Drop ceiling lighting can be tricky to install, but we're here to help. This article will show you how to install drop ceiling lights in your home or office.
It also covers the best way to replace a light fixture with a new one and how to install suspended ceiling fluorescent lights so they aren't too dim.
No matter what type of installation you are looking for, this article is for you!
Drop ceilings are found in places like offices and schools. But there are reasons why they can be useful in your own home, too.
If you have an unfinished area, such as a basement, it can be difficult to run air ducts or pipes. Drop ceilings are often used to hide them. You can still add light by using recessed lights inside the drop ceiling tiles.
By installing recessed lights in your drop ceiling, the room will appear taller and you will get more light on everything because the light is directed from above instead of only being directed in one direction at a time like with pendant lights.
When you want to finish certain parts of the house, such as a bathroom, workshop, office or basement, you may consider installing a suspended ceiling.
This is a type of ceiling that is suspended from the permanent ceiling . You can then install panels on it. Suspended ceilings are less expensive than other types of ceilings .
Hanging objects from a drop ceiling can be difficult. You will need to modify the ceiling before you can do this. The following article shows you how to hang objects and light fixtures from a drop ceiling.
How to install suspended ceiling lights?
Step 1 - Place the light fixtures
A drop ceiling can be a tricky place to install light fixtures because they aren't on the floor. You'll need to install brackets ahead of time, or you can attach decorations like balloons and other party decorations to them, making them stationary but still easily accessible.
Installing ceiling fixtures heavier than the weight tolerance for suspended ceilings requires special attention from the installer. A stud finder will help locate and mark all studs in an office or warehouse.
Step 2 - Install the device brackets
Installing a fixture in a suspended ceiling is not as easy as if the ceiling were solid. The weight of the fixture presents an additional challenge for you, as it cannot be supported by the suspended ceiling alone. For this reason, your only two options are to secure the fixture with chains or wire .
Use a screwdriver to install screws into the ceiling studs for the wire, or hooks for the chains. Using a tape measure , determine the distance between the permanent ceiling and the suspended ceiling. Cut the wire and chain to this length plus an inch or two.
Step 3 - Installing the light fixture
Install the light fixture on top of the panels through which you will be installing them. Depending on the style of your light fixture, you may need to cut a hole in some of these panels to fit it.
If the fixture is sitting on a suspended ceiling tile, you will simply need to cut a small hole in the center of the tile. Whether or not you have access to power tools, you can use a utility knife to cut out an area large enough for the fixture's mounting plate.
To access the wire connections in your ceiling, leave a tile panel in place. Lift the light fixture up to this tile and run the wire through a hole next to its mounting points; hang the chain or attach the wire to the locations indicated on the screws for electrical wiring.
How to install fluorescent lights in a suspended ceiling?
Fluorescent light fixtures are also a type of light fixture used in suspended ceilings. They require special installation methods, but below are the instructions for installing them.
To replace a fluorescent light fixture in a suspended ceiling, turn off the power to the circuit. Remove the panels around the fixture and detach the old fixture from the ceiling frame. Unscrew it and set it aside. Then screw your new fixture into place where you just removed the old one.
How to install a suspended ceiling light in an office?
An office environment may require specific types of LED lighting that are different from the typical needs of your home or office. If the office is not built for a traditional office setup, you may have unique requirements that are different from those in your home or other work areas in the building.
How to hang objects from a suspended ceiling?
The best type of fixture to install on your drop ceiling is one that has chains or wires attached to it. You can also use a fixture that has hooks on top. Hanging things from your drop ceiling may seem like a good idea, but the truth is that you need to modify or add something before you do it.
How to replace suspended ceiling lights?
- Turn off the circuit breaker that powers the ceiling lights. Check it using a non-contact circuit tester. Disconnect the lights from the main power supply and secure them with nuts.
- Remove the bulbs and store them in a safe place. Unplug the light fixtures from the ceiling grid and any wires that are no longer needed. Then take them to a storage location.
- Install new LED light fixtures.
Lights for suspended ceiling tiles
Suspended ceiling tiles are a great way to solve many of the problems associated with having ceilings above your head. They allow you to create the perfect space for everything you need, and in a cost-effective way.
Drop ceiling lights may be required for safety or aesthetic reasons, but they can also be easily installed on the drop ceiling tile.
For the purposes of this article, we will assume that you want to install lights on your false ceiling tile in order to illuminate a particular space or use it as mood lighting.
Step 1: Choose the type of light fixture.
There are different types of light fixtures, each with their own benefits and costs. When choosing a light fixture, consider its brightness.
Step 2: Decide where to place your lights.
You should have at least one light in every room that has its own false ceiling tiles, as well as in any room that shares a common wall with another room (e.g. a kitchen and a living room).
Step 3: Measure the dimensions of your slab.
You will need to plan a space for installation and then cut it out using a utility knife or other standard tool if you are installing lights on an existing slab. Measure from each corner to find the center point. If you are installing multiple lights, you will need to install them at the same height and in a straight line.
Step 4: Cut out the hole for your pendant ceiling light.
You can also use an electric jigsaw if necessary. Be sure to wear safety glasses when doing this.
Step 5: Install your lights in the hole.
You can either mount a lamp directly to it, or attach one end of an adjustable arm (or equivalent) to the frame, then secure the other end with screws on top of each individual wire to keep them straight and secure.
Step 6: Plug everything into a power outlet.
Next, turn on your circuit breaker to power up the light fixtures.
Installation of recessed lights in suspended ceiling
Step 1: Remove the tiles next to where you will be installing the recessed lights.
Step 2: Place extra wire at each corner of the tiles so the light can be installed by running 16 gauge wire through the eyebolts in the ceiling joists that hold the drop ceiling in place, wrapping it three times, and threading it through the holes in the metal runners (small beams that help hold the drop ceiling up).
Step 3: Measure the distance between the runners above the slab. Cut blocks from a 2-by-4 board to match this distance. Cut two blocks for each light fixture. Cut the wood with a circular saw, wearing safety glasses.
Step 4: Hold a light box against each of the tiles where you will be installing lights and trace around it onto your tile with a utility knife (carefully).
Step 5: Place a 2 by 4 block on two sides of the tile with screws.
Step 6: To find the studs, use a stud finder and then drill a hole in the wall.
Step 7: Cut holes in the wall for an old work electrical box and place it between two studs.
Step 8: In order to install the recessed lights, you will need to cut pieces of 12/2 electrical cable. The cable should run from the hole in the ceiling tile to the first light in the series, and then from there back into your wall. It should also be connected to your main electrical box with a cable.
Step 9: You need to wire the lights and install them. Read the manual for the lights you purchased. The wires should be matched. Cut 2 inches of insulation off each end of the wires, and 1 inch of insulation off the black and white wires inside with wire cutters. Twist together a stripped portion of a white wire from your cable with a stripped portion of a white wire from your light with pliers. Put plastic caps on these wires, then twist them together again with pliers. Repeat for the black wires as well!
Step 10: Screw in the bulbs and install the trim for the recessed lights. Replace the ceiling tiles you removed.
Step 11: Slide the cables into the wall. Hook them to the box with clamps. Cut a 3-inch piece of ground wire from the cable.
Step 12: Strip the ends of the black and white wires, then bend them with pliers to form hooks at each end.
Step 13: Loosen the brass screws on the sides of the light switch.
Step 14: Attach the black wires to it and tighten them.
Step 15: Connect the white wires to the silver screws and tighten them as well.
Step 16: Connect one end of your 3-inch ground wire to a ground screw at the bottom of your light switch, then wrap it around any other ground wires inside the cables with a plastic connector cap attached to them until they are tight together as well.
Step 17: Place the wiring and switch into the electrical box, screwing it in with the mounting screws (or pushing it in if you have a socket). 6. Screw the plate cover on top using the mounting screws or by pushing and tightening each side individually.
Types of lighting for suspended ceilings
There are different types of lighting for suspended ceilings. The most common type is recessed lighting , which sits inside your ceiling and emits a direct beam towards the floor.
The most popular versions use fluorescent bulbs , as they offer an energy-efficient solution that lasts a long time, even with heavy use.
Standard spotlights work well too, and you can also use fluorescent or LED bulbs for these.
LED lighting is a particularly interesting option, as it offers both low energy consumption and great durability, with the added bonus of being able to change the colour if you wish!
LEDs are much more expensive than regular bulbs, however, so make sure this type of bulb will meet your needs before purchasing.
There are also other types of bulbs you can use for suspended ceilings, such as halogen or incandescent lamps .
Halogen is a type of discharge lamp that emits light of similar intensity to standard fluorescent lamps, but uses less energy than them.
However, they still remain very bright and long lasting, making them a great option if you're looking for a budget solution.
Incandescent bulbs are the least expensive type of bulb to purchase, but they are not as bright or energy efficient and need to be replaced more often than other options. They do have one advantage, however: they come in different shapes.
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