I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.


Thanks
Mike

On Dec 3, 3:37*pm, c1gmlm wrote:
I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.

Thanks
Mike

Take advantage of the cord and install outlet covers on the boxes that
will feed the lights. A barn environment is pretty rough on lamps, so
it will be easier to unplug and replace after failure than to unwire
and do so. Don't know for sure, but there may be code requirements for
barn lamps that are hard wired.

Joe

On 12/3/2011 4:37 PM, c1gmlm wrote:
I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.


Thanks
Mike


You could remove the cords and hard wire them, or install an outlet at
each location and plug them in, which makes it easier to replace when
they go bad. 0 degree ballasts are great for cold locations

"c1gmlm" wrote in message
...
I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.


Thanks
Mike

Use an enclosed fixture with a ballast that starts the lamps at low
temperatures.

Fixtures can be hard wired or plugged in and you can individually switch
them, but you may have to add the switch yourself.

Here's an example of a suitable fixture and it is rated for 0 degrees.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/LIT...lar&cm_vc=FFMP

Lighting fixtures must be grounded as a general electrical requirement; but
with fluorescent fixtures there's another reason -- for reliable starting,
linear fluorescent lamps must be within a half inch of grounded metal.

Tomsic

Should be able to pull the wire out, and connect the romex, BX, or THNN
where the power cord came off. Outdoor 0F fixtures should be fine. Probably
safer, if you direct wire them. But, the plug and socket (and hang the lamps
by chains) makes them temporary, and you can take them to your next barn. Or
replace them easy enough when they stop working. If you direct wire them,
you make more work for replacing the fixtures.

"c1gmlm" wrote in message
...
I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.


Thanks
Mike

On Dec 3, 5:30*pm, "." wrote:
"c1gmlm" wrote in message

...

I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.

Thanks
Mike

Use an enclosed fixture with a ballast that starts the lamps at low
temperatures.

Fixtures can be hard wired or plugged in and you can individually switch
them, but you may have to add the switch yourself.

Here's an example of a suitable fixture and it is rated for 0 degrees.http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/LIT...Fixture-3YA23?...

Lighting fixtures must be grounded as a general electrical requirement; but
with fluorescent fixtures there's another reason -- for reliable starting,
linear fluorescent lamps must be within a half inch of grounded metal.

Tomsic

Those units are overkill for a non-industrial environment.. The
fluorescent bulbs must be next to a ground to light properly/reliably,
the metal cover of the fixture is the ground reference for the bulb.
I would definitely keep the plug, add a switch wothin the fixture, and
put outlets for the fixtures to plug the fixtures into. As other have
stated, much easier for inevitable replacements somewhere down the
line. The switch should be in the black-wire going into the fixture
from the power cord. I assume long cords hanging from each fixture
for the switches aill not be a problem. Otherwise, you could actually
make each outlet switched from wall switches and eliminate the pull
cords.

On 12/3/2011 3:37 PM, c1gmlm wrote:
I want to put some fluorescent lights in my barn. I would like to turn
them on/off individually with a pull switch and also direct ire them.
All the fixtures with the pull switch on them have a cord and plug
attached. My question is, can I take off the cord and direct wire
these fixtures? Will the fixtures that operate at 0 degrees be OK? I
heat the barn when I am in it.


Thanks
Mike

RBM mentioned 0 degree ballasts because most florescent lights have
problems when the temperature is below 40°F. A better bet would be to
spend a little more money and get some HO florescent fixtures and lamps.
The HO lights will come on in very cold temps and put out a lot
more light. I would also suggest installing the clear protective plastic
sleeves on the tubes since it's in a barn and could be struck by
something. An example from WW Grainger:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/cszm93k

From 1000bulbs.com:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/332/PLAS-100300.html

One thing to note, the T12 lamps are going away in favor of the smaller
diameter T8 lamps and I have yet to install any T8 HO fixtures so I
don't know how they perform.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t8...rescent-tubes/

http://preview.tinyurl.com/7wlwqxq

TDD