Light fixtures Rant

[Spitty]

I've just spent 2 hours fitting a new ceiling light in the dining room. At $160 I would not consider this Cheap, but what a pile of Junk!
I don't think any thought went into it other than to make an 'aesthetically pleasing' fixture, that could be produced as inexpensively as possible from generic components, most of which have to be assembled by the purchaser. For instance; the weight of the unit is considerable, yet it is entirely supported by the cross bar screwed to the octagonal ceiling box (I just hope that is secured well enough. Installation would be almost impossible without an extra pair of hands, as it requires fitting two threaded pins through insulation and through a cover plate to be secured by two acorn nuts, if the pins are not set to the right length, Start over, while still holding the darn fixture in one hand!
Am I just getting old and Grouchy?
These things are made to UL standards. Do UL consider, if the fitting is difficult to fit, corners may well be cut by the installer (removal of insulation) and compromise the safety of the unit?
Anyone else out there share my grief?

 

[2Fast4U]

I think you just described every lighting fixture out there. I've put in ceiling fans, lights and shandeleers and usually what I do is use the ground wire for backup if the fixture some how comes out. The fixture usually has a screw where the ground attaches to it. If you have a long enought ground you can secure it to the mounting box and the fixture. Never had any problems yet.

 

[TooManyWheels]

You are not just being grouchy. Light fixtures today are indeed the cheapest of the cheap junk.
And that procedure of trying to fit the screws through the insulation drives me crazy also.

 

[Master ACiD]

i guess i dont understand. usually there is a box in the ceiling screwed to a 2x4 stud. the box usually has 2 threadded holes for which you must put 2 screws through the base into these holes. why are you guys messing with insulation?

i maintain 4 rentals and have done my fair share of fans, lights, etc, i havent yet ran into a problem like this. can anyone elaborate, or provide a schematic?

 

[Gary Allan]

The last two ceiling fans that I installed had two hooks. One on the plate that you install in the ceiling ..and one on "everything else". You hang the entire fixture by these tow hooks. You then casually wire nut your connections and then do a twist type action and secure it with a lateral (single or multiple) screw.

No problem.

Edit: Confession. The first one I went through the same deal that you did. Then saw a buddy do his. Then smacked myself in the head for not reading the instructions ..that clearly mentioned this in text and showed it graphically.

 

[TooManyWheels]

The insulation I am referring to is on the backside of the light fixture pan itself. You normally start by threading two screws into the crossbar, which is loosely screwed into the shakily mounted ceiling box. Then you try to manuever the pan around until the two slots in the pan and backing insulation magically line up with the two screws. You then try to push the pan over the heads of the two screws, which then obligingly give way, etc, etc, ......

 

[Kestas]

The last light fixture I bought was made in China. I had to remachine some threads and do some other refurbishment before I could install it.

 

[Beachboy]

I think you'll find the vast majority of light fixtures are made in China nowadays. Who know's what standards they follow as far as threads and screw sizes? I guess if they're UL approved, they're safe enough, but isn't this country capable of manufacturing anything anymore? I can't seen to find any electrical or electronic item that isn't made in China.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by Beachboy:
I think you'll find the vast majority of light fixtures are made in China nowadays. Who know's what standards they follow as far as threads and screw sizes?

---

I've modifed two made in China fixtures in the past few years. Both had standard threads and I was able to do what I wanted with bits from my ancient collection of light fixture parts.

 

[chas3]

hmmm.. the last couple ceiling fans i installed were on the top floor so i could put a 2x4 behind the box to get extra support. they make a little product with legs that screw out from the side of the box for installations where you dont have access to the back.

boths fans had a housing "base" that you screwed to the box. the housing base had screws on the side and the fan has a matching housing with L-shaped cutouts that that slipped over the base screws and you twisted slightly to get to stay in place while you tightened.

the hard part was installing the wirenuts. it takes too hands and if you didnt make your feed wires long enough (the extra housing needs a little more slack) it can be difficult.

 

[Gary Allan]

I take it that yours didn't have the hook on both the plate and the fixture either

 

[Razl]

I feel your frustration (and burning forearms and shoulders). I installed our chandelier in the DR this weekend and it was quite heavy to handle alone. I did almost drop it twice, but lucked out.

I have a brand new house, so to save some dough, I installed most of the lights myself. The stuff from China looks good but is junk. Most of the US stuff was solid brass but very expensive. I did a mix of good stuff and junk depending on location.

Wipe any fingerprints off the fixture with a rag cause the junk will tarish quickly.

 

[brianl703]

I recall reading somewhere that non-UL listed fixtures are coming over from China complete with the UL logo they're not supposed to be using.

I don't think there's any requirement that electrical products sold in the USA have to be UL listed..or if so, it's very poorly enforced. Non UL listed computer power supplies are widely available (or were, I don't buy that junk so I don't know if it's still sold).

 

[The_Jeff]

UL was born as an insurance compliance standard... the "U" stands for "Underwriters". Might want to read your homeowner's policy and see what they say about fixtures.

Apparantly ceiling fan motors are nowhere near as beefy as they used to be... to a degree where the old ones are getting salvaged and rebuilt at a price premium.

My biggest aggravation pertains to properly matching, twisting, and securely capping the soft multi-strand wire from the fixture with the single-strand romex from the wall.

 

[brianl703]

Don't they even bother to tin the wires anymore? Tinning is adding a small bit of solder to the stranded wire to keep it from unraveling.