Tips for installing ATI Sunpower 48" fixture

[Mikro402]

I will be getting this fixture soon and was wondering what is the best way to layout/locate a board over the tand to mount the fixture. I figure I will need a board because I doubt I will hit the joists where I need them.

TIA,

Mikro

[reeferbill]

Hi Mikro402 ; I have hung my lights from the ceiling and another time from wall brackets used for plotted plants . Both times they were suspended by small cables so I could easily get into the tank without having to move the light fixture. This way it would sway out of the way and had know chance of falling and smashing.I recommend eyelets and cables for ceilings and brackets and cbles for walls. Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Original Fin]

That can be a risky endeavor if you don't get it right. One slip and bye bye.

You don't need to hit a joist for hanging. There are plenty of drywall anchors that will support it. The big box home improvement centers should have what you need, just make sure you get the ones with weight ratings well in excess of your fixture.

And cover the tank when you drill to keep gypsum powder out.

[Mikro402]

That can be a risky endeavor if you don't get it right. One slip and bye bye.

You don't need to hit a joist for hanging. There are plenty of drywall anchors that will support it. The big box home improvement centers should have what you need, just make sure you get the ones with weight ratings well in excess of your fixture.

And cover the tank when you drill to keep gypsum powder out.

I just looked at the UPS tracking and it states a 31 pound shipping weight (w/o bulbs).

[Chasman]

If I were you I would go with a support header on the ceiling. I would get a piece of poplar wood (it's a good hard wood and not expensive) at Home Depot that's 4" wide and 6' long and 1/2" thick would be good. I would then get two 1/4" eye bolts and two blind nuts. Blind nuts are a flat disk that is threaded and incerts from the back of the piece of wood. This will allow it to fit flush to the ceiling. If you don't know what a blind nut is when you see it, it will make sense to you. I would cut the board to about 52" and center it over your tank. Then pre-drill the holes where the studs are (you should be able to hit at least three) and then use a counter sink bit so the the (I would use standard deck screws) screws are flush or just below the surface of the wood. Get it all fitted and drilled, then you can take it down and paint it to match the ceiling. Much easier to paint it before you do the final install. You will have to use a little wood filler to cover the deck screws and sand and paint those in the end, but that is easier than trying to paint the whole thing mounted on the ceiling. If you do it right, it will look like a clean piece with only the eye bolts protruding. I just bought an ATI fixture and I would not hang it with drywall anchors only. But that's just me.

[Original Fin]

The biggest risk if you go the drywall anchor route will be if someone accidentally tries to hang/put extra weight on it...which could happen.

Chasmans advice is bulletproof...just not the prettiest thing to look at IMO. If there's an attic above, the cleanest and strongest thing you can do is to use braided cable and go right through the ceiling with it, anchoring to roof structure. The cable would pass through a couple small diameter ceiling panel grommets.

There's a high end fixture co. (I forget which one) that has a spring tensioned kit for raising/lowering fixtures like these on the braided cables. It's supposed to work similarly to window shades. Might be something else to look into.

[Chasman]

Good idea Fin. Hadn't thought of that one. Just depends if there is attic space above the tank.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I wouldn't risk a $XXX.XX fixture on some drywall anchors. Too risky.

[Mikro402]

I got a weight on the shipping for the fixture of 31 lbs. and 5 more for the bulbs...

[Pigpen]

How about one of these? No holes in the Ceiling...Artisan series Lamp tree [350G-LT] - $129.99 : CAD Lights, Thinking outside the cube

[Pigpen]

double post