Ceiling box for T8 light?

[tuip]

I'm a bit at a loss. Making progress on the shop with my wiring but I'm getting confused at the light installation. I'm going to install dual bulb 4ft T8 fixtures over an insulated and sheetrocked ceiling. Do I need electrical boxes or can I simply have the wire come from the ceiling and use the light fixture as a box?

 

[thewatusi]

Different, but same principle, when I installed electric baseboard heaters in my basement I had a single gang box positioned behind and brought the wire in through that. I used a chase ****** on the knockout of the heater to act as a bushing.

Make all the connections in the light housing. If there are splices in the box behind that would be considered inaccessible IMO.

Much neater installation than a piece of romex sticking out from behind the drywall.

 

[pattenp]

Depends on the fixture. If there is a knock-out on the back for a NM clamp then you can pull the Romex thru a hole in the drywall and terminate the wire inside the fixture.

 

[tuip]

The fixture has knockouts available and the wiring would be in its own enclosure. I could always add an old work box later after sheetrock goes up. Thanks.

 

[Falcon67]

I just pulled the knockout, positioned the fixture, marked the hole, drilled large enough to clear the clamp, pulled wire through a NM clamp in the knockout and mounted the fixtures. Code or not, I saw no need for punching 14 holes in the ceiling and installing old work boxes for a single drop of romex to a light. I could see doing that if I was mounting the fixture TO the box.

Also - depending on how permanent your lighting layout is - would be to feed one fixture then come out the side with MC cable and feed subsequent fixtures. I did that in the car parking area because I knew I'd be moving things sometime in the future. The two post lift will be the future and I'll be moving at least 4 fixtures.