Wiring Lights in a steel building

[kminnick]

Hi guys-
I have a 40 X 60 shop that's a steel building. I'm trying to figure out how the best way to wire in my LED (4') panels. I'm guessing I would have to somehow hang 3/4" conduit from the perlins and have 4" boxes with 4 plugins / box. My walls are 14' and the center of the building is at ~24.5', and wish to hang the lights at ~12'. My LED fixtures are made for plugins, not direct wire. These are not commercial fixtures. I was planning on hanging the lights using CADDY 122 Z PURLIN CLIP and chain. Any thoughts / ideas? Is there an easier way? Thanks and take care,

 

[dcg9381]

I have a 40x60 with 16' eves.
I ran a 3/4 piece of conduit almost down the middle, connected to purlins with sheet metal screws (3/4 PVC clamps). In that PVC, I have 4 wire 12 GA. That affords me two modes of lighting - one for the UFO style LEDs (very bright) and a second switch for a 50' string of dimmable LED bulbs (for evening lighting).

Every 10 feet or so, I installed an outlet with a standard plug. I extended the wires on my UFO LEDs to about 10 feet and connected them about 10' off center to the purlins. These lights have a "tilt" capacity so I can point them a bit off angle to the purlins.

In your case, the clips are probably fine. You could drill a purlin if you wanted to bolt mount that chain.


Using "regular outlets" up there affords an easy light change in the future. And having 2 lighting controls gives some flexibility.


I may be able to find a picture if you need it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many LED "shop lights" can be daisy chained. I don't know what the code is for the allowed length of an unsupported power cord is.

In THEORY, you could replace the cord that came with the light with your own cord made from SPT2 "lamp cord" and run it up the chain to the purlin and then over to the next fixture. Of course, now it is not UL approved because you replaced the cord.

 

[My Old Tools]

Here are mine, Costco 4' LED two tube panels. Screwed to the purlins. Wired all on one circuit because they pull almost no power. We ran 1/2" EMT and set boxes with plugs midway of the building, then daisy chained the lights end to end with the built in cords and plugs on the fixtures. Lighting cords are tucked in behind the C purlin lip. I think there are 22 total fixtures, 12 on the ceiling and 8 or 10 under the loft area. It is operating room bright.

 

[penright]

I made a bracket that metal box could connect to. Then I just used cheap E26 screw in light fixtures. Then I used 1500 lumens led (100-watt equivalent) bulb. So was well below the max watts for the fixture. I have 9 in a 3 x 3 grid plus two more will go under a shelf that is above the bench. Saved a little on fixtures and bulbs over troffers. These pictures are before they are finished. Still have a few more left but you get the idea.