Garage lighting wiring

[sam03rc]

Finally getting around to wiring in my 30x48 pole barn, and have a question to ask just to make sure I'm doing this the correct way. I'm using these lights.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Metalux-SSF-Series-Strip-Shop-Light-Common-8-ft-Actual-4-25-in-x-96-in/1000111357

16 total in a 4x4 grid, 8 lights on one circuit in the back and one in the front on a 20amp breaker will have plenty of room to add more if needed without overloading the breaker.

They have these connectors with the lights.

Now my question is should I use these connectors when wiring all them together and install a junction box outside each light to run a wire into the light to the connector. OR use a wing wire style connector to wire the supply wire in the wires to that individual light and the supply line out to the next light.

I'm thinking of doing the second way because that it what I was going to do till I saw these connectors in the box. Thanks for the help.

 

[John T]

My question would be

Why are you using T8 lights
When there are so many great LED lights available?

Brighter and use less electricity also.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sam03rc]

Just because of cost right now and was able to get these on sale.

 

[cybrdyke]

Those are called ballast disconnects. Some codes mandate them. It's a safety device that allows you to disconnect a fixture without exposing hot wires. It allows you to work on the individual fixtures without turning off all the others. It's not a wire nut or a Wago. It's not designed to be used as a junction. It should be installed on the supply wires to the ballast.
They can be useful if you need to work on an individual fixture. You wont have to turn off all the lights to work on just one.
If you're in the US, and are going to be inspected, the inspector might look for these.
Good luck,
CD

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Those are called ballast disconnects. Some codes mandate them. It's a safety device that allows you to disconnect a fixture without exposing hot wires. It allows you to work on the individual fixtures without turning off all the others. It's not a wire nut or a Wago. It's not designed to be used as a junction. It should be installed on the supply wires to the ballast.
They can be useful if you need to work on an individual fixture. You wont have to turn off all the lights to work on just one.
If you're in the US, and are going to be inspected, the inspector might look for these.
Good luck,
CD

X2. They are code now for luminaires above 30V. Run your power to each fixture. One connector goes on the wires you bring in to the fixture. The other connector goes on the line side wires of the ballast.



Tommy

 

[sam03rc]

Ok got ya, it's not going to be inspected but I want to make sure it's done right. So I'll use the connections and just put a junction box above each light to run the supply line to all 8 lights.

 

[prostreetamx]

Those connectors are designed to have one accessible in each individual fixture to disconnect the power into the high voltage ballast. You can loop or daisy chain your 120v power through each fixture but will need to add pigtails of this power buss to add these connectors since they will only accept 1 pair of feed wires. They can't be used to splice feeders for multiple outputs and they can't handle that much load for multiple fixtures but work just fine in you use 1 per fixture as intended.

 

[sam03rc]

In the Junction boxes will it be safe to use these to connect all the lines together to daisy chain down the line.

 

[grantw]

In the Junction boxes will it be safe to use these to connect all the lines together to daisy chain down the line.

--giant image--

yeah... go ahead and use stab lock connectors....

 

[grantw]

Just because of cost right now and was able to get these on sale.

to buy a complete T8 fixture + bulbs, the cost per lumen is way cheaper than LED. Plus, T8 led retrofits (direct 120V or not) will be cheap enough one day when the T8 bulb burns out.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I don't like the stab lock connectors.

 

[grantw]

I don't like the stab lock connectors.

locking lever nuts may be the next big thing, but I still prefer my twisters and the drill socket.

Start the nut by hand, finish with the drill. Perfect twist every time. Good sturdy mechanical connection.

 

[sam03rc]

yeah... go ahead and use stab lock connectors....

got ya

Just use a good old twist wing nut then