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Painting recessed light fixtures

| Posted in General Discussion on December 5, 2003 09:23am

Hi All,

I wanted to seek guidance on this conundrum:

I have many HALO recessed light fixtures throughout my home, all using halogen PAR16 bulbs. I mention the halogen because I know the light can be brutal for fading… hence my dilemma: I’m noting that the eyeball trim bezels were a crisp white when new, and are now oxidizing (?) to a ugly brown color – which looks horrible against my nice white ceiling, of course.

So my question: Any reason (i.e., NEC) why I could not paint these trim bezels with a white “high-heat enamel” such as what Rustoleum makes for painting appliances?

I don’t want to paint them once – and definitely don’t want to have to paint them every couple years – but then I don’t want to have to buy new trim bezels at $30 a pop every couple years either!

Any input appreciated!

Jcd

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Replies

  1. tenpenny | Dec 05, 2003 09:45pm | #1

    Do people smoke in the house?

    1. JcDavis2 | Dec 05, 2003 10:00pm | #2

      Nope - no smoking at all - not even guests,

  2. WebTrooper | Dec 06, 2003 02:51am | #3

    I see that a lot and I paint them a lot. I've always used regular spray paint and nobody's called me back on them yet. Then again, I guess heat resistant paint won't hurt. I think they just need painted every few years, replaced every 10 or so.

    1. JcDavis2 | Dec 06, 2003 03:26am | #4

      Thanks WEBTROOPER. So (reluctantly) I'll paint them... it'll be a pain to do 40+ of them though - especially to do a nice job (i.e., the entire rotation of the eyeball, smooth coat w/ no drips, etc).

      <sigh>

      But why "replaced every 10"? I can understand plastics getting brittle, but these are metal. Why would I need to replace them?

      Thanks,

      Jcd

      1. WebTrooper | Dec 06, 2003 03:58am | #5

        Sorry, I should have said every 20 years or so. I was refering to the paint building up after repainting them every few years.

      2. MojoMan | Dec 06, 2003 05:25am | #6

        Why is the trim turning brown? Could the bulb wattage be too high? Maybe you could try some sort of compact fluorescent bulbs.

        Al Mollitor, Sharon MA

  3. 4Lorn2 | Dec 06, 2003 05:30am | #7

    I can't say as I have seen any eyeball trims discoloring. I have seen a few other types do it but it was tracked down to the trims being of inferior manufacture or the HO, maybe the installer, installing the wrong bulbs. If the bulb is not rated for the trim it can overheat causing the paint to discolor. Halo is generally a good solid company with good products. Some discoloration with time is to be expected but be doubly sure about the lamping.

    Check the labels on both the fixture and the trim to make sure your not overlamping, using too high an output, the unit. If you can't find or read the labels call the company, most have a handy 1-800 number, and have them look up the specs to make sure there is not a more hazardous problem than just unsightly trims.

    This problem would not be uncommon. Over time the output of the bulbs tends to drift upward. Eyes get older. Things look just a bit dimmer and well ... 'it wasn't smoking with a 75w bulb so 100w should be OK'.

    If the fixture/trim combination, you have to check them as a combination is compatible with the lamps used, you should also check for insulation over the fixture if it is not IC, Insulation Contact, rated. If neither problem is present I'm still not sure I'd start painting. These trims, even the high quality ones, are quite reasonable in cost. Given the loss of time messing with them and the generally better results with a factory paint job I would think that replacement might be the better option.

    If you really want to repaint consider having a local body shop spray them. IMHO professional equipment, in the hands of a craftsman, will get you superior results compared to what you can do in your back yard with a spray can.

    That said as long as you rule out any other causes of the problem and take care to preserve the ventilation, function and integrity of the original units I can't think of any obvious safety reason why you couldn't give them coat. This would probably void the UL label and any company guarantee so that might be a concern but I have a hard time imagining any but the most extreme scenario where it would cause a major problem if carefully done with a bit of common sense.

    The other thought I have is that if the fixtures themselves are not IC rated you might want to replace what you have with IC rated ones so you can insulate over them. The saving in your heating or cooling cost can be substantial. This replacement is often not as difficult as it seems at first blush. Often old work cans can be retrofitted into the existing holes fairly easily and inexpensively. A new can also comes with a new thermal overload. An important safety feature.

    1. JcDavis2 | Dec 06, 2003 05:50am | #8

      4Lorn1, thanks indeed for the thoughtful and lengthy reply.

      I can confirm a couple points raised:

      They are not overlamped: I am using a 60W halogen PAR16 - the highest rating indicated on the label inside the can, yes, but not above it. Some are even 45W.

      Also, as to the issue about the heat - yes, I'm painfully aware of this, as I also pay for this in my cooling costs :( ...but I am partial the the crisp brilliant light they emit, so any other type just doesn't make me happy.

      Also, I dim them. My entire house is automated, so they come on at various intensities, but the highest setting is 90%, so even here I'm not really running them at full luminance. Also noted that the "soft-start" ramping of the dimmers have significantly increased bulb life - I've had many for 5+ years never replaced, and these are on typically ~8 hours a day (i.e., Kitchen).

      The light output, and my microprocessor-controlled dimmers are two reasons why CFL's are out. Plus they wouldn't fir in this type of mini-eyeball fixture anyway. (Though thanks for the suggestion)

      About the IC rating - these are not. For two reasons basically: 1) they are in "interior" ceilings which (sadly) have no insulation, and 2) I am using the 4" mini eyeballs, which didn't come IC rated - at least at the time of installation (I checked, but admittedly didn't go to a specialty supplier to REALLY check).

      Lastly, they do indeed have the thermal cutoff sensors in them. They've never tripped (except one that shorted because the metal mounting tab rubbed the insulation, but that's a different story).

      I truly think it's just the intensity of the halogen light that is fading them. I have a LOT of lighting scenes, etc, so they're getting "hit" with other halogens, it's not like their own emissions are doing it... if that makes sense. Or just the heat, plain & simple - though it's not like they get too hot to touch or anything like that.

      Oh - and the suggestion about the body shop painting them is brilliant, thanks! I may just do that. I'll drop the 40 of them off and pick them up in a day or two and be DONE! Wahoo.

      Again, thanks for all the input on this.

      Jcd

      1. 4Lorn2 | Dec 06, 2003 06:11am | #9

        Just to compare you still might consider asking about replacement trims. If they are reasonably, or at least competitive, priced against the paint job you might be better off with new. With the time saved negotiating with the auto shop and getting them there new trims might be more attractive.

        Given the right situation the old trims might be better off recycled for their steel.

        Either way let us know how it shakes out.

      2. ANDYSZ2 | Dec 06, 2003 10:49am | #10

        Have you contacted the manufacturer and asked if there was a possibility of a bad production run. Some manufacturers will go out of their way to determine if they had a bad production run. You want to choose your wording carefully to intrigue them as to why so many rings are discoloring.

        ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.

        1. WebTrooper | Dec 06, 2003 05:41pm | #11

          You never know, they might replace them just for good public relations. :o)~ WebTrooper ~

          "But dont take my word for it. I was wrong once and it could happen again!"

        2. 4Lorn2 | Dec 07, 2003 02:24am | #12

          Long shot but if you call it in on the 1-800 line you have nothing to lose. Worth a try.

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