running conduit / connecting LED lights on metal panel ceiling

[bikesandcars]

My 64x40 garage is divided into a 20x40 area and a 40x40 area (simplified)

I have a metal ceiling (the kind used for pole barn exteriors).

My 8' LED strip lights are going "with the grain" down the channels, but I would like to connect them with Conduit.

Wall covering is not installed, ceiling is.

I was going to run the power to a wall box, then install the lights and run conduit from the wall box to the lights in the general layout in the attached picture.

My question / issue is the raised part of the steel panels is about 1" tall (give or take). What's the professional way to deal with that / mount the conduit?

 

[Bert_]

You either drill your own hole in the lights an inch from the back, or cut some 3/4 inch spacers to go behind the light.

 

[Kaizen]

Bending it to match every hump is not what I would do. Just straight shot.

I will tell you what I did as it’s close to yours. Depends if you can access attic still.
I went straight up past ceiling out of the panel. Then over to one of 3 ceiling boxes.
Each of these boxes is mounted above future ceiling so the back of the first fixture attaches to the box cover.
Then out of each box I ran conduit-light-conduit-light straight in a line. Have to slightly bend to get conduit to sit flat.

Now the complicated part. That first light box is also a junction. So wires from panel go through it and down to the switch. I also ran wires to my other door for a 3 way switch and future outdoor lights. Six or seven conductors if I remember. Very happy with results and will look good against metal ceiling






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[bikesandcars]

Still not sure what to do.

It's hard to describe stuff sometimes. Maybe this pic helps? (Not mine, just off google)

Also just ordered some neodymium magnets to try to help on the install. The lights I got have sheet metal screws (for grounding / assembly) sticking through the back, not very ideal for flush mount. I'm going to stick some magnets to them to hold them nice on the ceiling then screw into trusses where they cross.

Lithonia 8' LED strip Lumen (6000,8000,10000) and Color adjustable (35k,4k,5k) with 0-10v Dimming.

CSS-L96-ALO4-MVOLT-SWW3-80CRI

Looking a little more I assume a "Rigid Offset ******" with some couplings would do it?
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Topaz-111-1-2-Zinc-Rigid-Offset-******

 

[Terry D]

Still not sure what to do.

It's hard to describe stuff sometimes. Maybe this pic helps? (Not mine, just off google)

Also just ordered some neodymium magnets to try to help on the install. The lights I got have sheet metal screws (for grounding / assembly) sticking through the back, not very ideal for flush mount. I'm going to stick some magnets to them to hold them nice on the ceiling then screw into trusses where they cross.

Lithonia 8' LED strip Lumen (6000,8000,10000) and Color adjustable (35k,4k,5k) with 0-10v Dimming.

CSS-L96-ALO4-MVOLT-SWW3-80CRI

Looking a little more I assume a "Rigid Offset ******" with some couplings would do it?
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Topaz-111-1-2-Zinc-Rigid-Offset-******

If the fixtures are deep enough, you can put your own knockout in them. Or space them down from the ceiling. That way in your picture will work also, the j-boxes will have to be spaced down of the ceiling just a little, about a 1/2" or so. Then bend small conduit offsets to go to the fixture. You could also use a small piece of MC cable from the box to the fixture. If you are comfortable bending conduit, it will look better with the offsets.

 

[bikesandcars]

If the fixtures are deep enough, you can put your own knockout in them. Or space them down from the ceiling. That way in your picture will work also, the j-boxes will have to be spaced down of the ceiling just a little, about a 1/2" or so. Then bend small conduit offsets to go to the fixture. You could also use a small piece of MC cable from the box to the fixture. If you are comfortable bending conduit, it will look better with the offsets.

Thanks! Fixtures are very small the metal part being 2.5" wide x 2" tall.

I've never bent conduit, but I'm handy with stuff and happy to give it a try.

 

[Norcal]

Buy some EMT and practice bending, better yet get a copy of the Benfield bending manual for a bit of instruction, there is another book that they used for apprentice training in the union I have a copy that bought through Amazon but the title eludes me right now that is good also.

 

[Terry D]

Buy some EMT and practice bending, better yet get a copy of the Benfield bending manual for a bit of instruction, there is another book that they used for apprentice training in the union I have a copy that bought through Amazon but the title eludes me right now that is good also.

I was just going to suggest that book. Its probably the easiset book to learn conduit bending. I have had one for years. jack Benfield makes it look easy. There wasn't youtube when I learned how to bend it.

 

[toplessHO]

short piece of MC or greenfield out of the box will make quick work of this.

 

[bikesandcars]

short piece of MC or greenfield out of the box will make quick work of this.

Ya mean just hold it up with some hangers and go for it?

 

[Norcal]

short piece of MC or greenfield out of the box will make quick work of this.

It will look like ****.

 

[toplessHO]

please explain how a 6 inch piece of Flex will look like poop?
maybe he could go buy an offset bender so they all look uniform.

 

[75gmck25]

Would something like this work? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Halex-1...ox-Offset-Set-Screw-Connector-90371/100120544 Its not the prettiest fitting I've seen, but it does provide the offset.

Bruce

 

[sparky 1971]

I do quite a few metal ceilings. I run the emt across the ribs of the metal. I set a Raco 232cs box for every row of lights, run the emt from the box to the fixtures. The 232 cs looks like a standard 4X4X2-1/8" deep box. The difference being that on two sides opposite each other. The knockouts are set a little farther out. This allows the pipe to lay flat on the ribs with no offset required.

 

[Terry D]

I do quite a few metal ceilings. I run the emt across the ribs of the metal. I set a Raco 232cs box for every row of lights, run the emt from the box to the fixtures. The 232 cs looks like a standard 4X4X2-1/8" deep box. The difference being that on two sides opposite each other. The knockouts are set a little farther out. This allows the pipe to lay flat on the ribs with no offset required.

I didn't realize they made a box like that

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[sparky 1971]

I didn't realize they made a box like that

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I found out about them around three years ago, right after I finished up a pole barn. They really are a game changer if someone works on ribbed metal buildings. They aren't a real popular item yet. Of the five supply houses I have accounts with, three carry Raco and only one stocks the 232cs box. The counter guy I usually use says I am the only person he sells them to.

 

[bikesandcars]

Thanks again Sparky, that's a game changer for me on this one. I'll try to track them down first because that's way easier and cleaner for what I want. Perfect.