Any low profile flush ceiling mount fluorescents?

[calereeves]

I'm building in some cabinets with a 2x4 stud base that will be drywalled on the bottom. I'm looking for some 2- or more bulb 4' T8 fixtures that will mount flush to the drywall but are low enough profile to fit in a 2x4 "ceiling." I found a common two-bulb Lithonia " flanged troffer" but they're 4.88" deep. anybody know if something with 4" or less? I guess I could double up on the drywall for thickness but that's a last resort.

 

[jvitez]

Check this out:

http://www.liteline.com/product.php?product_id=ALFT4-12-3200

It's a T4 fixture you can string multiple ones together. We have them as over and undercabinet lights in our kitchen. They're nice and shallow.

 

[calereeves]

I'm hoping to stay with a T8 fixture switched by the same circuit as the overheads I just finished installing. As a last resort I may end up going with something like that link, but I'll still go with a hard-wired, 1-switch approach, not a individually switched unit like the link.

 

[jvitez]

Our's plug into a switched circuit. They make a hard wired version but this is what the electrician installed, not sure why, but it works just the same.

 

[eljefino]

I'd think hard about LED strips.

I redid my kitchen 18 months ago and put in your common halogen "puck" under cabinet lights. They were awesome but the banging of stuff in and out of the cabinets vibrated the filaments.

I know flourescent != incandescent but vibration isn't great for them either. Nothing beats LEDs. The color temperature/ CRI matches flourescent pretty closely... as closely as any "different" super skinny flourescent bulbs would be.

Off topic, I'd put them on a different switch right next to the first as they'd make cool "night lights" IMO. If you want to run out for a tool for 30 seconds it would save you flicking on all the lights as well.

 

[calereeves]

Off topic, I'd put them on a different switch right next to the first as they'd make cool "night lights" IMO. If you want to run out for a tool for 30 seconds it would save you flicking on all the lights as well.

I've been thinking about using one on a different switch as the garage door light too, specifically for that reason... if I just need to run out for a minute taking out the trash or something, I don't need all the lights on. I think I want two of the three on the same switch as the others, though.

 

[Teej2012]

I've been thinking about using one on a different switch as the garage door light too, specifically for that reason... if I just need to run out for a minute taking out the trash or something, I don't need all the lights on. I think I want two of the three on the same switch as the others, though.

I just ordered these AA powered motion detector strip lights from eBay. They look to be about a foot long each. Ordered 10 of them. My plan is to mount two by each door at the wall/ceiling corner (one on each side). Two more split about 10 feet down, and one center back wall/ceiling. I plan to remove the garage door opener bulbs and let these LED activate anytime the door opens or anytime I step into the garage. I'll let you know how it works over on my build thread but if successful, this could be what you are looking for. And if not, just get battery powered motion LED flood lights, same end result.


Sent from an underground bunker

 

[calereeves]

I'm headed to lowes in a few minutes to get some supplies for the cabinetry. I'm going to open the box on the "residential" troffer and measure the depth... if that's not shallow enough, I'll go to the local electric supply shop tomorrow. I'm really trying to find a 4' T8 fixture that will put out light that looks and lights the same as what's already installed. The last resort will be going with a smaller fixture like what others have mentioned.

Surely somebody out there has recessed a T8 fixture into a 2x4-framed stud ceiling or wall...

 

[bdamico]

I'm headed to lowes in a few minutes to get some supplies for the cabinetry. I'm going to open the box on the "residential" troffer and measure the depth... if that's not shallow enough, I'll go to the local electric supply shop tomorrow. I'm really trying to find a 4' T8 fixture that will put out light that looks and lights the same as what's already installed. The last resort will be going with a smaller fixture like what others have mentioned.

Surely somebody out there has recessed a T8 fixture into a 2x4-framed stud ceiling or wall...

At this point, I would be using led strip lights. I have mine in my saber cabinet thread. Or I would get flush mounted led puck lights (which I'm now installing in my soffits).

 

[Journaler]

I have these in my garage: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...xture-11241DP-RE/202193134#.UPgxqKZ5jqZ.gmail

They're about 3" deep/tall... haha website says 2 7/8" tall.

They're pretty cheap looking/feeling, but I got them for next to nothing from craigslist, and they've been serving me well since this past summer.

 

[calereeves]

I think I've found my solution at lowes last night--they have a "residential" troffer that's only about 3.5" deep from the flange. Perfect. By the time I add the drywall to the bottom, I'll have just a hair over 4" available. I got the lumber to start framing my shelves last night, so maybe this weekend I'll pick up a troffer and check it for fit.