Will this junction box hold a ceiling fan?

[haugy]

Well I'm putting in ceiling fans to keep the shop cool.

The locations I have power with switches were for lights originally.

Here is a picture of the junction boxes. Two nails in them. Will they hold up a ceiling fan? My first thought is no. And I prefer to over engineer everything.

So what can I do to reinforce those mounts? I have ceiling up now so access up there is limited and very tricky. So if I go up, I want to go up once with the tools I need.

So what can I do to make a good solid ceiling fan mount? Tie a board in between the trusses and have some sort of hanging bolt?

 

[Ric in Richmond]

get a box that fits right over the stud and gets screwed in place.

The escutcheon should cover the hole.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_19841-427-7.../pl__0__s?Ntt=ceiling+junction+box&facetInfo=


screw the fan mounting plate into the joist.

 

[haugy]

get a box that fits right over the stud and gets screwed in place.
The escutcheon should cover the hole.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_19841-427-7.../pl__0__s?Ntt=ceiling+junction+box&facetInfo=
screw the fan mounting plate into the joist.

Well that would be perfect. Except I already have a ceiling mounted up there. It's corrugated steel, and the holes are already cut at the boxes. I may just have to set a board on the truss, and run a long bolt down through it. My concern is wobble. One mounting point for a fan would be interesting.

 

[rlitman]

What's the span between the trusses?
You can't hang a fan from that box, and you can't add something to one truss, to hang a fan off the side like that either. You don't want a twisting force on the bottom chord.

If the span between the trusses is under 10', you can sit a piece of kindorf strut on two trusses, and bolt the fan bracket with a piece of allthread to the kindorf.
You could probably do the same thing in wood, for less money, but it would add more weight up there. Your choice.

 

[alecmcmahon]

if you have access to the attic space, go up and remove that box, install a proper ceiling fan box and secure it with a 2x4 across the joists properly.

That box will not support a fan.

 

[premierplayer]

Looks like a 2x6 bottom chord on the truss. To leave the new fan approved box in the same finished ceiling location, you could attach another 2x6 horizontally (sp) to the truss with 4 or 6 inch timberlock screws at the correct depth for the box. Your existing steel ceiling is acting as 'bridging' that will eleminate the torqueing/twisting that was mentioned earlier. Our area codes require thru bolting with locking nuts to solid bridging on fan installs, to meet that requirement you'de need to span the truss space with bridging, not so bad, kinda like the bridging you did for the recess lighting.
I'm sure it will be awkward working up there now that it's closed in.
Insulation too, right?

 

[Highbeam]

Real actual ceiling boxes for fans area quite the significant piece of hardware.

Go buy one and frame for it like you did with the can lights, or even better, use joist hangers to support the new joists spanning between truss bottom cords. This method should allow you to hit the same hole in the metal ceiling as well as provide proper support for the fan.

 

[haugy]

Looks like a 2x6 bottom chord on the truss. To leave the new fan approved box in the same finished ceiling location, you could attach another 2x6 horizontally (sp) to the truss with 4 or 6 inch timberlock screws at the correct depth for the box. Your existing steel ceiling is acting as 'bridging' that will eleminate the torqueing/twisting that was mentioned earlier. Our area codes require thru bolting with locking nuts to solid bridging on fan installs, to meet that requirement you'de need to span the truss space with bridging, not so bad, kinda like the bridging you did for the recess lighting.
I'm sure it will be awkward working up there now that it's closed in.
Insulation too, right?

Nope, happily I waited to insulate the ceiling until I had finished everything, just for this reason. I can drop in joists to span the trusses no problem.

Real actual ceiling boxes for fans area quite the significant piece of hardware.
Go buy one and frame for it like you did with the can lights, or even better, use joist hangers to support the new joists spanning between truss bottom cords. This method should allow you to hit the same hole in the metal ceiling as well as provide proper support for the fan.

Don't joist hangers need to come up from the bottom?

This is what the ceiling looked like before the steel went on. 1x4"s laid all along the bottom of the trusses, screwed in not nailed. Then one big 8 mil thick plastic sheet that is stapled to the 1x4s. Then the the steel. So the trusses and ceiling shouldn't allow wobble. Plus I reinforced all the trusses at the joint points to ensure they would hold weight and not move.

 

[pattenp]

So what's the big deal? Just do as suggested here.

if you have access to the attic space, go up and remove that box, install a proper ceiling fan box and secure it with a 2x4 across the joists properly.

That box will not support a fan.

 

[ForceFed70]

A couple reccomendations made already that would fit the bill.

My reccomendation is to get your ceiling fans 1st before you go too far. Different fans have different mounting options/methods and the strengthing you do will likely vary based on the mounting.

For example: My fan (commercial model) came with a long thredded j-hook. The electrical box itself didn't end up holding any of the fan weight.

 

[haugy]

So what's the big deal? Just do as suggested here.

I framed this shop out entirely by myself. Everything on the inside, was done by me.

And I have never done anything like this in my entire life. I have no building experience. So I wanted to make sure I do this right, but as easily as possible.

I'm going to put joist hangers on the trusses and hang two 2x6. Then put a fan box with spreaders in between them. That should hold up to the 30lbs of fan I'm putting on each. Overkill, but that's how I like things done.


Thanks for all the help.

 

[rsanter]

It's best to use a metal box for a ceiling fan

Bob

 

[Highbeam]

Nope, happily I waited to insulate the ceiling until I had finished everything, just for this reason. I can drop in joists to span the trusses no problem.

Don't joist hangers need to come up from the bottom?

As you seem to have discovered, the hangers drop in from above and are made to hold weight that way. Cheap and easy for a secure connection. I plan to do all my ceiling framing between the trusses this way. My trusses are 12 feet apart.

The home depot sells the stout ceiling fan boxe assemblies with spreader bar that are heavy gauge metal and rated for something ridiculous like 70 lbs. The spreader bar setup allows generous adjustment of the actual ceiling box.

The whole deal is made to be installed from a hole in a finished ceiling which is quite clever but if you have access from above you can do an even better job of mounting it securely.

When I remodel a room with ceiling lights I use these fan boxes instead since they allow for future fan installs and also heavy hanging light fixtuers. They aren't terribly expensive.

 

[miketyler]

Agreed - this is the one I used. Cheaper than you'd think, I believe I bought from Home Depot for $8? Is all steel with adjustable brace to attach between the trusses. I wanted to put three of the Hampton Bay Windward fans in my garage. I liked the modern look and all can be controlled from one remote.

An article on the Westinghouse product:
http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/install-a-ceiling-fan-mount-bracket-electric-box/

 

[coolreed]

Use a Metal Box as stated earlier and run 2x4 or 2x 6 brace across your rafters to reinforce the junction box and fan and you are good to go.

Home Depot, Lowes and Ace sell metal braces especially for this also.

But I prefer a solid 2x6 brace.

Looks like you are going to have a great workshop / garage.

Good Luck

 

[walrus]

To meet code you have to have a fan rated box

 

[bassman]

Oh man, don't engineer anything, go to lowes or HD, or electrical supply use and get a fan rated fan box, metal or plastic, either threaded rod expanding type, side hanger (it won't twist the joist, don't worry) or pancake or joust straddle type. Trust me, this is what I do, well, it's not all I do! lol

 

[Kevin54]

Ideally you want to put up a box that is specifically for a ceiling fan. I like the type shown on the right that straddles the joist.

 

[HeelSpur]

Ideally you want to put up a box that is specifically for a ceiling fan. I like the type shown on the right that straddles the joist.

Thats cool I've never seen one of those. I've always nailed a 2x8 in between at the height and screwed a metal box to it. Never had any problems and its strong too.

 

[Kevin54]

Code dictates that any ceiling fan has to be hung from a box designed for a fan. When I added on my family room, I got busted by the inspector because of it. I had the same thing that you did. I put up a 2x6 and lagged a metal box to it. Nope, didn't pass. I never knew about the ceiling fan boxes until then.

Also if you notice the box on the left, the threaded bosses are way longer than just the two tabs in a standard metal box to allow the fan to be screwed to it.