BENYA’SART ART&&SCIENCE SCIENCE BENYA’S
The
Incredible Evolving Downlight
“AdjustableDownlight Downlightwith with “Adjustable PinholeTrim Trimand andFire FireRated Rated Pinhole Junction Box Lighting).” (DMF).” Junction Box (dmf
By JIM JIMBENYA BENYA By
Thedownlight downlightasaswe weknow knowititwas was The inventedinin1939 1939bybyRambusch RambuschLighting. Lighting. invented Famousfor forecclesiastical ecclesiasticallighting lightingofof Famous churchesand andcathedrals, cathedrals,Rambusch Rambusch churches knewthat thatillumination illuminationofofhymnals hymnals knew andprayer prayerbooks bookswas wastypically typicallypoor poor and becausechandeliers chandelierswere werehanging hanging because faroverhead overheadofofthe thecongregation. congregation. far recessedluminaire luminairewith witha anarrow narrow AArecessed beameffectively effectivelylighted lightedthe the“tasks” “tasks”an an beam inventionthat thatchanged changedchurch churchlighting lighting invention forever.But Butmodernism modernismand anditsits forever. demandfor forun-ornamental un-ornamentaldesign designgave gave demand the“can “canlight” light”(aka (akathe the“pot “potlight” light” ususthe Canada)that thatprobably probablylights lightsmore more ininCanada) interiorspace spacethan thanany anyother otherlighting lighting interior fixturetype typetotodate. date. fixture Residentialdownlights downlightsplayed playeda ahuge huge Residential roleininthe theacceptance acceptanceand andgrowth growthofofthe the role industry.Offering Offeringdifferent differentapertures apertures industry. varyingdiameter diameterand andshape, shape,asaswell well ofofvarying interchangeabletrims trimsranging rangingfrom from asasinterchangeable openbaffles bafflestotoshower showerlenses lensesand andwall wall open washers,allowed allowedfor forthe thecustomization customization washers, lightingfor foreach eachroom roomand andfunction. function. ofoflighting themarket marketgrew grewthere therewere weredozens dozens AsAsthe companiesand andan anincreasing increasingnumber number ofofcompanies options,including includinglow lowvoltage voltageand and ofofoptions, compactfluorescent fluorescentlight lightsources. sources. compact Unfortunately,fires firesresulting resultingfrom from Unfortunately, overheateddownlights downlightsbecame becamea a overheated problem,and andthe theNational NationalElectrical Electrical problem, Coderesponded respondedwith witha aseries seriesofofstrict strict Code ULlisting listingrequirements. requirements.Thermal Thermal UL protection,insulation insulationdetectors detectorsand and protection, 1818
designing lighting designing lighting
insulationcontact contact(IC) (IC)housings housingsbecame became insulation standard.AsAsdownlights downlightsbecame became standard. popularfor forhotels hotelsand andapartment apartment popular buildings,the theneed needfor forfire-rated fire-rated buildings, downlightsentered enteredthe thecodes codesand and downlights marketplace.Selecting Selectinga aresidential residential marketplace. downlighthousing housingquickly quicklybecame became downlight complexand andfurther furthercomplicated complicated complex compactfluorescent fluorescentlamps lampsand and bybycompact thehuge hugevariety varietyofofvariations. variations.Once Once the popularbecause becauseofoflow lowcost, cost,residential residential popular downlightswere wererapidly rapidlybecoming becoming downlights expensive. expensive.
Movinga adownlight downlightmeans meansa alot lotofof Moving drywallwork workasaswell wellasaselectrical electrical drywall work.With Withclip-in clip-infixtures, fixtures,the thewiring wiring work. putininbefore beforethe thedrywall, drywall,then then isisput theelectrician electriciancuts cutsa ahole, hole,grabs grabsthe the the wire,connects connectsitittotothe theluminaire, luminaire, wire, andpushes pushesthe theluminaire luminaireinto intothe the and hole.Spring Springloaded loaded“mousetrap” “mousetrap” hole. clipshold holdthe theluminaire luminaireininplace. place. clips Movinga aluminaire luminaireisiseasy easyand and Moving involvesa aminimum minimumofofdrywall drywalland and involves electricalwork. work.Significant Significantlabor laborcost cost electrical savingsare arethe thekey. key. savings
Well,everything everythingchanged changedwhen whena a7.57.5Well, wattLED LEDluminaire luminairecould couldgenerate generateasas watt muchlight lightasasa a60-watt 60-wattincandescent incandescent much luminaire.Manufacturers Manufacturersand andlighting lighting luminaire. designersbegan begantotoquestion questioneverything everything designers aboutdownlights downlightstotoregain regaintheir their about popularityand andcost costeffectiveness. effectiveness. popularity ThankstotoLEDs, LED’s, downlights have Thanks downlights have becomeaffordable, affordable,and andthe thenew new become sectionininthe the2020 2020National NationalElectrical Electrical section Coderesolved resolvedthe thecomplications complicationsthat that Code accumulatedover over50 50years yearsofoflegacy legacy accumulated lightbulbs. bulbs.Four Fourofofthe themore morenoteworthy noteworthy light innovationsand andadaptations adaptationsinclude: include: innovations
Lowvoltage voltagedownlights downlights– –LEDs LEDs • •Low areinherently inherentlylow lowvoltage voltagelight light are sources.Encouraged EncouragedbybyUL UL2018 2018and and sources. Articles411 411and and725 725ofofthe theNational National Articles ElectricalCode, Code,a anew newgeneration generationofof Electrical downlightsallows allowsfor fora aClass Class2 2driver driver downlights connectiontoto120-volt 120-voltpower poweron ona a connection flexiblewhip, whip,that thatininturn turncan canpower power flexible uptoto60 60watts wattsofofdownlights downlightsusing using up plug-inclass class2 2flexible flexiblewiring. wiring.This This plug-in couldinclude includededicated dedicatedabove aboveceiling ceiling could driversororPoE-wired PoE-wiredapplications. applications. drivers Thesetake takeadvantage advantageofofclip clipinin These downlightstotomake makethe thelabor laborsavings savings downlights evenmore moreimpressive. impressive. even
Lowwattage wattagedownlights downlightsthat thatclip clip • •Low intothe theceiling ceiling– –With Withcommon commoncans, cans, into theelectrician electriciannails nailsthe thecan canlight’s light’s the hangerbars barsininplace, place,wires wiresthe the120120hanger voltbranch branchcircuit circuittotothe thejunction junction volt box,and andreturns returnsafter afterdrywall drywallwork work box, findthe thecan canand andcut cutout outthe thehole hole totofind beforeinstalling installingthe theguts gutsand andtrim. trim. before
Fire-rateddownlights downlights– –Especially Especially • •Fire-rated multi-familystructures structureswhere where ininmulti-family ceilingsare arerequired requiredtotobe befire fire ceilings rated,contractors contractorswere wererequired required rated, eitherbuild builda asealed sealeddrywall drywall totoeither boxaround arounda arecessed recesseddownlight downlight box coverititwith witha aUL ULlisted listedfire fire orortotocover