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SKILL SCALE
Medium
TIME
REQUIRED
Experienced:
1 day
Handy: 1 1/2 days
Novice: 2 days
TOOLS
Stud finder
Drill with long bit
Drywall saw or hole-cutting drill attachment
Voltage tester or multitester
Combination strippers
Lineman's pliers
Screwdriver
Safety glasses
MATERIALS
Can lights and trims
Switch box and switch
Cable and clamps
Electrician's tape
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| STEPS |
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| 1 |

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OPTION
1
Cut the hole. Lightly mark all light
locations. Use a stud finder to make
sure they do not overlap a joist.
Or, drill a hole and poke a bent
wire up into it to make sure the
hole is entirely between joists. Use
the template provided with the light
to draw a circle on the ceiling.
Draw and cut each hole precisely. If
it is even a little too big, the can
may not clamp tightly. Wearing
safety glasses, cut the line lightly
with a utility knife; then cut along
the inside of the knife line with a
drywall saw. Take care not to snag
any wires that may be in the ceiling
cavity. |
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| 2 |

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OPTION
2
Use a Hole-Cutting Saw. This tool
saves time and cuts holes precisely.
You don't have to draw the outline
of the hole on the ceiling; just
mark the center point. Check to see
that you will not run into a joist.
Check that the lights fit snugly
without having to be forced into
place. Note: This tool is costly
(the saw and the arbor are sold
separately), but it's worth the
price if you have more than six
holes to cut through plaster. A
less-expensive tool (inset) is
available for cutting through
drywall only. |
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| 3 |
 |
Run
cable from a power source to a
switch box and then to the first
hole, allowing at least 16 inches of
extra cable to make wiring easy.
Work carefully, and use a drill with
a long bit to avoid cutting
additional access holes that will
need patching later. |
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| 4 |
 |
Open
the light's junction box. Usually,
there's a plate that pops off. Run
cable into the box, and clamp it.
Strip insulation, and make wire
splices-black to black, white to
white, and ground to ground. Fold
the wires into the box, and replace
the cover. |
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| 5 |
 |
Most
remodel cans have four clips that
clamp the can to the ceiling by
pushing down on the top of the
drywall or plaster. Pull the clips
in so they do not protrude outside
the can. Slip the can's box into the
hole; then push the can body up into
the hole until its flange is tight
to the ceiling. With your thumb or a
screwdriver, push each clip up and
outward until it clicks and clamps
the fixture. |
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| 6 |
 |
Most
trims are mounted with coil springs
or squeezable rod springs (as
shown). If you have coil springs,
hook each spring to its assigned
hole inside the can (if it is not
already there). Pull out each
spring, and hook it to the trim;
then carefully guide the trim into
position. If you have rod springs,
squeeze and insert both ends of each
spring into their assigned holes.
Push the trim up. |
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Courtesy
of Home Depot
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