I have a condo converted from an old factory that currently has a ceiling fan mounted via a hole drilled through a C beam, and with no J box, see attached photos. My question is, how should I correctly install the fan? Is there a safe way to use the existing hole drilled into the C beam, or should I use a beam clamp? Also should there be a rubber gasket between the J box and beam to reduce vibration? More info: [LIST] [*]I have [URL="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Industrial-60-in-Indoor-Brushed-Steel-Smart-Ceiling-Fan-with-Wall-Control-and-WINK-Remote-Control-99997/305617929?cm_mmc=hd_email-_-Confirmation_STH_BOSS-_-20181231_PP_ET_Merch_Confirmation_STH_BOSS_3250627-_-product_desc__WD50414760"]this[/URL] ceiling fan (Hampton Bay 60 inch) [*]There is power and an outlet near by on the ceiling but no J box for the current fan as mounted [*]C beam dimensions: [LIST] [*]2 inch lip (2 inch flange length, one way since its not an I beam [*]About 1/8 inch flange thick increasing to 3/16th inch flange thickness [/LIST] [*]There is a hole about 1/4 inch wide drilled into the center of the C beam (how the current fan is mounted) [/LIST]Any help appreciated, thanks in advance.

I tried using LED tubes with the existing T8 ballast and they worked for a while, but then started flickering, and eventually, the ballast died. I've heard that flickering is a common problem with the original LED tubes, but that there are newer bulbs which don't do this. I'm considering just bypassing the ballast and using direct-wire LED tubes (4 ft.). Is that the best route, since it's more energy-efficient, eliminates the ballast failure issue, and would avoid the flicker problem? Any downside? If not, do I have to source a specific type of bulb to work with my shunted headstones? Thanks!