Surface Mounted Lighting / Flourescent Fixture Question

[JohnnyEgo]

I know enough to replace light fixtures and mount ceiling fans, but beyond that, my knowledge is limited. I can't find the correct terms for what I want to do in Google, perhaps because you are not supposed to do it. Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.

I have an L-shaped garage. The back bay area is too dark. I was originally going to mount a single 8' fixture, but then I started hanging out here, and I am now convinced I must illuminate it to the intensity of the surface of the Sun. So I bought two 8' fixtures. Now I need to figure out how to wire them.

The bay is approximately 9 x 16, with 12' ceilings in part of the area, and 13' in others, with a small loft area. It has a single bulb ceiling fixture right now, centered along the width. I want to run the two flourescent fixtures side-by-side, about equal distance from the existing fixture and the wall.

I know how to mount one light directly to the ceiling fixture, then use EMT to connect to the next one. However, I want them to both be equal distance from the ceiling fixture. I thought someone would make some sort of box or spacer that I could put on the existing fixture box and then run EMT on the surface to either light. But I can't find such a thing as of yet. Any help or alternative suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[litljay]

I no electrician, but couldn't you simply mount a 2 gang box to the existing box, then emt to the fixture?

 

[JohnnyEgo]

Honestly, I didn't know you could do that. I've never really looked at the boxes. Do the holes line up to be screwed into the round ceiling box? That would be a pretty simple solution if it works.

 

[Steevo]

I have done what you are suggesting in a prior garage.
I used a box extension screwed to the existing ceiling box, so that I had something below ceiling to work from.
From that, I ran two runs of EMT, one to each of the fixtures, ran the wires back through the EMT and wire-nutted to original light wires in the ceiling box.

I used one of these:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100544...toreId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100544210#.UWSeGRmd62w

 

[pattenp]

Use a box extension with a cover plate.

Edit: Damn, Steevo beat me. I spent too much time looking for a picture.

 

[pelikan]

@JohnnyEgo, @steevo is completely correct. However, what I was thinking is that you can just use one of these newer ways of illumination called LEDs. They are not only power efficient but also have high luminosity values. Luminosity value of any type of light sources is very important when you are thinking about using in it your garage because it is a closed space and will mostly stay that way thus low luminosity has direct effect on your eyes. Also, I recently used LED strips in my garage, you can find these LED strips these days you can just attach to corners and edges, and they not only look amazing but have soothing effect on you. When you are done with it, I hope you can show us what you did with it. Thanks mate.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Its going to be a long time before LEDs become mainstream. They are still crazy expensive to get reliable ones.

THIS thread discusses surface mounting a box over a recessed ceiling box to tap power for wall receptacles, same issues. Just some ideas.

Charles