hanging strip lights

[wstephens1249]

So in a few weeks I should be hanging some LED strip lights recommended by platonic solid. My ceiling heigh is about 15' so I was planning on hanging them from cable to around 12' or so. Im assuming this would making the lighting more effective from not being so high. It will also help making bulb changes easier when that time comes in the future.

Is there anyone with input on this idea?

My searches on lighting websites show hanging kits but they seem awfully expensive when you have to put up a fair number of lights. Has anyone made their own cable hanging kits? Seems like it would be pretty simple to do with some 1/16th cable and some crimps. However, what would be the best way to attach the cable to the fixture?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Idk about height.

For mounting I found the best way was to buy 1/4 eye bolts, drill a hole and sandwich them with 2 nuts and 2 fender washers.

I also found on some of them that if I did one Bolt in the center line at the left and right side the light wanted to hang cattywampus. So then I put 2 eye bolts at each left and right side, meaning one at Each corner, and ran a small piece of chain from one eyeball to the other. Then my long cable can use an S hook to catch the center of the chain or wherever it needs to be to make the light hang level.

I definitely recommend S hooks as it makes it much easier to hang and later on detach the light. Mounting it permanent is a pain.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I much prefer using jack chain over steel cable. Many light fixtures have eyelet holes to put S-hooks in to connect it to chain, like this:

I've seen many guys just use a pan head self tapper screw to fasten a chain link to the top of the light. Its kind of the "fast and dirty" method of doing it, but I think it works pretty well. You can use bolts instead if you're concerned about holding strength. I think putting eye bolts on is added cost and time for basically accomplishing the same thing.