6 "2013-09-17T21:50:51Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Something’s wrong with your can lights if CFLs don’t last and/or overheat. I’ve had the same set of CFLs in the can fixtures in my living room for 3-4 years, and they get probably 10 hrs a day, and they NEVER overheat or shut off. The ones in the bedroom are the same way- probably 3-4 years on them, and while they get less use, they haven’t shut off, burned out or otherwise had any issues. > > That said, they make BR30 sized LED floods for can fixtures- they are a tad small in a R40 sized fixture, but put out plenty of light. Wal-Mart sells theirs for about $20 each. We have them installed in the can fixtures in the garage doorway and front doorway- places where the instant-on of a LED bulb is a big advantage over a slower CFL bulb. > > There are also R40 sized floods, bu problem is, they’re upwards of $30 each. I’ve got a couple of those floods in a closet, and they run quite cool. I can imagine the smaller ones being trouble free for decades. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-led-lights-for-recessed-ceiling-use/669032/7 "2013-09-17T22:20:44Z")
Thanks for the recommendations.