Replies

1. 
   MarkH | Jun 06, 2005 02:22pm | #1

   I would make connections in the fixture itself.

   This advice is from a DIY with considerable electrical exp, not a pro.

2. 
   DanH | Jun 06, 2005 05:16pm | #2

   The pull-switch light is, of course, on a junction box. (Or should be. If not, correct the serious code violations before proceeding.) Smaller (2-foot and maybe some 3-foot) fluorescent fixtures are sometimes designed so they can be mounted directly on the box, but larger ones generally aren't (since they need to be more firmly attached).

   If you mount over the box, you can sometimes pull the existing wires out into the wiring area of the fluorescent fixture and wire to them, or you can attach short pieces of wire to the existing wires in the box to give you the needed length.

   For larger fixtures you may be able to plan the installation so that you can mount the fixture over the existing box and do as above (if necessary cutting a hole for the wires in the back of the fixture, but be careful that sharp edges can't cut into the wires).

   Otherwise you'd attach a length of romex or armoured cable to the box and run it to the fixture, then put a blank cover over the box.

   If you need to attach a pull switch to the fixture, that can generally be done -- just drill a hole in the end (if there isn't already a suitable knockout) and install the switch. The switches are available at well-equipped hardware stores. You'll need a few pieces of wire and some extra wire nuts to install them, but nothing special.

   If you "daisy-chain" several fixtures together, in place of a single pull-chain light, you can again do the wiring in the fixtures, running romex or armoured cable in one end of the fixture and out the other (or both in one end, if there's room for multiple cable fittings).

   Don't use the wiring area in the fixtures for anything else (don't, eg, tap off power for your table saw from there), and be careful to keep the wires withing the wiring channel, and not pinched by the channel cover, etc.

1. 
   TurtleBoy | Jun 16, 2005 04:04am | #3

   Thanks for the advice.

   Here is what I have and here is what I'd like to do.

   The original lights in the basement, 4 incadesent each with a pull chain are on one 15 amp circuit.

   I would like to replace one of the lights with 3 or 4 florecent fixtures [2x(4' long T-8 32 watts) and one combination outlet with a switch. This area of the base ment is some 14'W x 21'L.

   Later I would like to do the same with the other lights though fewer fixtures per each.

   Does this sound ok?

   Patrick

1. 
   DanH | Jun 16, 2005 04:25am | #4

   Add up the total wattage on any breaker, divide by about 80, and make sure the resulting number doesn't exceed the breaker amp rating. Make sure you use appropriately sized wire (#12 for 20A breaker, #14 for 15A breaker, though of course you can use #12 for both if you wish).Other than that, and figuring out the switch wiring, it's pretty much white to white, black to black, bare to bare -- not a whole lot you can mess up if you have a basic understanding of wiring and don't rush yourself.Be sure the fixtures are securely mounted (go to the trouble of custom-cutting wood mounting brackets if needed, vs resorting to letting things flop or hang). Use appropriate cable clamps where wires enter a fixture, so the wires won't get yanked out and so they won't get cut where they pass through the sheet metal. Secure the wiring between fixtures in a way that your wife won't be tempted to hang laundry off it. Take care when buttoning up the fixtures that wires don't get pinched.