Recessed Lights and How to Retrofit Them with LED Downlights - Thrift Diving

Get the materials list and step-by-step tutorial for how to retrofit LED recessed lights to look more modern on the blog! thriftdiving.com/retrofit-rec...
I recently installed recessed lights in my 16'x26' "she shed" but didn't realized before installing them that they didn't have c-clips in them to allow me to use modern LED recessed lights with springs. To fix this problem, I installed c-clip brackets in my recessed lights. This is how you also convert older recessed lights housings or cans to use LED downlights. With LED downlights, you can get creative with lots of color changing lights that work on timer, work via an app, and can connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.
//WATCH THE ENTIRE "SHE SHED" SERIES//
PART 1: Building a Concrete Pad
• Pouring a Concrete Pad...
PART 2: Building My She Shed!
• My Dream Backyard Shed...
PART 3: How Much Did My She Shed Cost? (And Other Q&A)
• How Much Did My She Sh...
PART 4: Installing a Smart Lock on the She Shed
• My First Project in th...
PART 5: Installing the Electrical Wiring in My She Shed (PART 1 of 2)
• Running My Own DIY She...
PART 6: Installing the Electrical Wiring in My She Shed (PART 2 of 2)
• My "She Shed" Has Elec...
PART 7: HELP! How Should I Insulate My Shed?
• HELP! Ventilation Prob...
PART 8: How to Insulate a Shed
• How to Insulate a Shed...
PART 9: Drywalling a Shed with Skylights
• Hanging Drywall in a S...
PART 10: Painting My She Shed!
• Painting My "She Shed"...
PART 11: How to Install Interior Window Trim in a Shed
• DIY Guide: Step-by-Ste...
PART 12: DIY Garden Beds: Stop Letting Your Outside Be BORING!
• DIY Garden Beds: Stop ...
PART 13: Recessed Lights and How to Retrofit Them for LED Downlights
• Recessed Lights and Ho...
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MAILING ADDRESS:
Serena Appiah
P.O. Box 463
Spencerville, MD 20858

[@ThriftDiving]

Get the materials list and links here in the blog post! thriftdiving.com/retrofit-recessed-lights-led/

[@Lizzy43645]

This series has been the series I never knew I needed. Too much fun!

[@jenyfursmith8413]

Those doors look amazing! Can’t wait for the completion! 🥰

[@rockshot100]

Great vid, and thanks for all the fine points of what could go wrong. Love your 90 deg. adaptor. If I could add one thing: get more screws than needed, they are cheap enough and they love to run away and hide. Yes, the screws are very sneaky. Thanks!

[@ThriftDiving]

I was actually trying to buy more screws but I couldn't find any that fit the clips! The smallest HD had were 6 gauge and these are smaller, maybe 4? I could NOT lose one screw! I love when companies throw in extra screws or nails for things!

[@rockshot100]

@@ThriftDiving Yes, when they add a few extra screws, I automatically love the product. LOL Conversely, I have had them short me on screw as well. Honey, hope you have ACE close. You can walk in there give them the screw, tell them how many you want and be back on the road in 5 minutes. ACE may be a little more expensive but what great service, I don't mind paying the little extra. Plus their profits go to the local community where you live, not to some offshore account. Trust me, I have done this too many times. Thanks for the vid.

[@bethkaplan547]

thank you! I didn't realize how to install the lights I bought that they hooked onto the "c" clips! this was helpful.

[@zombiewolf007]

Fantastic video, thank you very much!

[@vindictivetiger]

It really is looking fabulous!!

[@lynpryoraudio9868]

Good job Serena, I am very proud of you! Keep up the good work!

[@ThriftDiving]

Thank you so much, Lyn!!

[@DIYwithBatteries]

Your ceiling is more brighter than future 😂👍

[@maryowens9179]

Great Job 👍. Love the lighting. Thank you for sharing this ❤

[@ThriftDiving]

Thanks so much, Mary!!

[@wesleymartinelli6432]

Great video. Thanks for the link on the tools used

[@jgbcodemonkey]

Wow, this is the exact problem we're facing. Thanks for this solution!

[@ThriftDiving]

Glad I could help!!

[@white4octtab929]

You are awesome, love your videos because you hve so much passion in your work.

[@ThriftDiving]

Awww, thank you so much for that!! Makes me happy to read this!

[@moneymakingmikeg.9555]

What gives Homie??? I never realized that they even made cans without those clips inside!!! It makes sense I guess as the LED conversions weren't around when those cans were designed. I have NO DOUBT that this video will save someone some heart ache!! Well done as always Serena, Dirty Jersey out!!

[@ThriftDiving]

Hey, Mike!! I had no idea, either! My friend was telling me from the beginning to just get the lights that you cut in the drywall AFTER it's installed and just clip up in there. But honestly, I didn't want to be reaching through the drywall trying to connect the lights. Since my shed was a new construction and was open, it made sense to use recessed cans. But I had no idea that the LEDs I wanted to use wouldn't work (PALM SLAP TO THE FOREHEAD). Hope you've been well!!

[@nathanr.8556]

Nice work

[@andyclark8991]

Love the video, nice win at Jenga for you. 👍

[@ThriftDiving]

Thanks so much!!

[@DanielSilva-ct1gd]

Hi I like the led flood lights they will last longer than regular led light bulbs that lasts over 25,000 + hours

[@ednataylor6621]

You are amazing builder and DIY and gifted with all kinds of talent and you have a wonderful way of teaching your crafts, your she shed looks very nice and hope you secure the leaks so you can move on and start to enjoy working in a beautiful space good 😊 job Serena you are amazing and your family is beautiful love the redo on your husband office men can be so passive at times but seems like 👍 he really like it

[@ThriftDiving]

Aww, thanks, Edna!! Good news that the leaks were addressed today! Woohoo! Waiting for rain now to "test" the repair! :)

[@naturalgalwilliams]

My Shero. OneLove ❣

[@suesue3974]

I ran into the same problem having a newer built home. I didn’t realize I needed the c clips, so I called the company and they sent them for free.

[@sonicstoryteller]

Hi Serena it's looking great and you look amazing 😊 Phil 🤩👍

[@ThriftDiving]

Awww, thank you, Phil!!!

[@jeantaylor7136]

I’m doing the same thing with just an electric screwdriver and eyeballing the clips. It’s working fine.

[@ThriftDiving]

Glad it's working for you! I don't know why they don't just add the clips to ever light. Oh--right--they are saving money. 🙄 Hahaha. Glad you're getting yours done, too!

[@rztour]

Serena. Great video! Thank you. So I bought the clips that look very much like yours, but I just went out on Amazon and found them, and they have no instructions.. I just want to make sure I have the instruction exact. Your little template to enable you to put a single black mark on the can sides…. It looked like you lined the template up from the bottom of the can but that the hole in the template used to easily make a black mark is about half way up the template. What is the measurement from the bottom of the template to the little hole you put in the template? Apologies for the crazy preciseness, but while your template looks to be around 1 7/16” long, I need to know how far up from the bottom of the template that little tiny hole is, because that’s where I need to drill through my tapping screw. Thanks again for the video.

[@Ho11is2Ho11ywood]

Wow this Shed is starting to look like a real ADU at this point. The real estate agent/investor in me is thinking airbnb now lol

[@redbonegreen4708]

JUST GOT A SHE SHED, LOVE THE VIDS BUT THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS????????

[@DanielSilva-ct1gd]

It also depends on how much you use the lights

[@ThriftDiving]

Oddly enough, not often of I am not working on a project. If I am sitting at my desk, I am using the small desk lamp.

[@Dolittlesart]

Are you going to heat/cool your she’s? If so, do you have any recommendations?

[@ThriftDiving]

Definitely!! I am going to be getting a mini split. I have gotten a couple HVAC guys to come and I'm just waiting on their quotes. Like a Mitsubishi mini split! I'll keep you posted!

[@nancystaggs8605]

Robbo Diving?

[@diabeticnomad]

That’s because those are the wrong kind of screws should be sharp points and not tek screws

[@ThriftDiving]

These are the screws that came with the clips. The pointy ones are for thin metal. The thicker less pointy ones are for thicker metal.

[@diabeticnomad]

@@ThriftDiving yes and no I understand those came with the brackets but manufacturers don’t always provide the right tools. Source: I use to sell mechanical fasteners

[@iseeyou0000]

Does she know this is 2022 and no one uses can lighting anymore. Save yourself time and get the razor flat recessed lighting!!!

[@ThriftDiving]

Yes, it's 2022 and I wanted can lighting. What can I say? I wanted to install the cans since framing was open and I could get everything wired up without having to stick my hands through the drywall to connect it. My lighting inserts are still flat and LED. So...your point??

[@keithtaylor9815]

Stole this video from someone else. She clearly has no clue and made some many mistakes in this video. Why do you follow people who have no clue??

[@dalesearle2304]

You should of called an electrician who knows what kind of recessed cans you need in the first place. Bad info!

[@vindictivetiger]

should have

[@dalesearle2304]

@@vindictivetiger so your an English professor 🙄