I live in chicago and i know there codes are strict here. I want to run 4 4ft fluorescent lights in my garage that is finished. right now i have a single bulb in the ceiling that has a junction box with the wiring inside. Can i mount my lights on the ceiling and run flexible armored cable with the wire already inside of it threw the ceiling to that junction box? so thats 4 flex ac cables to the one box and splice it all together all off one switch? I am from michigan and use to romex. Also this is a 20 amp circuit and the neutral side is earth in the box, so would i just ground my lights to neutral?
can flexible ac in ceiling(chicago)
- Thread starter sadler
- Start date
Mustang51js
Well-known member
I would check with someone local but instead of going through the ceiling you can put an extension box so it's below the ceiling and connect to that. That way you don't have to worry about box fill.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
What is this all about????
You probably have an octagon box in the ceiling right now. It has at least a hot and neutral coming into it, and possibly a switch leg, depending on how it is wired. To add four more pair to the box would be a lot of work, and probably exceed the fill of the box. They make extension boxes of almost every size and shape, I know they make octagon box extensions. Install one, run EMT conduit from it to new surface mounted boxes for each light and be done with it. Won't look pretty, but will be a more functional and safer install.
About that neutral. Is there a ground wire? Is the neutral actually connected to the box? how is your existing light wired?
Charles
at the box neutral(white) all go to the grounding block in the fuse box, hot is black, blue , or red in my box. I am use to having a ground separate. I did not know they made box extensions, now with emt do i pull romex threw that or individual wiring?
Do i have to have surface mounted boxed at each 4ft fluorescent fixtures and connect with flexible line? or can i just run the conduit right to the fixture and use a fitting to connect to the fixture? also can i connect the fixtures together so i don't have to run 4 individual lines to each fixture? i think this is called a raceway?
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The FIB
Well-known member
Hello Sadler,
You do not have a ground wire in the junction box because it is most likely fed with metal conduit, the conduit IS the ground.
If you have access above your ceiling you can run 4 pieces of bx or greenfield from the junction box directly in to the back of each fixture.
I was a construction electrician in Chicago and the suburbs for over 20
years, I have not worked in the trade for the last 10 years but I think the Codes here have not changed a lot.
The length of the flex should not exceed 6 feet. Bx and greenfield are common trade names, the Bx comes pre-stuffed with wire and greenfield is empty, so you stuff it with your own wires, thhn wire is what you want to use in conduit and flex.
The same 2 wires that feed the existing fixture is what you need to tie your new wires to, the white is the neutral and the other wire is the switch leg.
As I said the metal on the flex and the conduit is your ground, so make sure you use the proper connectors and make sure your set screws and lock nuts are tight, these connections are just as important as your wire splices.
You do not have a ground wire in the junction box because it is most likely fed with metal conduit, the conduit IS the ground.
If you have access above your ceiling you can run 4 pieces of bx or greenfield from the junction box directly in to the back of each fixture.
I was a construction electrician in Chicago and the suburbs for over 20
years, I have not worked in the trade for the last 10 years but I think the Codes here have not changed a lot.
The length of the flex should not exceed 6 feet. Bx and greenfield are common trade names, the Bx comes pre-stuffed with wire and greenfield is empty, so you stuff it with your own wires, thhn wire is what you want to use in conduit and flex.
The same 2 wires that feed the existing fixture is what you need to tie your new wires to, the white is the neutral and the other wire is the switch leg.
As I said the metal on the flex and the conduit is your ground, so make sure you use the proper connectors and make sure your set screws and lock nuts are tight, these connections are just as important as your wire splices.
KCarGuy
Well-known member
^^^^^In Chicago area, I see alot of Conduit run with only a Hot and Nuetral wire inside of it.
They DO, as The FBI said, use the Conduit as the Ground.
That being said, I also see alot with loose connectors or Loose Conduit, causing bad or no ground over the years.
Do Yourself a favor....Run a Green Ground wire anyway!
Its a few more bucks and a Few more minutes of your time.
Good Luck!
They DO, as The FBI said, use the Conduit as the Ground.
That being said, I also see alot with loose connectors or Loose Conduit, causing bad or no ground over the years.
Do Yourself a favor....Run a Green Ground wire anyway!
Its a few more bucks and a Few more minutes of your time.
Good Luck!
wssix99
Well-known member
^ This is correct. I'd just run hard conduit across the ceiling. It's more durable and easier to attach to the ceiling. (Fewer points.) I also think it might look better and having flexible conduit all over the ceiling.
The FIB
Well-known member
Just to clarify, when I recommended using flex, I was talking about it being used IN the ceiling. If you want to surface mount your raceway ON the ceiling you should go with EMT conduit as wssix99 suggested.
To surface mount your pipe you will need to add an extension box to your existing flush mounted ceiling box. If you don't want to buy a bender use mini straps instead of one holes so you don't have to bend box offsets, also, they sell pre-bent 90s and 45s.
As KCarGuy said, you can run an additional green wire for you ground if you want to go
with the belt and suspenders approach. The ground wire should be connected to the fixture on one end and the existing ceiling box on the other.
To surface mount your pipe you will need to add an extension box to your existing flush mounted ceiling box. If you don't want to buy a bender use mini straps instead of one holes so you don't have to bend box offsets, also, they sell pre-bent 90s and 45s.
As KCarGuy said, you can run an additional green wire for you ground if you want to go
with the belt and suspenders approach. The ground wire should be connected to the fixture on one end and the existing ceiling box on the other.
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Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
No, you do not need boxes in addition to surface mounted fixtures, you could run the conduit right into the knockouts in the ends of the fixtures. It is OK to run Romex in conduit. If you happen to have some left from a previous job, go ahead and use it. They make offset end fittings that can be installed in the box extension that work quite well.
Charles
Charles