I-Joists 16" on center.....

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c2500

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I started a house wiring job on Friday, and my hands they are a hurtin from having to trim down the brackets on the 6" Halo cans. The bottom of joists are wider than dimensional lumber. So if you have not run acoss this, be prepared for bracket trimming.

I also noticed that the Halo is aware and has introduced a new cut point about an inch in on each side of the bracket. It is funny because alot of the cans would have the new style bracket on one side and the old style on the other.

c2500
 
Well I did have one row of 3 that were cut down as far as possible. 8 and 1/4 to be exact. There was no adjustablitity there. :grin:

c2500
 
I don't really cut down the spreader bars on recessed cans. I nail one side on as normal, and bend the spreader bars out at whatever wacky angle to be able to nail them on the other side and still have the can be in the proper spot. I don't know if that makes any sense or not. Saves a bunch of time, anyhow.
 
mdshunk said:
I don't really cut down the spreader bars on recessed cans. I nail one side on as normal, and bend the spreader bars out at whatever wacky angle to be able to nail them on the other side and still have the can be in the proper spot. I don't know if that makes any sense or not. Saves a bunch of time, anyhow.
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I cannot believe you do not have some kind of tool to perform this operation. Maybe you could modify your megger to do this... :grin:
 
stickboy1375 said:
Talk about a time killer huh?
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Thats the truth.....

Ironically, the biggest time killer is that the folks who designed the I-joist system gave no consideration to electrical. They ran an I-joist dead down the center of the entry hall. I had to get the HO's to decide whether to run two rows of cans or just center up some pancake boxes. They appear to have opted for pancakes.

Imaine what the world would be like if al lthe trades communicated. :grin:

Tommorow morning I get to tell the plumber he has to relocate his kitchen vent pipe so I can make the counter top receptacle install comply with code.

c2500
 
mdshunk said:
I don't really cut down the spreader bars on recessed cans. I nail one side on as normal, and bend the spreader bars out at whatever wacky angle to be able to nail them on the other side and still have the can be in the proper spot. I don't know if that makes any sense or not. Saves a bunch of time, anyhow.
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Exactly how I do it. I will tell you that Juno cans are easier to shorten than Halo if that is your thing, and Juno fits the TGI's at 16 on center without adjustment to the bars.
 
c2500 said:
Thats the truth.....

Ironically, the biggest time killer is that the folks who designed the I-joist system gave no consideration to electrical. They ran an I-joist dead down the center of the entry hall. I had to get the HO's to decide whether to run two rows of cans or just center up some pancake boxes. They appear to have opted for pancakes.

Imaine what the world would be like if al lthe trades communicated. :grin:

Tommorow morning I get to tell the plumber he has to relocate his kitchen vent pipe so I can make the counter top receptacle install comply with code.

c2500
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Haha, I usually get the plumber running his vent right where my recess are going in a kitchen, dead center on the bath vanity light, and lets see, o'yeah always the best spot where the switches should go... :D :D :D
 
Not sure if anyone knows this, or would want to try it - but if the holes don't line up on the joist, a unibit will drill it out faster then any other bit you could possibly use :) Works great, especially on a cordless drill.
 
mdshunk said:
I don't really cut down the spreader bars on recessed cans. I nail one side on as normal, and bend the spreader bars out at whatever wacky angle to be able to nail them on the other side and still have the can be in the proper spot. I don't know if that makes any sense or not. Saves a bunch of time, anyhow.
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Sorry for the poor photo, but it's just a small portion of one I took at a job last week that shows what Marc is talking about.

canlitespread.jpg


c2500 said:
Imaine what the world would be like if al lthe trades communicated. :grin: c2500
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Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight! If the Ijoist companies don't care about us, why should the plumber, tinner, drywaller, bricky, framer, roofer, concrete crews, GCs, HOs, .... Oh wait, they don't care about us.....

I truly believe that when someone starts taking classes in any other trade, the first thing they are taught is "*** the electricians."
 
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gndrod said:
Yeh, Since when do us electricians care about those guys?
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Well, I'd like to think we do. We let the plumbers and HVAC guys go first, normally, since their stuff doesn't really bend like our wire. We look at millwork details and equipment cut sheets to make sure we're not about to do something that would interfere with other work. A plumber who didn't look at the E-sheets and ran a line right though where a can goes, if he had other options, is ignorant, disrespectful, or unskilled. Pick one. Same idea with running a duct in a stud cavity where the logical and natural place for switches is, when there are other options. I know I sure try to think a far ahead as possible so that I'm not screwing anyone else, and always referring to other people's prints as much as necessary.
 
mdshunk said:
Well, I'd like to think we do. We let the plumbers and HVAC guys go first, normally, since their stuff doesn't really bend like our wire. We look at millwork details and equipment cut sheets to make sure we're not about to do something that would interfere with other work. A plumber who didn't look at the E-sheets and ran a line right though where a can goes, if he had other options, is ignorant, disrespectful, or unskilled. Pick one. Same idea with running a duct in a stud cavity where the logical and natural place for switches is, when there are other options << ARRRGGGGHHH!![/I]. I know I sure try to think a far ahead as possible so that I'm not screwing anyone else, and always referring to other people's prints as much as necessary.
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You can add me to the list of people that try to accommodate others as well.


mdshunk said:
I don't really cut down the spreader bars on recessed cans. I nail one side on as normal, and bend the spreader bars out at whatever wacky angle to be able to nail them on the other side and still have the can be in the proper spot.
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That's precisely how I do it as well. Just grab it w/ the pliers and make it fit.

badabing said:
Not sure if anyone knows this, or would want to try it - but if the holes don't line up on the joist, a unibit will drill it out faster then any other bit you could possibly use Works great, especially on a cordless drill.
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i certainly did not know that and will try it next time. thanks.
 
Good subs care

Good subs care

mdshunk said:
Well, I'd like to think we do. We let the plumbers and HVAC guys go first, normally, since their stuff doesn't really bend like our wire. I know I sure try to think a far ahead as possible so that I'm not screwing anyone else, and always referring to other people's prints as much as necessary.
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Marc,

I really have the same sentiment. It is symbiotic awareness that goes both ways where one makes everyone successful. Just on occassion an incoherent sub can really do damage, that's where electrical experience makes things tick. I agree with getting things done after the other subs have made their installations. Rarely would I need to make an adjustment in good practice to really do a class installation without wasting time. rbj
 
electricmanscott said:
As much as we might like to think it, the world does not revolve around electricians. The last thing subs are thinking about is us nor would I expect them to be.
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Its nothing to do with the world revolving around us... Its called working together...
 
Back to OP - Juno cans have the hanger bars scored so you can break them shorter for the narrow bays, Plus they fit without breaking the bars in bays with "strapping", which seems to be unique to Central and Eastern MA. i.e. 1x3 firring nailed perpindicular to the joists that the drywall gets fastened to.
 
electricmanscott said:
As much as we might like to think it, the world does not revolve around electricians. The last thing subs are thinking about is us nor would I expect them to be.
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I agree. But they do have to move some of their stuff when it interferes with light or switch placement on jobs for some of my customers. I work with one plumber now who asks for my layout before running his pipes in the kitchens now.:cool:
 
mdshunk said:
Well, I'd like to think we do. We let the plumbers and HVAC guys go first, normally, since their stuff doesn't really bend like our wire. We look at millwork details and equipment cut sheets to make sure we're not about to do something that would interfere with other work. A plumber who didn't look at the E-sheets and ran a line right though where a can goes, if he had other options, is ignorant, disrespectful, or unskilled. Pick one. Same idea with running a duct in a stud cavity where the logical and natural place for switches is, when there are other options. I know I sure try to think a far ahead as possible so that I'm not screwing anyone else, and always referring to other people's prints as much as necessary.
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I agree, but the most common thing I hear from the other trades is, "Well, it was in my way, so I just cut it out."

I remember working in a school, and the plumber had placed a pipe not more than 2" above a drop ceiling. We had to put in troffers there, but couldn't because there was no room. We told the plumber he needed to move his pipe up, and he refused. It took the GC telling him to change it. A co-worker lamented, "Why is it us electricians have to not only desing our own work, but also must check the entire set of prints for any chance that our work might interfere with someone else's, but they don't give a hoot about where we need to put our stuff?"

Even more amazing is when we look at the other trades' blueprints to make sure we're not in their way, then they don't install it according to the prints and bury us. I've had tinners cut off my stub-ups from a CMU wall so they could install a duct, even though the prints had it elsewhere.

I'll bend over backwards to get along with those guys, but in the end, they could care less about anyone else's work... "Git 'er done!" is their motto.
 
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