Can you replace recessed spotlights without opening up the ceiling?

Usually, yes. As long as the new spot has the same cut-out size or a slightly larger one, you swap it through the existing hole. You only need to go into the ceiling if you are moving from a large spot to a much smaller one, or if the wiring is not long enough to pull the spot down.

Start at the hole, not at the spot

The cut-out size of the hole already there determines your choice. Measure it: lay a ruler across the opening, not across the visible edge, because that is always larger. The sizes most common in Dutch ceilings sit between Ø68 and Ø75 mm, and our range is built around that.

Three situations:

• New cut-out size equals the old one. Straight swap, no work on the ceiling.
• New cut-out size is larger. A quick trim with a hole saw, and the new edge covers it.
• New cut-out size is smaller. Then a gap is left around the spot. This is the only case where you really have work to do.

Spots that work with a range

Some spots have no fixed cut-out size but a range, because the spring clips grip at different hole sizes. That makes them ideal as replacements:

• Lesto — Ø68-75 mm, €12.95
• Lyvo — Ø68-75 mm, recessed depth 27 mm, €16.95
• Ferro — Ø50-70 mm, €16.95

The Ferro is the most interesting of the three if you do not know exactly what is up there: 20 millimeters of play is enough to cover most older holes.

Watch the recessed depth, not just the hole

The hole can be right while the spot still does not fit. Above a suspended ceiling there is sometimes only a few centimeters of room, and old halogen spots were deeper than today's LEDs. The Lyvo and the Warmo need 27 mm — that fits almost anywhere.

Do not forget the driver. It has to sit somewhere too, and with a separate driver you have one block per spot above the ceiling. With a loop-through driver you chain the spots one after another and need only one. In tight ceilings that makes a noticeable difference.

Is there a GU10 in it? Then it is not a job at all

If your current spot takes a separate GU10 lamp, you may not need to replace the fixture at all. Screw in a different GU10 and you have new light with a different color temperature, no tools required. Fixtures like the Privo and the Plano work that way.

If there is an integrated LED in it that has failed, replacing the whole fixture is the only route.

How long does a new spot last?

That varies a lot, and we list it per product. The Plano and the Luma are rated at 15,000 hours, the Lesto and the Quaro at 25,000 hours, the Lyvo at 50,000 hours and the Ferro at 54,000 hours.

That is a factor of three. If you are going through a ceiling that is hard to reach, the more expensive spot with the longer life is almost always the cheaper choice.

Always work with the power off

Switch off the circuit at the fuse box, not just the light switch. Pull the spot down carefully — the spring clips come with it — and disconnect. If you are unsure about the wiring, have an electrician do it.

Looking for a replacement? Have a look at the recessed spotlights, or first read What cut-out size do you need for recessed spotlights?