As with most technology, pot lights have come a long way in recent history. The continuing trend of stylish, flush mount LED pot lights have many benefits to offer, and we wanted to highlight some of the major ones, as well as explain some key differences between these and their traditional halogen/fluorescent predecessors.

The first major benefit is energy efficiency. LED lights are incredibly bright, and yet use very little energy. In fact, they have a guaranteed lifespan of 50 000 hours; much longer than the average 12 000 hours expected from conventional lighting, so it is highly unlikely that you’ll need to replace a unit.

Another major benefit is easier installation. LED pot lights come in a wide variety of sizes (most commonly from 4 & 6 inches), so they can be installed just about anywhere–even under rafters or 2×4 beams! For slanted ceilings, or if you want to highlight a specific feature such as a piece of art on your wall, we highly suggest using swivel pot lights (Gimble lights), which can move up to 30 degrees. Bear in mind that these particular pot lights require slightly larger housing to accommodate their mobility, so it is important to consult with your electrician to determine where your Gimble lights will work best.

One misconception about LEDs is that they are always ‘cold’ or ‘stark’, however this is simply not the case. Most LED pot lights have built-in colour options from warm to cold, easily controlled by a small switch. For warm, cozy home lighting, simply switch the Kelvin setting to 3000 K. For cooler blue tones suitable for office spaces, flip the switch to 5000 K. Another bonus feature of LED pot lights is that you can customise the trim colour to suit your space. As a bonus you will never have to worry about your white trims yellowing over time because LEDs do not overheat like halogen bulbs door give off UV radiation unlike the fluorescent lighting.

Have you ever wondered why your halogen or fluorescent pot lights cast so many shadows? This is because they need to be set quite deeply into their cans (fixtures). Despite the strength of their light they will inevitably cast narrower beams, meaning more shadows, and more lights needed to light your room. With LED pot lights, the bulbs are far shallower and cast much wider beams, so you get better lighting with fewer lights!

In addition to the colour setting control, another great thing about LED pot lights is that they are dimmable, so you will have the freedom to fully customise your look right at your fingertips. As you may already know, many traditional pot lights are not dimmable, and this is often disappointing to homeowners who want to be able to change their lighting atmosphere on occasion. Just be mindful of ensuring that your lights and dimmers are compatible. If you are unsure, ask your electrician before you buy.

The most wonderful thing about the LED pot lights is that they can be automated using voice control, remotes, or cellular devices. Whether you need to modify your lighting to accommodate different activities like cleaning during the day or watching television at night, or whether you may have mobility issues or differences in ability, controlling your lights via voice command or mobile phone app demonstrates the beauty of home automation. The newest generation of LED pot lights have a switch component built right into the unit, which means you can now control each light separately even if wired as one circuit.

Finally, if you are keen on making the switch to LED pot lights, and you are comfortable changing your old cannon-style pot lights on your own, it can be fairly easy to do so. As long as you are not adding any additional fixture you are not required to take out an electrical permit. As always, we highly recommend consulting with your electrician before undertaking any electrical work yourself, and Amp Champ is always happy to help with your residential electrical needs, big or small.

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