Fluorescent light fixtures troffer to surface mount

Stucazz63 · Aug 4, 2009

Can 4 bulb 4' T8 troffer style fluorescent fixtures (the ones that are used in drop ceilings) be used as surface mounted? I was thinking of installing them and then dressing them up with wood around the edges to give them a more finished look. I can get these for a good deal but am not sure this idea will work. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Tscott · Aug 4, 2009

Don't see why not? You may have to drill a few holes in the back for mounting, but there is no reason why they should not function as normal.

Tom

kbs2244 · Aug 5, 2009

They will work.
Keep them spaced at least 1/2 inch from the drywall to provide some cooling space.
They expect a lot of space above them to release their ballast heat into.

Docklobster · Aug 5, 2009

I recessed 4 of them into my garage ceiling, built a frame that they rest on, the frame screws into the cross joists, works great no issues over the last few years.

fuchster · Dec 28, 2009

i just installed four of them on my garage. I made a box or frame while I was doing the frame work. I attached them by screwing the inner lip to the wood frame. I will install trim around the edges for a cleaner finished.

HIRISC · Jan 1, 2010

Troffer's work fine like you've described.

We framed out 2xT8 fixtures on 16" center joists, but your 4 bulbers will work the same.

If you buy the ones from HD, make sure you measure the troffer's little lip just above the trim frame. Will save you some time (cough, cough) with a roto tool during install.

tfi racing · Jan 1, 2010

Yep,if they are a great deal-go ahead and surface mount them and trim them out as you are planning.If they are used,double check the ballasts and make sure they are 120V! :beer:

vfdfs2 · Oct 8, 2010

Great JOB. That look so nice. Thanks for sharing, now i also can go ahead and install recessed troffers in my basement. At first i could not think how i was going to mount those drywall-mount troffer, but now i know.

HIRISC said:
Troffer's work fine like you've described.

We framed out 2xT8 fixtures on 16" center joists, but your 4 bulbers will work the same.

If you buy the ones from HD, make sure you measure the troffer's little lip just above the trim frame. Will save you some time (cough, cough) with a roto tool during install.

tmlanz · Feb 2, 2014

fuchster said:
i just installed four of them on my garage. I made a box or frame while I was doing the frame work. I attached them by screwing the inner lip to the wood frame. I will install trim around the edges for a cleaner finished.

Nice job, were your joists spaced wide enough? 24" centers seem to close for standard troffers.

CoopVA · Feb 2, 2014

That looks great HIRISC!

jmiller_2308 · Feb 2, 2014

I'd check the manufactures information before attaching them directly to the ceiling. Many troffers require a certain amount of clearance around them for cooling so you want to make sure these are rated for direct contact before you mount them that way.

Jeff

CoopVA · Feb 2, 2014

jmiller_2308 said:
I'd check the manufactures information before attaching them directly to the ceiling. Many troffers require a certain amount of clearance around them for cooling so you want to make sure these are rated for direct contact before you mount them that way.

Jeff

Good point.

JoeFin · Feb 2, 2014

jmiller_2308 said:
I'd check the manufactures information before attaching them directly to the ceiling.

Jeff

What your looking for is the IC rating - which most troffers have

Norcal · Feb 2, 2014

It can be argued that they cannot be used for anything other then in a suspended ceiling grid or a frame intended for the purpose, as that is what they were listed as. That being said, there has been a lot of them used "improperly" without incident.

I personally think they look goofy surface mounted but there are a lot of them being pulled & disposed of in remodels, & can be bought cheaply compared to other fixtures, I understand.

HIRISC · Feb 10, 2014

CoopVA said:
That looks great HIRISC!

Thanks

jmiller_2308 said:
I'd check the manufactures information before attaching them directly to the ceiling. Many troffers require a certain amount of clearance around them for cooling so you want to make sure these are rated for direct contact before you mount them that way.

Jeff

No joist insulation in my install, but it's a valid point.

AFAI remember, our particular Troffer was/is IC rated (see Q&A)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...20-GESB/100249370?N=5yc1vZc7bu#specifications

Aquamoose · Feb 11, 2014

Done it in my shop on ceiling mounted OSB's. I put 4 holes in the corner of each 3-lamp fixture (still a 2x4), used lag screws to temporarily mount them up, then followed through by replacing them with 1/4 - 20 bolts and fender washers on top & bottom. I wired them up in banks of two on 20a switches (20a circuit on 12g wiring, total max of 14 lights on each)

After all, it's a shop. Quick, easy, and provided a lot of lighting.

NewShockerGuy · Mar 26, 2016

fuchster said:
i just installed four of them on my garage. I made a box or frame while I was doing the frame work. I attached them by screwing the inner lip to the wood frame. I will install trim around the edges for a cleaner finished.

Old thread, but I believe I am headed this way... I would MUCH prefer the look of this over ones that you attach to the surface of the ceiling. The flush mount looks sooo much cleaner!

Any update from a few years later on how they are holding up?

Thanks,
-Nigel

ctfjr · Mar 26, 2016

Norcal said:
It can be argued that they cannot be used for anything other then in a suspended ceiling grid or a frame intended for the purpose, as that is what they were listed as. That being said, there has been a lot of them used "improperly" without incident. I personally think they look goofy surface mounted but there are a lot of them being pulled & disposed of in remodels, & can be bought cheaply compared to other fixtures, I understand.

That's exactly what I did. My company was converting to T8 fixtures & were throwing out a load of 4 bulbers. I took about 15 of them for my garage in the basement. It has no finished ceiling. I used wire to all four corners to hang them snug to the joists.

Fluorescent light fixtures troffer to surface mount

Stucazz63

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