making pendants from copper/emt/?

14 years ago

I have 3 vapor tight ceiling fixtures I want to hang from ceiling boxes. I want them to make an 8" drop from the boxes to the lights to clear the garage doors track so it won't cast shadows.

I was going to use the stock lampholder like you find for exterior spot lights. However, these only come with 1/2" holes. The lights have 3/4 threaded holes. I would like the drop hardware to be 3/4" thick to give it some visual heft.

The electrician originally bought the covers and 1/2 threaded pipe, but they won't fit the light. I could get a reducer.

I am also thinking about using black pipe or galvy fitting to make a post that goes from 1/2" thread up to 3/4". Then use a 6" pipe x 3/4" pipe and thread that into the light.

Or, maybe use BX cable so that the lights can swing if hit? But can I use BX cable as support as well as armor for the wire?

What else can I do? I also thought of sweating some copper plumbing fittings together. Any suggestion?

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Comments (11)

mike_kaiser_gw
14 years ago
You can't use plumbing or gas fittings for electrical work.

I don't think you can use type AC, MC or FMC as a pendant support but you could use cable although you might need some kind of strain relief.
petey_racer
14 years ago
Put them on the ceiling. There will not be any shadows. Besides, how would you open the doors if they are below the tracks?

IMO you highly over-thinking this.
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jamesbodell
Original Author
14 years ago
I am definitely over thinking.

OK, plumbing fittings are out, EMT fittings? Can you get EMT fittings threaded? Can they work as support?

PEX?

It's a two car garage with high ceiling. The lights run down the middle between the tracks. There must be some product I can use, after all, the lights were made this way.
brickeyee
14 years ago
"Can you get EMT fittings threaded?"

The metal si to thin.

Use rigid metal conduit.

It is similar to plumbing pipe and uses NPT threads.
petey_racer
14 years ago
Engineer?
jamesbodell
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, Engineer. good guess.
petey_racer
14 years ago
"Yes, Engineer. good guess."

LOL
I thought this right from the original post.

You guys are easy to spot. :)
dkenny
14 years ago
ceiling fan mounting bracket and down tube.

just a thought

-dkenny
jamesbodell
Original Author
14 years ago
Did it with Rigid conduit. Used a 1/2" close nipple, 3/4" to 1/2" adapter, then 3/4" connector to a 3/4"x6" pipe. They did not have 8" pipe, but the connector made up for those 2". Did a color match on my fixture, painted it up and sprayed with clear-coat. All done. Exactly what I wanted.
User
14 years ago
Pictures would be appreciated.
brickeyee
14 years ago
"They did not have 8" pipe..."

Now you now why folks have threading setups.

NPT threads are not just for plumbing.

I threaded 2 inch rigid for a custom install recently.