Pendant Lights, Dumb Mistake

[jmellc]

Watch out not to repeat my recent mistake. Hung some pendant lights at a job, hung them a little high, as I've usually been asked to raise them when hung any lower than I did. Over a countertop & I hung them 7 ft from floor level to bottom of light.

Customer wanted them lowered. Well, I just discovered on these lights, I can't do it. I saved the LV hanger cable I cut off, it's the type with a center conductor, insulator, then outer braided conductor. I thought sure I could detach cable if needed & attach longer one I cut off. Turns out I can't. We have to get new lights.

Watch out & be sure how cables are attached before cutting them. Hang lower if in any doubt, can always be cut to raise them.

These are also not possible to coil up extra cord/cable in the octagon box.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

We never hook up the lv lights without a customers okay. The is a great variability in height desired and yes those low voltage pendants are not able to be lowered.. Sorry - that will cost dearly.

 

[Cincycaddy]

Got a spot for these in your home yet?

 

[jmellc]

Got a spot for these in your home yet?

Haha, I may one day. I will tinker with them sometime on a shop day and see if I can figure out a way to detach the cable at the light. I do know a way I could splice the LV cable but it wouldn't look good. I could butt splice the inner wire with a super thin splice from Radio Shack, heat shrink a tube around that, then stagger the outer braid and butt splice it same way. Inner insulation is tough enough that I think it would not puncture. But again, this would not look very good, especially the outer one. Inner would only show a slight bulge for an inch or so.

I have to force myself away from the 7 foot rule. I have largely used that anywhere but over dining room tables. 7 feet allows a 6 foot six person to walk under with no danger of hitting & allows clear line of sight. I have often seen customer wanting them just over 6 feet from floor, then people hit them when they bend over the counter or they get into line of vision as they watch TV from around the room to other points.

 

[curt swartz]

If these are name brand fixtures (Tech, WAC, Etc) you don't have to replace the entire fixtures. You can get replacement cable/socket assemblies for not too much $$.