A compact luminaire mounted in or on the ceiling with its light aimed down, sized by aperture, commonly 2 to 6 inches. Recessed versions sit in a housing above the ceiling, rated IC for direct insulation contact and airtight where energy codes require. Trims, from open reflectors to deep baffles and pinholes, set the beam and how much glare is visible. Americans call them cans, Canadians pot lights.
Downlights along the corridor are 4 inch, 35 degree, on 6 foot centers, keep them 2 feet off the wall or you'll get scallops.
Cans, high hats and pot lights all mean the same recessed downlight; the name you use tells people which part of North America you learned the trade in.
Also heard as
- can
- can light
- pot light
- recessed light
- high hat
Related terms
Luminaire
The whole light fixture as one product: light source, optics, housing, driver or ballast and power connection.
Scallops
The arched pattern of light and shadow that downlights draw on a wall when mounted close to it.
Beam angle
The angle across a light's beam at which intensity has fallen to 50 percent of its center value.
Wall washing
Lighting a wall evenly from top to bottom with asymmetric luminaires set back from it, to make the surface glow uniformly.