Is an LED panel a good choice for a low ceiling space?

May 22, 2018 9:32 AM

I have a closet like space with a very low ceiling that I'd like to light properly. I've been seeing flat LED panels, I think that's the route I'd like to go. Recommendations for one?

The space is about 12'x12'. I think a 100 watt light bulb equivalent would be sufficient. I can tuck away the power brick, so that's not a concern. Any suggestions for particular brands or models?

posted by aeighty to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Best answer: We've started putting in LED panels and love 'em. I've got 2 of the 2'x2' Hykolity panels in different rooms without dimmers, and 2 of the 1'x4' panels with the Vozop DM015 wireless LED controller (that, in practice, I just use as normal switched lights, but the controller works just fine).

The panels are a little tricky to get in place, on a non-drop ceiling it really takes two people to get the wire nuts on and then slide them on to their mounting panel/bracket (and it helps to leave that kinda loose when you put it up there). But in terms of "I want an n by m portion of my ceiling to emit dimmable light", these things are awesome and we're probably gonna be replacing other fixtures in our house with more of them as time goes on.
posted by straw at 10:36 AM on May 22, 2018

Oh, and: without the dimmer these things don't need a power brick. Just cap the dimmer wires and move on. They're self-contained 110v input.

And some day I'll be able to type Hykolity on the first try, and not Hylokitty...
posted by straw at 10:38 AM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Looks like I am too slow, but I came in to say that commercially available LED fixtures are pretty darn thin. For example.
posted by misterbrandt at 12:22 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

If you need to look at color accurately in this closet look for a high CRI or Color Rendering Index. 100 is sunlight. Above 90 is good. Below 80 and colors will look greyed out or will be non existent.
posted by Uncle at 3:09 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]