Installing track light

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JohnJ0906

JohnJ0906

Senior Member
Location
Baltimore, MD
I was sent to help another guy hang some track light in an office yesterday. I knew nothing about the conditions until I was there, and I think there are easier ways to do this than the way the boss had us do it.

This place has parts that are drop ceiling, and parts that are just open to the concrete, with everything exposed, which is where we installed the track. The boss gave us 1/2" threaded rod and anchors to hang the track. I thought the 1/2" rod was excessive for track light. Also, he didn't even want to hear about scaffold, we had to try to maneuver 12' step ladders around the modular furniture, which made it very hard to reach some of the spots we needed to drill the holes in the concrete.

Although I think I have a couple of ideas that would have made this an easier (and better) install, I would like to hear your ideas. The boss is a little resistant to suggestions once he has a plan in his head, so I want to print the responses out and give it to him.

Thank you
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I would (and have) used 1/4" rod.

However, the boss may no that the specifications call for 1/2" and it might just be for the look of it.

From your description it sounds like they are going for a very industrial look.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
You would have to drill almost the entire back out of the track to use 1/2" rod. Did the rod go thru the back of the track or was the rod holding something else that the track was attached to?
 
W

wireguru

Senior Member
ive seen installations where they want the look of something more substantial than 1/4" rod. you can sleeve the 1/4" rod with a piece of emt, nice side effect is that its smooth and doesnt collect as much dust and gunk as threaded rod
 
Davis9

Davis9

Senior Member
Location
MA,NH
wireguru said:
ive seen installations where they want the look of something more substantial than 1/4" rod. you can sleeve the 1/4" rod with a piece of emt, nice side effect is that its smooth and doesnt collect as much dust and gunk as threaded rod
Click to expand...


Good tip. I usually use 3/8 for the look attached to Strut for some girth.

Tom
 
C

charlie tuna

Senior Member
Location
Florida
scaffold will not work around modular office units--the twelve foot ladder will span "over" the furniture walls --- he may have other information concerning the mounting hardware -- actually the labor between 1/4 and half inch rod is near the same---one thing for sure the 1/2" rod will hold everything straight!! your boss doesn't care about the transformer's mounting hardware he's there to hang track lighting -- he sent you there to "help" someone to do the job --AS THE BOSS WANTED. remember something: the boss isn't always right -- but he's always the boss!!!
 
e57

e57

Senior Member
Location
San Francisco, CA
I often use 3/8" rod with a 3/8"-1/4" reducing coupling, and a 1/2"-1/4-20.

Line laser all the holes - hang the rod. Line laser all the rods, # them, cut 'em, and re-hang. Goes a lot quicker than it sounds....

Also, IMO scaffold may be worse to maneuver than a ladder in some cases, but getting to where you want to go on a ladder could have you reaching too far to support the track - a delicate line.... But reaching from a ladder with a hammer-drill is a hazard IMO. (That said, I do it a lot...) I would suggest a ladder plank, but at that working hieght it is not allowed in my state, I would also consider it less safe than a ladder by itself.

He is the boss, but you're safety is paramount to you, and to his pocket book in the long run! I wouldn't take him a print out of this, but maybe the information gathered in your own words - less confrontational than the "Look - See!!!" approach. You are well within your rights to refuse to do work that is dangerous to you or others, or without proper site conditions without recourse under OSHA laws in most states.

I'm also going to hazard to guess that there were people working in the office near and under you? (Since you didn't just move the panels/furnature out of the way?)
 
S

supergeek

Member
Location
Los Angeles
7/8" unistrut works well

7/8" unistrut works well

We've had good results using shallow strut and either using spring nuts or drilling into the strut itself to mount the track. Still gives the industrial look but you don't need as many anchors because the strut is stiffer than the lighting track.
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
A simple way to use any size all-thread would be to use an 8/32 x 1/2" bolt and nut and a fender washer to affix the track to the back side of a 2" section of strut, and a strut nut and a nut and washer to hang the section of strut from the all-thread.

For that matter, if you wanted, you could run strut the entire length of the track, and use fewer all-thread drops. In either example, the open side of the strut faces the ceiling, and the strut is bolted on using the holes in the back side.
 
JohnJ0906

JohnJ0906

Senior Member
Location
Baltimore, MD
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
A baker would have been a better choice than a ladder.
Click to expand...

I agree. The 12' step ladders do NOT span the furniture that was in place, making it very difficult to drill the holes in the proper place. Also the 12's won't fit in the elevator or up the stair well. Fun getting them to the 4th floor. The scaffold would have fit right into the elevator.

Thank you for your replies. I spoke to the VP when I turned in the laser Monday, and we spoke about some of the ideas I had, and that I read here, and I think next time we will do it a little different.

I try to keep it a "team" thing - what's good for the company is good for the employees, and I do try to find ways to not waste $s.

Why 1/2" instead of 1/4".... You guessed it, "well, we had some here at the shop"
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
A baker would have been a better choice than a ladder.

A baker would have been a better choice than a ladder.
Click to expand...
Dude! You've gotta get some help on those hiccups!



JohnJ0906 said:
Why 1/2" instead of 1/4".... You guessed it, "well, we had some here at the shop"
Click to expand...
Oy! :roll: I have some extra red wirenuts. Let's use them next time we replace fluorescent ballasts.



Not!
 
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