{"title":"Recessed bulbs","description":"\u003cp\u003eA recessed bulb is the light source you slot into a spotlight mounted in a ceiling or partition wall: only the glow stays visible, the fitting disappears. You choose it by its base, GU10, G9, G4 or E14, by its power supply, 12 V or 220 V, and by its colour temperature, around 2,700 K or 3,000 K.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cnav\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#definition\"\u003eWhat is a recessed bulb and where is it fitted?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#type-spot\"\u003eWhich type of recessed spotlight should you choose?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#culot\"\u003eWhich base should you choose between GU10, G9, G4 and E14?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#temperature\"\u003eWhich light for which room, 2,700 K or 3,000 K?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#installation\"\u003eHow do you install a recessed ceiling light?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#changement\"\u003eHow do you change a recessed bulb in the ceiling?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#sans-dcl\"\u003eHow do you light a room without a DCL box or drilling the ceiling?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#checklist\"\u003eWhat should you check before buying recessed bulbs?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/nav\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"definition\"\u003eWhat is a recessed bulb and where is it fitted?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a living room, a recessed spotlight casts a discreet pool of light on the floor and highlights a worktop without any fitting being visible. The source that powers it is chosen by its base, by its power supply and by its colour temperature. The fitting itself is found among our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003erecessed lights\u003c\/a\u003e, in a round or square version depending on the ceiling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"type-spot\"\u003eWhich type of recessed spotlight should you choose?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe choice first comes down to the fitting: a fixed spotlight shines straight down at the floor, an adjustable spotlight turns towards a wall or a worktop. Then check the accepted base, the ceiling cut-out and the available depth before buying the source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecessed LED bulbs: identifying the base and the fitting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor an even pool of light in a hallway or entrance, a fixed spotlight is enough: the light falls straight and repeats from one point to the next. The socket then accepts a bayonet source, which you will find among the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-gu10\"\u003eGU10 bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e. Measure the ceiling cut-out and the usable depth: a shallow spotlight will not take just any model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecessed LED spotlight bulbs: fixed or adjustable?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn adjustable spotlight can be aimed at a shelf, a painting or a bare wall, and this grazing light gives the room relief. A fixed spotlight is better suited to a low ceiling or a room you want evenly lit. The format, round or square, is chosen on the fitting before any order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"culot\"\u003eWhich base should you choose between GU10, G9, G4 and E14?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe base is imposed by the spotlight: GU10 bayonet on 220 V spotlights, G9 on small spotlights and wall lights, G4 on low-voltage spotlights with a transformer, E14 on fittings with a screw socket. A base cannot be converted from one format to another, and the fitting decides for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecessed spotlight bulbs: read the label on the fitting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe label stuck behind the spotlight gives the base, the voltage and sometimes the maximum wattage. Note these three details before browsing \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules\"\u003ethe bulb section\u003c\/a\u003e. The table below sums up what each base involves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy one base never fits another\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn adapter placed between the socket and the bulb loses depth and heats up. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/autres-culots-ampoules-g4-g9-etc-1\"\u003eG4 and G9 bases\u003c\/a\u003e are slimmer, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-e14\"\u003eE14 bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e screw in, and none of these formats fits the cut-out of another. Identify yours, then choose the matching source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ccaption\u003eWhich base for a recessed bulb?\u003c\/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBase\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eType of fitting\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCommon use\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTo check before buying\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGU10\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e220 V recessed spotlight, fixed or adjustable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKitchen, hallway, entrance, directional lighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCeiling cut-out diameter and fitting depth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eG9\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall recessed spotlight, wall light, multi-socket ceiling light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDisplay case, low ceiling, accent lighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSize of the base inside the fitting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eG4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow-voltage recessed spotlight with transformer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall-format recessed light, furniture, skirting board\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePresence of the transformer and the bulbs it powers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eE14\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall recessed fitting or wall light with screw socket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSupplementary light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSocket that properly accepts a screw bulb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"temperature\"\u003eWhich light for which room, 2,700 K or 3,000 K?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 2,700 K, the light leans warm and suits both the living room and the bedroom. At 3,000 K, it stays warm but more neutral, which helps in a kitchen, a hallway or an entrance. In a wet room, check the protection rating shown on the product sheet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecessed bulbs for a living room or bedroom\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 2,700 K, parquet and beige fabric keep their warmth, and the room lends itself to rest. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-2700k\"\u003e2,700 K bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e work just as well in a living room, with the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-pour-salon\"\u003eliving room bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e, as in a bedroom among the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-pour-chambre\"\u003ebedroom bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e. Keep the same reference throughout the room: a cooler spotlight in the middle of a row is immediately noticeable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecessed bulbs in a kitchen or bathroom\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 3,000 K, tiles and stainless steel show their colour better and the worktop is clearly readable. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-3000k\"\u003e3,000 K bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e suit the kitchen, the hallway and the entrance. In a wet area, the protection rating is given on the product sheet: that is what decides, not the shape of the spotlight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ccaption\u003eWhich colour temperature for which room?\u003c\/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTemperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePerceived rendering\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRecommended rooms\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat it changes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,700 K\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarm white, slightly amber\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiving room, lounge, bedroom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRestful mood, close to a filament bulb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,000 K\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarmer white, more neutral\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKitchen, hallway, entrance, bathroom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClearer reading of worktops and floors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"installation\"\u003eHow do you install a recessed ceiling light?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwitch off the power at the consumer unit, locate the cable run, drill the cut-out to the spotlight diameter, connect the socket and then clip the spotlight into the ceiling. Each spotlight needs its own power supply: a 12 V spotlight goes through a transformer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo you need a transformer for a 12 V recessed spotlight?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, a 12 V spotlight cannot be connected directly to the mains: it receives its current from a transformer, placed upstream on the line. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-12v\"\u003e12 V bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e only work with this setup. If the transformer powers several spotlights, note how many it supports before adding another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSeveral spotlights on the same line: what you need to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral spotlights are connected in parallel from the first point, live with live and neutral with neutral. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-led-220v\"\u003e220 V LED bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e make the job simpler: no transformer to plan for. If the ceiling is plasterboard, the cut-out needs a suitable drill bit and a cable already run.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"changement\"\u003eHow do you change a recessed bulb in the ceiling?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst switch off the circuit breaker, then gently lever the spotlight ring to bring it down from the ceiling. Unclip or unscrew the bulb, fit a model with the same base, and clip the spotlight back in. Wait for the socket to cool if the spotlight has just been on, and keep the same colour temperature so the room stays even.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"sans-dcl\"\u003eHow do you light a room without a DCL box or drilling the ceiling?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA recessed spotlight requires a ceiling cut-out and an electrical supply: without a DCL box, you have to start from a socket or an existing light point. Without drilling, turn to a wall light, a floor lamp or a fitting that plugs into a socket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you install a ceiling light without a DCL box?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout a DCL box, the connection is made from an existing point, a switched socket or a wall light already in place. An electrician can run a line from the consumer unit, which means work in the walls and ceiling. Our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003eselection of lights\u003c\/a\u003e then goes on the wall rather than the ceiling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do you keep a light on the ceiling without drilling?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lightweight fitting that plugs into a socket avoids both cutting and drilling. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-led-1\"\u003eLED bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e fit it and can be changed without tools. For a true recessed light, the cut-out is still needed: no drill-free fixing holds a spotlight in plasterboard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"checklist\"\u003eWhat should you check before buying recessed bulbs?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore buying, note the base of the fitting, the expected supply, 12 V or 220 V, and the colour temperature already in place in the room. Also check whether the circuit is on a dimmer: not every bulb supports it. Buying the bulb before knowing the fitting remains the most common mistake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecessed LED bulbs: mistakes to avoid\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMixing two temperatures in the same row is immediately visible, and a base ordered blind ends up in a drawer. Compare the shape of the glass before confirming: some \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-moderne\"\u003emodern-design bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e are wider than average, others come in an \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-coloris-ambre\"\u003eamber finish\u003c\/a\u003e that changes the look once switched off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo you need a dimmer on a recessed spotlight?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimming depends on the bulb and the control: you need a source designed for it and a dimmer compatible with that exact model. A \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-led-a-variateur\"\u003edimmable LED bulb\u003c\/a\u003e flickers less than a model not designed for it, which cuts out in bursts. If in doubt, change the dimmer and the bulb at the same time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFirst choose the base from your spotlight's sheet, then compare temperatures and shapes in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-led-1\"\u003eLED bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e, with \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-a-filament\"\u003efilament\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ampoules-en-verre\"\u003eglass\u003c\/a\u003e models where the spotlight remains visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions about recessed bulbs\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow do you wire 3 bulbs in parallel?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree bulbs are wired in parallel by running two wires from the first point: live with live, neutral with neutral, each on its own branch. All three light up together and stay independent if one fails. Switch off the circuit breaker before any connection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhat are the drawbacks of LED lamps?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn LED bulb does not behave like a filament bulb: some flicker on an old dimmer, others show a cooler tint than expected, and their electronics can age before the source does. Quality varies a great deal from one model to another, which is why it is worth checking the stated base and colour temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow much does it cost to have an electrician fit a light?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFitting is charged by call-out and by the number of points to connect, not counting the working height, access to the wiring and making good the ceiling. There is no single rate: ask for two or three written quotes for your home, it is the only way to get a reliable figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow do you install a pendant light without an electrical supply in the ceiling?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout an electrical supply in the ceiling, a pendant light cannot be connected directly. The solution goes through an existing point: a switched socket, a wall light or a plug-in fitting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eRecessed LED spotlight bulbs: how do you choose the right one?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst identify the base of the fitting, GU10, G9 or G4, then the expected supply, 12 V or 220 V. Then choose the colour temperature according to the room: 2,700 K for a living room or bedroom, 3,000 K for a kitchen or hallway. Finally check compatibility if the circuit is on a dimmer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan you dim a recessed spotlight?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimming depends on the bulb and the control: you need a bulb designed for dimming and a dimmer compatible with that exact model. A non-dimmable bulb flickers or cuts out in bursts. If in doubt, replace the dimmer and the bulb at the same time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSecure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service accompany every order from start to finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"name\":\"recessed bulbs: choosing the source for a ceiling spotlight\",\"description\":\"Recessed bulbs: GU10, G9 and G4 bases, 12 V or 220 V, 2,700 K or 3,000 K light. 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All three light up together and stay independent if one fails. Switch off the circuit breaker before any connection.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the drawbacks of LED lamps?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"An LED bulb does not behave like a filament bulb: some flicker on an old dimmer, others show a cooler tint than expected, and their electronics can age before the source does. Quality varies a great deal from one model to another, which is why it is worth checking the stated base and colour temperature.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much does it cost to have an electrician fit a light?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Fitting is charged by call-out and by the number of points to connect, not counting the working height, access to the wiring and making good the ceiling. 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