Fixed wiring for 4' LED shop lights

[stillsteamn]

I did not see this topic already covered.

My garage has 8.5' finished drywall ceilings with 3 round boxes that currently have single bulbs. I bought (5) Lights of America 4' LED shop lights at Sam's Club. These lights come with 5' cords and 3-prong plugs. I want to hard wire these lights in a manner that would be code compliant enough to pass home inspection when it comes time to sell.

The lights are built such that they won't allow me to totally remove the cords, drill a 1/2" hole, and run the THHN wiring direct into the light fixture. Not enough space inside the light for wire nuts, etc.

I was planning to cut the plugs off the cords and splice to THHN wiring pulled through EMT conduit, using conduit junction boxes to contain the splices. And some metal junction box to attach the conduit at the existing round light boxes.

To make it look even better since I have a fancy hand-textured garage ceiling finsh I could avoid the conduit, use covered junction boxes up in the garage attic and use Romex. But the garage is insulated with blown cellulose and crawling around up there is no fun, and I could fall through my expensive finished ceiling if I'm not careful. And running the light cords up into the attic junction boxes probably would not meet code I guess.

Anyone have better ideas for this? Maybe a different kind of conduit or whatever? Any pictures?

 

[exranger06]

There is no code-compliant way to hard wire these fixtures. The only way to be code-compliant is to keep the plug on them and plug them into an outlet. I would install switched outlets in the attic and plug the lights into them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Assuming you have a typical octagon ceiling box, remove the fixture and replace it with a receptacle cover.



Install a duplex outlet and you can plug in two lights.

Not sure how to wire #5. If you can find an outlet like this and the correct size hole saw/punch you can install it in one of the end of the fixture.

 

[Bert_]

Forget about trying to hardwire those things. They are cheap throw away lights. Just install some outlets that way when these fail you can easily replace them, these cannot be fixed. Or if you want hardwired lights buy decent quality fixtures.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Or if you want hardwired lights buy decent quality fixtures.

Lights of America are cheap and unreliable plastic ****, with a bad track record
(OldWizard1, Don't forget that you need GFI protection for all and every receptacle in a garage.)

 

[dogdog]

I used a 5 inch round cover plate, it comes with two different hole size dependent on your octagon box. Drill a 7/8 hole in the middle. and use a 1/2 cord strain relief.

It looks nice.... when finish... No ugly plugs.. disadvantage of cause it is hard to remove.. but it's a fixture right, you don't expect to move it too often.

 

[stillsteamn]

OK, thanks for the advice guys. Got me on the right path now.

 

[Bretny]

Outlets on the ceiling is always my perfered method to wire in a light in a shop, garage or basement. Easier to remove easier to move on the ceiling and easier to change later. To me hardwireing is just setting you or the next guy up for a rough time. If you want your garage ceiling to look like a kitchen ceiling use another kind of light.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Curious why you have an expensive fancy hand-textured finish on your garage ceiling. Also curious why you'd buy the cheapest lights known to man to put on such a ceiling. Got any pics?