Hanging ceiling fans

[onewheat]

I have a stick-built garage with 40' trusses 24" OC. I want to hang a couple of ceiling fans ~32 lbs each. The ceiling is covered in ribbed sheet metal with blown-in insulation on top of that. Can I attach directly to a truss (screw box thru sheet metal into truss), or should I tie 2 trusses together and screw into that board? I want to put up two fans catty-corner in the garage to see how they do first and then I would go to all 4 corners, if necessary, for more airflow (2 fans per truss). Thoughts?

 

[strength_and_power]

I’d probably split the load across the two trusses which should only offend half or so of the members

Or just do one like I did

 

[PopcornSutton]

32 pounds isn't much for one truss.

 

[OccupantRJ]

It will work either way, but there may be less possible wobbling around when the fan is running with the box mounted on the wider base of a 2x6 between two trusses rather than perched on the width of one truss.

 

[jack stand]

^^^
For convenience place the work box to avoid the major ribs. Its weight is not a concern. A simple nailer between 2 trusses will give you flexibility for location within the panels ribs.

 

[Codyboy]

I’d probably split the load across the two trusses which should only offend half or so of the members

Or just do one like I did

Dang I looked at thay pic and said , dang someone hung a huge fan in my shop!
Looks like my shop. Well the walls and insulation.
Is that about 2 inches of spray foam ? Thats what mine is.
You don't list a location, and wondering do find the insulation adequate?


Sorry to high hack op.
I like jack stands idea. Gives you more opportunity to miss a high rib.
But yeah those trusses aren't going to care about a 30lb fan.

 

[onewheat]

It will work either way, but there may be less possible wobbling around when the fan is running with the box mounted on the wider base of a 2x6 between two trusses rather than perched on the width of one truss.

This did occur to me - but I was hoping to avoid climbing into the attic and wading through the insulation to affix the 2x6s.

^^^
For convenience place the work box to avoid the major ribs. Its weight is not a concern. A simple nailer between 2 trusses will give you flexibility for location within the panels ribs.

My ribs run front-to-back and trusses side-to-side (of course), so missing the ribs is easy.

 

[OccupantRJ]

This did occur to me - but I was hoping to avoid climbing into the attic and wading through the insulation to affix the 2x6s.

My ribs run front-to-back and trusses side-to-side (of course), so missing the ribs is easy.

If you do end up going in the attic strip down to your skivvies, wear Tyvek disposable coveralls, and take a battery powered saw and tape measure with you along with materials. The truss spacing is never as you might calculate it to be. It would be wise to install all four supports and run wire while you are in misery one time. Might could catch a rainy day so the roof will be cooler. If looks are not a major concern and you really despise being up there you could mount a painted 2 by from below to two trusses and use surface raceway components for your wiring.

 

[cmandp]

I'd crawl in the attic. Bring up some OSB/plywood/2x6 to crawl on. I'd then install a ceiling fan box with bracket like this.

You can decide location from below to miss the metal ribs and pop a small hole through your ceiling material first. Push a long wire up through so you can see where you're at through the insulation in the attic. Move your insulation out of the way in each area. Then you can cut the large hole for the box and put in the box and bracket and wire it up.

 

[Skooterj]

Hang a Raco 7120 off one truss, done.

 

[nadogail]

Use a Fan Hanging Box, they can be installed trough the hole you cut in the ceiling.

 

[PopcornSutton]

All this strong bracing attaching and bracing, then hanging the fan on a box that has two 8-32 screws.

 

[OccupantRJ]

A fan rated box would likely have #10 screws would it not?

 

[Bert_]

If it's an industrial fan there's no need for a fan rated box. They normally hang with a j hook screwed directly into the structure

 

[CraigStu]

Just screw it to a single truss. I have used the truss span kits several times in our house but I do that so I can position the fan between trusses. In a garage just pick a truss, then pick a spot between the metal ridges. I'd use two #10x2.5" screws and know I could hang myself from the box if I wanted.

 

[captaindiode]

One like this maybe? (Other brands are similar)

 

[CraigStu]

Yep that is what I used in the house.

 

[chauNCYZ]

I have a stick-built garage with 40' trusses 24" OC. I want to hang a couple of ceiling fans ~32 lbs each. The ceiling is covered in ribbed sheet metal with blown-in insulation on top of that. Can I attach directly to a truss (screw box thru sheet metal into truss), or should I tie 2 trusses together and screw into that board? I want to put up two fans catty-corner in the garage to see how they do first and then I would go to all 4 corners, if necessary, for more airflow (2 fans per truss). Thoughts?

Split the load between 2 trusses. Use uni-strut or something similar to it. Attach the j-box to the uni-strut and connect the conduit.

 

[mikePDX]

Same project here. 35# fan mounted mid-span (12' span) between roof trusses roughly halfway up the truss (garage doors prevent mounting from the bottom of the truss).

Will use a 12' unistrut/superstrut 1-5/8" channel between the vertical center posts of the truss and mount the fan box in the middle. Superstrut beam loading tables seem to indicate this will be ok.

** Any suggestions on how to connect the ends of the strut channel to each of the vertical posts? 90 degree gusset corner brackets? 90 degree right angle joint splices? Post bases mounted sideways? (will need to fab something up as the vertical post/beam is a 2x4 while most posts bases are 6" on edge)

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Mike65]

I Put one up on the wall near the back of the garage & have it aimed towards the center of the garage. I plan on adding another fan on the other side of the garage.

 

[PopcornSutton]

#8 or #10 screw.... same amount of threads tapped through a thin piece of steel that is .050-.060 thick?

 

[BobnCO]

#8 or #10 screw.... same amount of threads tapped through a thin piece of steel that is .050-.060 thick?

Maybe just Elmer's glue?