Electrical box for fluorescent fixture?

[central1ny]

I am getting ready to install fluorescent light fixtures on the ceiling of my garage. I was just wondering what other people do as far as running the wire into the fixture. Do you install an electrical box in the ceiling above the light fixture or just attach a romex clamp to the fixture and run the wire right into the fixture with no electrical box? I do not have insulation or drywall installed yet so either method is an option.

 

[Bigturk]

You could run your Romex directly to the light using the proper strain relief in the light knock out. The light box acts as the electrical box. Like you, my ceiling is not completed yet so I decided to use electrical boxes and the cheap Keyless fixtures with bulbs for now. Once my ceiling is straped, insulated and closed in with plywood I'll upgrade to flouresent lights.

 

[nwav8tor]

You could run your Romex directly to the light using the proper strain relief in the light knock out. The light box acts as the electrical box. Like you, my ceiling is not completed yet so I decided to use electrical boxes and the cheap Keyless fixtures with bulbs for now. Once my ceiling is straped, insulated and closed in with plywood I'll upgrade to flouresent lights.

How timely!! I'm getting ready to put in 17 surface mount flourescent fixtures in my garage. What exactly qualifies as "the proper strain relief" to use in the light fixture knock-out? Does it have to be be something like an EMT screw-in clamp connector or can it be a push-in plastic plug type connector?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[rburke65]

EMT is Electrical Metallic Tubing. This is thin walled pipe. If the OP is using romex to feed the fixture, he can just use a romex connector to secure the romex to the fixture.

 

[central1ny]

I just saw an episode of Ron Hazelton where he install a surface mount fluorescent fixture on the ceiling and just used a rubber grommet in the fixture knockout hole, no strain relief. Is this allowed?

 

[pattenp]

I just saw an episode of Ron Hazelton where he install a surface mount fluorescent fixture on the ceiling and just used a rubber grommet in the fixture knockout hole, no strain relief. Is this allowed?

It's okay if the NM cable is stapled to a framing member within 12" of where it enters the fixture.