i have 6 recessed cannister lights in my kitchen on a two way switch. I would like to convert two of these to low voltage halogen pendant fixtures. Can transformer be hidden in the recessed area? Also, any other suggestions about this project..Thanks for the help!

 

Could you be a bit more specific about the type of pendants and how you intend to mount them? I standard pendant fixture mounts to a ceiling box. Being the box is a 4" octogon (or 4" square with 3" round plaster ring on it's face.) and a standard recessed light is a 6" opening, I don't see how you can do a direct swap withuot drywall patching. I'm also not sure what you intend for the recessed lights (removed? abandoned in place? abandoned in place and buried?)

 

the pendants have 4" diameter base. I thought i would make a wallboard patch around the base and hide the cannister in that manner. is this a practical or feasible thing to do?

 

You can't just bury the old cans. If you wish to patch the ceiling, remove the cans completely. Replace the cans with ceiling boxes (4" octogon) wherever you intend to hang a pendant.

As to the low voltage transformer, it depends on the lights in question. Many lo vo hanging lights have an integral transformer, so you just hook the light up to the 120V. circuit and your good to go. If your pendants require a remote transformer (ala Juno trak 12) then you will have to mount it in an accessible location (attic works fine if you have one above the lights.) You cannot bury it in the ceiling, unless an access is provided to it.