Basement Recessed Lighting

I am redoing the basement and will be using 6" recessed lighting in a drop ceiling, 2x2 panels. Which light housing do I use, the New Construction housing and attach to the rafters before the panels are put in, or the "Existing Construction" housing which has the "spring clips" which hold it to the 2x2 panel? If I use the existing, will the weight of the light cause the panel to sag?? How do you install rough wireing for them if the junction box is part of the housing?? Ideas welcome.

Thanks.

Dan

 

a couple of things:

first what type of panels are you using?

I bought the ones with the plastic front and insulation on the top and read that recessed incadencents lights can be a fire hazard! Go to the armstrong site to read about that. Im not sure about this since the bulb isnt getting hot hot when their on.

Lastly if you go to the armstrong site they show how to put rails over the grid and string them into your joist to support the weight of the can.

 

How much room will you have between your floor joists and your drop ceiling? You probably need at least 8 inches or so to use recessed cans. You need to measure the depth of your cans to make sure you will have clearance. You will need to use the cans with hanger bars made to attach to the grid. The bars are rigid enough to keep the weight of the fixtures from sagging the ceiling tiles. They will either need to be screwed to the grid after installation or will come with special clips for the purpose. During rough in, install you wiring to the approximate can locations and leave 5' or so coiled up for fudging. "Daisy-chain the fixtures so you will have two cables in each fixture (one in the last fixture). When installing the fixtures, cut your hole in the center of a ceiling tile (6.5 inch diameter for standard 6" cans) and place it in the grid. Pull your wiring down through an adjacent grid hole and wire a can. Use 3/8" romex connectors (2 cables can be installed in one connector). Strip about 8" of insulation before intalling through connector. Push into wiring box until 1/2" or so of insulation is completely through the cable and tighten clamp. Wire fixture. Install fixture onto grid, positioned over hole. Loosen screws inside can and adjust can up or down until it is flush with bottom of tile. install trim.

When selecting cans / trims, follow guidelines regarding proximity of insulation and trim / bulb type & wattage that can be used with can selected.