I'm planning to add outdoor soffit lights to my house and I think I might be overthinking it! I'm leaning towards 4-inch wafer lights with a color temperature of 2700K-3000K, but I want to ensure I get a wide throw of light to create an overall glow instead of a spotlight effect. Would putting them on a dimmer be a good idea? And can a dimmer handle 26 lights? Additionally, what else should I keep in mind? I'm sticking to simple options and not looking for RGB or smart features, although a sensor to turn them on at dusk would be great.
3 Answers
Wow, having 26 lights could make your house look like a spaceship! You need to be careful with hotspots since they depend on your eave depth. If you're using 4-inch wafers, they might create more glare than you want. Maybe consider a different type of wafer?
Have you thought about using LED strip lights? They can be a lot easier to install and give a nice effect! Just to clarify, you're going for more of an accent lighting vibe rather than security lighting, right?
Not really into strip lights. We’ve got a solid contractor lined up for a good price. And yes, it's definitely for home accent lighting!
I installed soffit lights and I think the dimmer switch is a great idea! I’ve seen some with a temperature selection switch, but mine don’t have that. A few of mine failed over time, largely due to pressure washing, which was disappointing. They do provide a diffuse light as you want! I used Sunco Lighting 4 Pack 6 Inch Slim, and I can definitely show you a picture of the light pattern.
I’d love to see a picture! How did you decide between 6-inch and 4-inch? And yeah, I’m starting to think a dimmer is a must. How long did yours last before they started failing? Changing them out could be tricky since my second level is really high.
I’ll double-check the number—might be less. But I do have several eaves, including the garage. Our contractor suggested more 4-inch lights to reduce hotspots. Any specific wafer you'd recommend?