New Lights for the Bedroom – Part 1
New Lights for the Bedroom – Part 1

New Lights for the Bedroom – Part 1

Replacing the ugly 1980’s can lights in the master bedroom has been on my “to do” list for quite a while.  Two weeks ago I picked up 4 super cheap [$10!] Tross LED track lights at IKEA which I thought would be perfect.  Hubby agreed.  Last week I installed one of them:

139a        139b

We loved how it looked!  So yesterday after work I installed a 2nd one [that’s hubby fine tuning the LED directionality]:

139c        new ikea tross LED track lights in the master bedroom

They are soooooooooo much brighter than the old cans – they’re even causing the two remaining cans to cast shadows on the ceiling [15′ up]:

139e

Say goodbye old cans – you two are next!!!  *shakes fist*

Since the light I replaced yesterday is low to the ground [like the first install], and the two remaining lights are 15′ from the ground, I decided to photo document this install to save myself from having to do it while perching dangerously high on the ladder.

STEP 1:  Turn off power at the basement breaker box!!!

STEP 2:  Set up ladder:

139g

STEP 3:  Admire view of river from ladder:

139h

STEP 4:  Unscrew light base from ceiling to expose electrical box:

139i        139j

STEP 5:  Test wires with Voltage Tester to make sure there’s no juice:

139k

Blue light means we’re good to go!  Juice-free.

STEP 6:  Remove old plate:

139l

STEP 7:  Disconnect wires:

139m        139n

STEP 8:  Unpack new light and review instructions:

139o        139p

STEP 9:  Help yourself to some seasonally appropriate jelly beans to keep energy levels up – very important!

139q

STEP 10:  Dig through random screw collection for electrical box screws since new light didn’t come with any and old light’s ones were useless:

139r        139s

STEP 11:  Screw new plate to ceiling making sure ceiling wires protrude through middle hole:

139t        139u

STEP 12:  Connect ceiling wires to new light’s wires and affix electrical tape as an added measure of secure-ness [when I was replacing the ceiling fans I realized our old ceiling wires are very stiff and without tape it was nearly impossible to shove them back up into the electrical box without them pulling apart]:

139v        139w

STEP 13:  Tuck wiring back into electrical box:

139x

STEP 14:  Screw new light base to ceiling with supplied screws:

139y        139z

STEP 15:  Unpack IKEA LED bulbs [made for this and other styles of their lights] which have 2 prongs on the end that slide and twist into the track light sockets:

139za        139zb

STEP 16:  Turn power back on at breaker box and admire cool new UFO invasion-ish track lights:

139f

The old can lights are currently on the closet floor:

139zc

Bonky helped me inspect them this morning.  Here’s the difference between the old LED spot bulbs and the new IKEA bulbs:

139ze        139zf

139zd        134p

We’ve jumped from 130 lumens per light to 600 lumens per light [200 lumens x 3 bulbs per light].  That means we’ll super charge our bedroom with 1880 more lumens than the old setup.  Woohoo!!!  And if it’s too bright, we can always remove an LED bulb from each track light.

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