[stephpar]

Hi there,

We're in the middle of a renovation that includes adding a bunch of the new ultra thin LED wafer down lights with the small driver boxes that typically just sit on the drywall in the ceiling.

We are also replacing old 90s era recessed lights with these same matching wafer lights. We aren't redoing the ceiling so i'm stuck with the size and placement of existing holes. Moreover, the housing for these old cans are giant square boxes.

Can I wire the new wafer light driver box in and leave the driver box inside the old housing without moving the housing? Any risk there that i'm not seeing. Housing is definitely big enough to fit the wafer light driver box. Just making sure i'm not missing something. I'm most definitely trying to avoid going in the attic to remove a *ton* of these old housing fixtures. Also don't want all the insulation gaps they'd leave if I remove or kick back each one. That said...safety first hence the question.

Thanks in advance.
Steph

 

[seharper]

When I hear about driver boxes just laid loose in the drywall, my first suspicion is cheap imported stuff that is not UL listed. The "Amazon Marketplace" flea market (which is intermixed with real Amazon items) and eBay are flooded with the stuff.

But as long as the drivers have a UL, ETL or CSA listing with a file number, and the instructions (approved as part of the listing) say to install it that way, then it's legal...

...But I really feel better if they are inside some sort of metal enclosure. If your old cans will suffice for that purpose, that is fantastic!

 

[stephpar]

Thanks for the quick reply. I also see I should add a pic to describe what I'm talking about. Attached now. It's IC rated and CETLUS rated so no concerns there.

The driver box is in a metal enclosure. Essentially i'm suggesting leaving this metal box inside the old metal can housing. I think it's ok..but being extra careful.

What do you think?

 

[seharper]

That's a Lithonia, that's a solid brand that is sold in home stores, so they are UL listed (the stores won't have em if they're not).

Yes, leaving it inside the metal can is fine (unless instructions tell you not to).

UL, CSA etc. are testing labs. They accept examples of the product and tear it down and torture test it, like Big Clive but really pro. They make sure it won't shock you, can self-contain any internal fire, won't emit toxic smoke, that kind of thing.