Mounting ceiling lights in quonset hut

[travelrider73]

I just bought three super bright lights for my 1500sf quonset hut. I want to ceiling mount them but I am not sure how to best go about it. I'm hesitant to bolt through the roof, but maybe that's OK with the right kind of bolts that would prevent leaks and I'm really not sure how else to mount these lights short of building a structure inside the quonset hut to hold them. I'm sure someone else here has a quonset hut and has gone through something like this. How did you do it?

Thanks!

 

[Tractor Seabee]

There were several configurations; provide a picture of the floor structure from inside. Picture of the lights also to see what their mounting devices are like. How about building a Unistrut bracket off the end walls?

Ron

 

[Diggin It]

Yup, need pictures. Some of the new LEDs are so lightweight you could almost hang them with a strong magnet.

 

[Al 2]

Replace existing bolts / screws with eye bolts and seal the outside nuts if needed. Another way is to tack weld some hooks or whatever works to the ceiling if you have a welder.
Al

 

[EddieWalker]

I'd be tempted to build an internal frame inside the building that did not go through the roof. Probably the first option that I would consider would be one inch PVC. It bends easily enough and should be more then strong enough to support the weight of the lights. I would think that it would follow the inside curve of the building and if you went with Grey conduit PVC, it would almost be invisible. You might even run your wires inside of it. But that's just a thought without ever actually doing it.

 

[travelrider73]

Thanks for all the ideas. How about this: Tack weld metal electrical boxes to the ceiling where the lights are going to hang. The boxes themselves would hold the weight of the lights and would also hold up the wire chase pipe back down to the switches (which could also be tack welded to the wall of the Quonset hut where I want the switches to be).

I'd probably have to rent a scissor lift to make this a safe task but that would be ok. Regardless of the solution, I have to get up there somehow.


I also don't dislike the magnet idea either. Not sure if these are MLV LEDs though. Wonder if a magnet strong enough to hold them up would somehow interfere with the electronics???

 

[Diggin It]

We still don't know what you're mounting for lights. If they're the 'shop light' style that usually hangs on chains, the magnet probably wouldn't matter. But by time you add the cords and whatever, you may run into an issue of things snagging and falling. If you're going to weld, you could just use hooks instead of boxes. You'd end up with more versatility with boxes though.

 

[EddieWalker]

I wouldn't weld onto the roof metal. The heat of the weld will destroy whatever is on the outside of it to protect it from rusting. Once you weld, you will have rust forming on the outside.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ That's partially why we need pictures. The only hut I've seen has at least some bolt threads visible. If his does, it may be possible to add something like pipe hanger strapping and a nut. If not, then things need to be more creative.

 

[woody]

I wouldn't weld onto the roof metal. The heat of the weld will destroy whatever is on the outside of it to protect it from rusting. Once you weld, you will have rust forming on the outside.

I agree my building is galvanized so no way I would weld on it.

^^ That's partially why we need pictures. The only hut I've seen has at least some bolt threads visible. If his does, it may be possible to add something like pipe hanger strapping and a nut. If not, then things need to be more creative.

that is what I did, I used a second nut to fasten a conduit clamp to the ceiling and then hung my shop light by it's chain by putting one at each end. I also ran conduit to each box and bolted the box up the same way.