LED Downlights - can it be covered with insulation?

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elbrownos

109 posts

Master Geek

#2923474 7-Jun-2022 11:27

I've installed some IC-F LED downlights under fibreglass batts lately, and I was wondering -

These are rated for covering with insulation, but is it better not to?

Presumably they run much cooler if not covered. Does this have a big effect on the lifetime of the downlight?

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#2923486 7-Jun-2022 11:48

My ICF ones are covered and when I popped one out to look into the roof space it was so hot I couldn't touch it on the outside of it. Must be way hotter on the insides of it and its no wonder they had short lifespan.

I have the drivers ontop of the insulation, they put them under it when putting the insulation in, and now I have a hole torn in the green stuff above the lights to put it thru, so that will help with cooling them down a little bit.

Richard rich.ms

robjg63

4096 posts

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Subscriber

#2923488 7-Jun-2022 11:51

Pretty much all electrical gear lasts longer when not overheated.

Not covering them and having them run cooler will likely give a longer life - depends on how much heat loss from the room you want to live with.

LED lights do tend to be sealed up anyway - so unlike old incandescent downlight fittings, there isn't an air gap into the ceiling cavity.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#2923491 7-Jun-2022 11:57

good led's should be cooled by the front side of the light. they should be able to be fully insulated. also need to remember that they will get heated by the hot ceiling air so it pays to insulate them from that heat.

its also important because insulation value of the ceiling decreases rapidly with removal of the insulation. eg remove 10% insulation, you loose 15-20% insulation value (bs numbers but you get the idea). insulation only works well if you get 100% coverage.

btw pick batts is actually flammable if exposed to high heat for long periods of time. there was fires caused by those small halogen lamps. they changes the requirements to keep insulation away from them.

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#2923495 7-Jun-2022 12:01

robjg63:

Pretty much all electrical gear lasts longer when not overheated.

Not covering them and having them run cooler will likely give a longer life - depends on how much heat loss from the room you want to live with.

catch is the temps in the ceiling can be far hotter than room temps. so your trying to cool them by exposing them to hot air. something worth taking into consideration. any decent led should be able to handle room temps therefore they should always be on the room side of the insulation.

samgdan

160 posts

Master Geek

#2923757 7-Jun-2022 22:10

elbrownos:

I've installed some IC-F LED downlights under fibreglass batts lately, and I was wondering -

These are rated for covering with insulation, but is it better not to?

Presumably they run much cooler if not covered. Does this have a big effect on the lifetime of the downlight?

do a test....grab some pink batt and expose directly to a flame.....then see what happens....seriously do that test.....

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