So I finished the framing of the basement this weekend. Electrical is next. Not worried about actually wiring things up, however... How does one take into acount a drop celinging with recessed lights?

Do the lights attached to the wood joists? Or directly to the framing for the drop ceiling? I don't see many DIYs on the net regarding a drop celing application. I'm going to certainly speak to some people, but I'm curious if anyone has installed these types of lights with a drop ceiling?

Thanks.

 

They attach directly to the framing (at least that's how I've always done it). There should be some butterfly nuts inside the fixture which you can loosen to adjust how far the fixture hangs down.

 

Absolutely attach to the ceiling joists (they are too heavy to sit on the drop ceiling.

There are adjustable arms on either side that slide back and forth so you can adjust where the light will sit in the ceiling panel. They have teeth on the arms that you hammer into the ceiling joists to hold them up.

 

Florescent light w/ a plexiglass panel.

 

Although the one's we use are designed different than these, they are still installed the same way you described.

 

Yeah I couldn't find the Halo cheapos that most people put in their basements.

 

You can buy lights that simply hang from the ceiling tiles or drywall. There are brackets that simply hold them on. although attaching them directly to the joists is a more secure option.

 

Bottom line is I need to figure it out since electrical is up next on the list...

 

Not really Scrib. Since you know for certain your installing a drop ceiling just run the wiring to the desired location and then worry abooyt how you plan to attach the lights.

Since I drywalled my ceiling I definently had to worry about exactly where and how I was attaching the lights.

 

Yeah just figure out where you want to place the lights and leave some extra Romex at each location in case you change your mind a little.

 

Home depot has them

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...4+4233&pos=n12

Well it wouldnt let me link to that page, but they say in the listing for drop celings

Halo
6-1/2 in. Aperture Non-IC Recessed Housing

Model H7T

 

I would definitely attach them to the grids and also screw the ends into the grids, use metal screws.

 

The metal frame of your dropped ceiling. Assuming you are correctly installing the drop ceiling frame (using the enough metal ties, etc.), it is sturdy enough to hold the recessed lighting cans.

 

I'm planning on mounting to the drop ceiling frame. We'll see how it goes.