Bar Lighting - Need Help

Magnettica

I have a sheet metal ceiling that I need to secure 7 boxes for 7 pendant light fixtures over a bar. The floor joists supporting the ceiling are 16" oc but they won't help me because of a pattern in the sheet metal. The ceiling dates back to when the bar first opened in 1934 and I want to do a good job to preserve the old ceiling since its owner is spending thousands to have it repaired in certain areas. I am open to suggestions on how to go about doing this one.

I also have 2 ceiling fans that need similiar attention.

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mdshunk

You'll probably have to use those old work fan box kits with the bar line Reiker makes, that you work up through the light hole in the ceiling, for the lights and the fans. Expensive way to go, but the only choice, as I see it. I guess you have one of those pressed tin ceilings, and the light holes need to fall in a certain place in the tin pattern? Yeah, I've done maybe one or two of then. Run your hole saw backwards until you get a nice line scored in the tin, so that it doesn't grab it and rip you off the ladder. http://www.passandseymour.com/litera.../49163_PnS.pdf

mdshunk

Just thought I should add that none of the old work ceiling boxes with the "wings" are rated for fixture support. You need to independently support the fixture from the box if you use an old work ceiling box with wings. Impossible if you're using a fixture with a 4 or 5 inch canopy (which is what your pendants will likely be), which puts you in the position of having to use the Reiker fan kit.

firemike

When you say "floor joists" are you able to fish the new wiring inside the ceiling, or are you forced to surface mount everything?

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-Mike-

Magnettica

The original idea was do use conduit. But the wires could be fished. The problem is with the boxes and of course the support. The fixtures are some crap from Lowes and weigh less than 25lbs. I was thinking of independently supporting the fixtures by way of ridgid conduit secured to the joists by maybe threaded rod, and use cords from the pendant to a single receptacle mounted in/ on the ceiling. The ridgid would sit something like 6-12" below the ceiling so that only the weight of the receptacle would actually need to be supported by the actual ceiling.

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Magnettica

Maybe I should photoshop something to describe what I mean.

And before I forget...

there's a steam pipe in the way.

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jbelectric777

this a bar ??? u put the fixtures up,,,, i'll have a beer

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firemike

It'll sure get you some accurate help a lot quicker. I am sure every one of us has something different in mind at the moment.

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-Mike-

Magnettica

I'm going back there tomorrow. I'll use my bosses camera and post it late tomorrow night. He's impressed that I'm so concerned about how I'll go about doing these lights. Hope remembers around Christmas time! lol

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jrclen

What is above the ceiling? I did a similar job a while back and was able to go into the apartment on the second floor, role up the carpet and cut access holes in the floor.

Magnettica

First let me apologize for not taking and then not posting pictures like I said I would. Sheet happens. But long story short, the lights came out good. I used 3/16" toggle bolts to support 4" round metal boxes for the pendant lights, and for the fans I used ceiling fan rated 4" round boxes secured directly to the floor joist. The job came out well and I should be going back this week or next to finish up some punchlist stuff.


There is an apartment above the bar, but the floor is ceramic tile. D'oh!

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