Drop In Troffer Surface Mount

[Crazy68Dart]

They are replacing lights here at work, going to LEDs. Tossing the old 2x4 drop in (drop ceiling grid) troffers. These are 4 lamp fixtures. I would need to change the ballast for 120. T8 32w lamps is how they are setup right now.

I can basically get as many as I need. However, since these are drop in, surface mounting them will look pretty bad. Are these things typically rated for install between ceiling joists and/or rafters?

Thanks.

 

[Norcal]

They are listed & intended for suspended ceilings but they have been used as surface mount, I do not care to do that myself as IMHO they look bad, if your replacing 1 or 2 ballasts there is not much of a savings to reuse them.

 

[Crazy68Dart]

I agree on the look thing, why I am hesitant.

Ballast will need to be replaced. Replacement ballast is about 10-12 dollars for a 4 lamp T8 setup. Will need to get new tubes too, most of these are pretty old/dim.

 

[Platonic Solid]

You'll want to replace the lenses too, unless you're going for the bare lamp look - in which case you'd probably be happier with basic strip lights.

 

[CNGsaves]

If you can locate cheap enough ballasts, then re-purpose them.
4 bulb T8 fixture for $10 to $12 is still pretty good.

I'd build 1x4 perimeter frame of wood to clean up the look in garage.

 

[Movover]

If your going to buy new ballasts just convert them to LED, I bought a few off ebay for $11 each tube 6000k 20 watt

 

[Crazy68Dart]

I brought one home, going to see what I can do with it. First thought is build a pine frame around them and paint them white. Not sure how many I will need, garage will be 36wx30d. 10' ceiling for 22' (Attic truss) then stick frame/rafters for the remaining 14' for lift.

I have not priced decent new fixtures. At one time there were some cheapo ones at Lowes/HD, but I have a feeling they are cheap for a reason.

Yeah, 12 dollars for a 4 lamp fixture, hard to pass up, but gets more expensive if I frame around them, paint, etc.

Thinking about flush mounting between bottom chords of attic truss and rafters. Need to think about how to finish around them....

 

[cybrdyke]

Most T8 ballasts, even old ones, will run on both 120 and 277. Are you sure you need to change the ballasts?
CD

 

[Norcal]

Most T8 ballasts, even old ones, will run on both 120 and 277. Are you sure you need to change the ballasts?
CD

There are a lot of single voltage electronic ballasts out there.

 

[Mustang51js]

I agree on the look thing, why I am hesitant.

Ballast will need to be replaced. Replacement ballast is about 10-12 dollars for a 4 lamp T8 setup. Will need to get new tubes too, most of these are pretty old/dim.

Where you getting the prices from,by me the cheapest I can find them is $24 each,I need to get them where you do lol

 

[Norcal]

Where you getting the prices from,by me the cheapest I can find them is $24 each,I need to get them where you do lol

Even HD is cheaper then $24, but at 12 bucks a ballast they are a off-breed brand.

 

[Crazy68Dart]

The ballasts are single voltage, 277, positive.

This is where I found them. I have not done a lot of research, just wanted to get an idea of what I was in for.

https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t8-ballast-4-lamp-instant-start-normal-ballast-factor/

These fixtures have hooks on the corners to what I assume would be to suspend from chain. They also have knock outs that I could use with a bushing and build chords/ends to just plug them in. Might go this route... still thinking...

The lenses are small grid, maybe 1/4" or so chrome grid.

 

[Norcal]

Sylvania, Universal, & Advance ballasts are not what I would call "off breed".

 

[cybrdyke]

The lenses are small grid, maybe 1/4" or so chrome grid.

The small cell lens is designed so that a person entering an office cant see the source of the light (glare reduction). By looking across a ceiling, it's hard to even tell if the lights are on sometimes.
So, you can tell these are normally used in large cubicle areas, offices, or classrooms.
To hang them correctly in a garage might be more trouble than it's worth, but that's your call....
To convert them to garage use, you have the option of either keeping the grid lens or removing it....your choice.
Personally, I'd remove it, bypass the ballasts, change the sockets, and put a good (not cheap ebay ****) LED tube in the sockets.
But that's just me.
Good luck,
CD

 

[EarlyBroncoGuy]

The ballasts are single voltage, 277, positive.

This is where I found them. I have not done a lot of research, just wanted to get an idea of what I was in for.

https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t8-ballast-4-lamp-instant-start-normal-ballast-factor/

These fixtures have hooks on the corners to what I assume would be to suspend from chain. They also have knock outs that I could use with a bushing and build chords/ends to just plug them in. Might go this route... still thinking...

The lenses are small grid, maybe 1/4" or so chrome grid.

I picked up 20 troffer fixtures on Craigslist from a church that was remodeling, most of them had multi-voltage (120-277v) ballasts that work just fine on 120, some had old 277v ballasts, so I picked up new ballasts for those from Home Depot. They all had good T8 bulbs, they might not be sunlamp bright like the new T5HO's, but they are better than the old T12's. I got rid of the prismatic lenses and the swing-down frames, I don't mind the old-school industrial look, my shop is 40x60x16, so plenty of space to hang them.

Anybody want a few 277v ballasts?