anybody else using troffer lights in there shop?

[pointer80]

Hey guy's, Just wondering is there any other members that are using troffer lights( drop ceiling lights) in there shop? I bought some at a good price and going to mount them in my shop on the ceiling. If anybody is then I would like to see pics if available. Thanks all.

 

[nadogail]

I have used them, hung from the ceiling so as to allow air space to cool the ballasts. They worked fine until my wife decided they were not pretty enough to be a part of the house.

Mine were free for the hauling.

 

[Oldgloryfirearms]

I have 9 of them in my shop. converted them to LED bulbs and they have been great for over a year now

 

[checkthisout]

See this thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350754

 

[redmondjp]

Hey guy's, Just wondering is there any other members that are using troffer lights( drop ceiling lights) in there shop? I bought some at a good price and going to mount them in my shop on the ceiling. If anybody is then I would like to see pics if available. Thanks all.

Have you checked the voltage on the ballasts in those yet? Most commercial building lighting is 277V single phase. Do that before you make any further decisions.

 

[matt_i]

Of some concern is air-sealing the lights if you heat up the shop. Granted they can be insulated over, but the air leakage still remains an issue.

Consider a duplex outlet in an exterior wall, where the wall is insulated but cold air can be felt blowing in...which means that heated air must be blowing out somewhere else. I believe the same phenomenon is the same for a ceiling except potentially greater as the heated air naturally collects at the ceiling.

 

[checkthisout]

I would recommend hanging them and running them without the diffusers. Too many bugs

 

[TractorJeff]

My brother got the same for free and hung them from chains in his old garage. Worked fine!

 

[CJ7VFR]

I would recommend hanging them and running them without the diffusers. Too many bugs

X2 on this advice if you decide to use them!

I have two of them in my garage that the PO put up, along with some regular 2 bulb 4 foot shop lights, and they work great. The downside was that the diffusers would load up with stink bugs and other things all the time. It was pretty gross when I would take the diffusers out and it would snow bugs all over the floor.

I just took the diffusers out and haven't had any problems since.

Jim

 

[hercules633]

I am going with these. Still trying get to figure how to insulate and leave enough spacing on top of them. The ones that are open above won't be an issue but the ones under floor will be a pita. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Sharpest]

I got 15 or so troffered T8 fixtures off of craigslist for $20 total awhile back and hung most of them in my shop from the bare rafters. Mounting is a bit ghetto but the light output and direction is fantastic. Plus, the price was right.

 

[cybrdyke]

I got 15 or so troffered T8 fixtures off of craigslist for $20 total awhile back and hung most of them in my shop from the bare rafters. Mounting is a bit ghetto but the light output and direction is fantastic. Plus, the price was right.

Good job repurposing those!!
CD

 

[zendriver]

I have some surface mounted to OSB ceiling, ballast gutted converted to LED.

They look and work great with the diffuser panels. I was planning to make them look better, enclosing With wood trim but will see.

Was told that they are probably not to code, as mounted. But they shouldn't get hot since there are no ballasts.




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[hercules633]

How hot will these get?

 

[Ch3No2]

I am very happy with mine and especially like the clean look. I used the double ballast fixtures so I can have 2 or 4 tubes on with a switch

 

[hercules633]

Ch3NO2-nice, I like it. what did you use to trim out lights? How did you insulate directly above of lights? What is your ceiling, osb, sheet rock?

 

[PhantomEB]

I am in the same boat as Ch3No2, I like the clean look. Cut out 12 2'x4' holes in my OSB ceiling then framed between the rafters to screw the lights to.

More so I needed to because I have 9'6" ceilings and my big door is 9' tall.

The only thing that hangs down overhead will be the ceiling fans and Hot Dawgg heater.

 

[hercules633]

Phantom EB, same questions to you. Insulation, trim, do you have pictures?

 

[LutzTD]

I got a great deal on some too and I searched for the cheapest hanging solution. Ended up with 1/16" wire rope and aluminum crimps. Works like a charm and comes out to pennies for each light to hang them. I got the crimps and wire rope from China ebay sources

 

[LX-Markham]

Wow that looks great Ch3No2.

I put troffers in a vaulted ceiling. Same reason: clean, flush appearance.

still finishing up the drywall.

 

[PhantomEB]

Will add in picture later when I head out there.

No insulation as of yet. I gonna cover up above it with foam board then blown insulation this spring when funds allow.

Will be trimming around the lights eventually and undecided about the diffusers. It's nice to not have to remove anything to wipe the dust off the bulbs or change out bulbs.

 

[Ch3No2]

Ch3NO2-nice, I like it. what did you use to trim out lights? How did you insulate directly above of lights? What is your ceiling, osb, sheet rock?

Since it is a detached garage I was not obligated by code to insulate above the lights. The trim rings can be bought at an Electrical Wholesale house. I used drywall for the ceiling and walls.
Thanks