lithonia shop lights

[madmanmerc]

I went to rona and saw lithonia 48 inch shop lights for 18 dollars. just when I was about to buy them I noticed that the box said not to flush mount, seems they have to hang off a chain. Why is this? Is it because of fire safety? i was looking at the flush mount models and they seemed very similar any suggestions as to why this is. Personally I did not like the look of the flush mounted models. Should I just go with the non flush models and put them on the ceiling anyways?

 

[Stuart in MN]

They can get too hot if they're right up against the ceiling, they need air flow around them.

 

[madmanmerc]

what if i add a spacer between them. would an inch do?

 

[eljefino]

There are many who do add the spacer. The idea is the ballast conducts heat to the metal shell, and, if the ballast goes berzerk, on to lighting your ceiling on fire. Put your spacers on the ends or wherever the ballast is not.

You will have to run self tapping/ sheetrock screws through the chassis somewhere hidden, a ridiculously easy task given the thin gauge of the metal used.

 

[ForceFed70]

There are many who do add the spacer. The idea is the ballast conducts heat to the metal shell, and, if the ballast goes berzerk, on to lighting your ceiling on fire.

It's all about airflow and cooling, nothing to do with preventing a fire if the ballast fails.

To the OP: The manufacturer will reccomend a minimum distance between fixture and ceiling. It will likely be 6" or more.

Your best bet is to buy a fixture designed for flush mounting. They're only a few dollars more.

 

[Familyof8kids]

$18 dollar fixture means ballast failure soon. Is it T12? It also means output voltage from cheap ballast will vary so lamp failue is also in your future. Do not want to seem rude just giving you feedback from installing over 50,000 1-8 lamp LED and fluorescent fixtures last year alone. With China controlling metals used in Fluorescent lamps parts are more important now so get a better quality ballast.
FYI - T12's are old news and will soon no longer be on the shelf or you will pay big time to get some.

Difference NORMALLY:
Shop fluorescent fixture with no lense will have a lower end lower wattage ballast because they expect you to hang it closer to the work area so output wattage can be less. They also normally have a cord on the end and no rear entry for power. It was UL approved to be hung not surface mounted. Ballast will be a different type that does generate more surface temp.
Surface mount fluorescent will normally have a lense and will have a higher wattage ballast since it is higher off the work area. Again UL rated to be surface mounted so ballast will have a washer or dent in mounting area to allow airflow behind the ballast core.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Read thru THIS THREAD to see the temps I measured on a T5HO fixture. Gives you and idea why they want them hanging in free air.

Charles