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I am trying to find out if my recessed lighting is IC or non-IC. As you probably know
IC can touch insulation and non-IC can"t. I cannot find anything in the can that tells
me for sure which it is. I've looked up the available info and didn't get anything definite.
I thought someone here might be familiar enough with recessed lighting to tell by sight.
Any ideas? Pics attached.
Here's what the labels in the can say.
The UL label says:
3/07 E178858
RECESSED
CANDESCENT LUMINAIRE
SUITABLE FOR DAMP LOCATIONS
ISSUE NO. A-226,587
Label above that says:
Housing Model:C5
Made in China
For C101 Trim Caution - Risk of Fire
Max 75W Type
Par30/R30
Caution label says:
Caution: Risk of Fire. Use with "Commercial Electric" Trims only
for each lamp type and wattage indicated.
Notice: Inherently protected. Blinking light of the thermally protected
luminaire may indicate overheating.
If it's IC, it would say that somewhere on the fixture. Some brands include 'IC' in the model number. The definitive answer should come from the manufacturer. I'm not sure I'd trust a HD employee for the right answer.
You two have pointed out the dilemma I have. I have tried finding the manufacturer online, but there is nothing. I cannot find them. They only Commercial Electric out there specifically says on their site that they do not make anything for Home Depot, so please don't call them. I guess they get a lot of this. haha. I was hoping someone out there could tell by the make of the can, maybe an expert could tell. Thanks for answering though!
Are they installed into attic space? Can you easily reach them? A pic from above will definitely confirm. Another tell-tale, all those "holes" in the can. Do they open directly into the attic area or dead space- if so, not IC.
Yeah, it is directly into the attic. That's what I was thinking.
I'm really angry at the guy who put these in. Instead of using the cheapest materials, he should have put IC lights in. And then he just covered them up with the batt insulation. Luckily it hasn't started a fire.
I've got about 56 can lights in a midcentury ranch style house. I used a Flir One device with my smartphone to see how much thermal leakage I'm getting through the lights. Each can gets to over 105 degrees in the summer and around 45 degrees during the winter. To make matter worse, I'm pretty sure getting a lot of leaky air through most of them too. When I have the whole house fan on, I can smell that "attic smell" when you stand near them. I've switched all the bulbs to LED over the years, but I've been tempted to through R30 rolls over the non-IC lights. I've even though about running to the dollar store and buying some cheap colanders to use as buffers. The insulation baffles are more than I want to spend…but I wouldn't want to buy myself an attic fire either.
They are probably non-IC, and I would treat them as such.
Changing to lower-wattage LED bulbs could help with the situation, or if there are only a few, they you could purchase the buckets that fit over them, which also help insulate. A lot of the recessed light I have says IC rated when using up to a 30w bulb, but I'm running 8w LED bulbs instead. If I let them run an hour, and then pull the bulb, the bulb may be warm but there's never any heat on the can itself.
They also have flat, replacement type LED's which help create a bit of a buffer between the head of the light, and the actual can. I am using some of these and have checked for heat and there is very little. LED is the way to go these days
But if really concerned...there are these too but a tad pricey
Does anyone know where I can buy ONE Canister such as Roman45 posted above? Model number E178858? I have 4 of them with 1 near that is another brand. want to replace so they are all the same. Is 'Commerical Electric' the manufacturer and I guess Home Depot is a no? please help.
I suggest, as an immediate action, to replace the traditional bulbs "Max 75W Type Par30/R30" with LED versions.
This is only 11 watts - https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/202919/PLT-11039.html
That is an 85% reduction in the amount of heat going up into the insulation.
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