Installing new ceiling light .. have wiring but no junction box
#1
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Installing new ceiling light .. have wiring but no junction box
Hello! I'm in the middle of a major remodel of a doublewide mobile home built in 1982. In the living room, the ceiling is slightly vaulted with four 2x6's that run down the length of the center and are covered with drywall. They may be bigger than 6's .. I haven't really looked.. but there are 4 of them next to each other (2 on each side of the marriage line). Anyway, there was a ceiling fan installed in the middle of the room, attached to this 'beam'. The fan worked, but was very wobbly at even the lowest speed so I never used it.
I removed the ceiling fan to discover that it was hung from the ceiling with A HOOK that was screwed into one of the 2x's. No junction box, nothing to brace it .. just a big hook screwed into the beam. The wiring was run inside the drywall. I'd like to install a light in the center of the room where the fan was, but not sure the proper way to do this. I can't cut away the beams to install a j-box. I guess I could install one to one side or the other, but I don't like how it would look. Any suggestions?
In this pic, you can see the beam with the exposed wiring in the upper left area.
I removed the ceiling fan to discover that it was hung from the ceiling with A HOOK that was screwed into one of the 2x's. No junction box, nothing to brace it .. just a big hook screwed into the beam. The wiring was run inside the drywall. I'd like to install a light in the center of the room where the fan was, but not sure the proper way to do this. I can't cut away the beams to install a j-box. I guess I could install one to one side or the other, but I don't like how it would look. Any suggestions?
In this pic, you can see the beam with the exposed wiring in the upper left area.
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Will something like this work?
Raco 4.0 cu. in. 3-1/2 in. Round Pan with Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable ClAmps-8292 at The Home Depot
Raco 4.0 cu. in. 3-1/2 in. Round Pan with Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable ClAmps-8292 at The Home Depot
#6
Are you sure that "beam" is solid? I have run across a lot of "beams" (known as a box beam) that are meant to appear solid but are actually a long three-sided box attached to a nailer attached to the ceiling joists. A solid beam that long would be extremely heavy. If you find the beam is not solid then you could make the appropriate size opening with a hole saw to accommodate a fan-rated box attached to the nailer. You can probably tell if it is hollow or solid by tapping it with a hammer to "sound" it out.
Last edited by firedawgsatx; 08-22-13 at 07:25 AM.
#7
If you find the beam is not solid then you could make the appropriate size opening with a hole saw to accommodate a fan-rated box attached to the nailer.
#8
I'd like to install a light in the center of the room where the fan was, but not sure the proper way to do this. I can't cut away the beams to install a j-box. I guess I could install one to one side or the other, but I don't like how it would look. Any suggestions?
Of course, a fan rated pancake box is not really necessary. Just providing the OP some suggestions, as requested. If it was my home, I would want it to be the strongest possible installation to prevent wobbling. The main difference between a fan-rated box and a regular box are the size of the screws.