2" LED code compliant???

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sfav8r

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San Francisco Bay Area
We have been getting requests for these 2" LED cans. I'll admit I like the look, but I don't see how you could possibly service this after it's installed. The link below shows that you loosen a screw and tilt the LED out of the way for service. Well, even if you do you only have a 2-3/8" hole. How can you possibly access the junction box that way. I don't see how these could be considered serviceable in any situation where there wasn't attic access. Has anyone installed these? Am I missing something here?

Fixture http://www.csllighting.com/products/led-eco-downlight/1-eco-downlight-new-construction-ic
Data Sheet http://www.csllighting.com/media/pdf/instructions/Eco-Downlight mini IC 8-22-11.pdf
 
I agree, unless you can fit your hand through the 2 3/8" opening you cannot service it from below and who knows if the components will even fit through that hole.
 
If this is the same CSL lighting in Calif from years ago, I would think they are properly listed. They were a quality company.
 
The official instruction sheet, which is available via a link on the spec sheet, says:

FIXTURE INSPECTION OR REPAIR

  1. Remove heat sink bracket screw to tilt the light engine heat sink assembly out of the way to access the driver and the
    junction box (FIG 2)
  2. The junction box cover cannot be removed, it is made from a transparent thermoplastic for a visual inspection (FIG 3)
  3. The driver cover can be removed by pulling it out of the driver snap in bracket (FIG 3)





It seems to me that by having a transparent junction box cover, that made the UL people happy. If you find a loose wire nut (or "wago"), get out the drywall saw!

However, the LED driver IS removable without cutting the drywall (or any other type of ceiling material).
 
buzzbar said:
The official instruction sheet, which is available via a link on the spec sheet, says:

FIXTURE INSPECTION OR REPAIR

  1. Remove heat sink bracket screw to tilt the light engine heat sink assembly out of the way to access the driver and the
    junction box (FIG 2)
  2. The junction box cover cannot be removed, it is made from a transparent thermoplastic for a visual inspection (FIG 3)
  3. The driver cover can be removed by pulling it out of the driver snap in bracket (FIG 3)





It seems to me that by having a transparent junction box cover, that made the UL people happy. If you find a loose wire nut (or "wago"), get out the drywall saw!

However, the LED driver IS removable without cutting the drywall (or any other type of ceiling material).
Click to expand...

Well, to me that means these fixtures are not compliant when installed where there is no ceiling access. There would be an inaccessible junction box at each fixture unless there is an attic.
 
At first glance it seems like these are more suited for a ceiling with removable tiles but then it says that they're IC so one could assume an attic with insulation. I wonder what the manufacturer would say.
 
infinity said:
At first glance it seems like these are more suited for a ceiling with removable tiles but then it says that they're IC so one could assume an attic with insulation. I wonder what the manufacturer would say.
Click to expand...

I spoke with the Chief Electrical inspector today. They are not approving them in San Francisco unless accessible via attic or other means (T-bar?). I think this is the only possible outcome since anything else would result in a buried j-box. I also spoke with the manufacturer who seemed pretty confused about why the buried j-box was a problem. They kept saying they were UL approved for all 50 states. They were very interested in the problem so I sent them 314.29 to review. Please keep in mind I think these are a very nice product. The issue is by no means limited to this manufacturer. It will be true of any of the new mini recessed lights that everyone seems to love. It seems to me the solutions is to make the j-box snap on to the frame and have it be long and narrow so you could unsnap it and pull it out of the hole. We're on a job right now where the GC installed 78 3" recessed lights with magnetic transformers (a cheapo brand). Then they installed the wrong dimmers. Two years later and all of the cans are buzzing like crazy. We were going to eliminate the transformers and install 120v halogen lamps and bypass the transformers. Unfortunately, with the 3" cans you can't get your hands up there to the j-box in any way that's useful so we have to open the drywall for all 78 cans. Not going to be a nice bill for us or the sheet rocker.
 
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