I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put
one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry
about electrical fires, etc.

Thank you!

Kadee

On Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:28:30 -0800, Kate wrote:

I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put
one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry
about electrical fires, etc.

It is most likely OK. The bar is to be used in situations where the
fixture screws do not line up with the holes in the box.

wrote:
On Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:28:30 -0800, Kate wrote:

I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put
one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry
about electrical fires, etc.

Thank you!

Kadee

He probably hung the fixture directly from the ceiling framing and did
not trust a "cut in" box to hold it

Hi,
OP said electrician installed a box. I consider that bar as an adapter
to facilitate the fixture mounting screw holes does not line up with
holes on the box. I just had same thing when I replaced rusty bath room
fixture with new one at my BIL's house.

On Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:28:30 -0800, Kate wrote:

I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put
one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry
about electrical fires, etc.

Thank you!

Kadee

It sounds fine to me.

That bar is for times when someone wants the fixture between two joists,
too far from either for the box to be attached to one. I'm sure that
was not the case here, that the original light was next to a joist. And
the electrciian left the bar behind because it was included with the box
and you paid for it.

But let's say someone brings home Bonzo for the weekend and he spends
his time swinging from the light fixture. The worst that will happen is
that Bonzo pulls the fixture down, that pulls the box connected to it
down, through the ceilng, but it will still have the wiring enclosed
properly in the box/fixture, with no fire hazard. Even if the box is
below the ceiling now.

Don't forget that Bonzo weighs a lot more than he seems to, at least 100
pounds. Unless it has a glass shade that breaks from the weight, anyone
lighter swinging from the light probably won't do anything to it, .

On 1/27/2014 11:28 PM, Kate wrote:
I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put
one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry
about electrical fires, etc.

Thank you!

Kadee

If I presume correctly, this bracket is around 4 inches in length? If
so, then the bracket is not necessary for proper installation. It is
an adapter plate.

Kate wrote:
I had an electrician come in and remove a florescent light fixture, and
install a standard interior light fixture that hugs the ceiling. It uses
one standard 60 watt bulb. This is in my pantry.

It did not have an electrical box, so he cut through the drywall and put one in.

After he left, I noticed that he did not use the metal mounting bar that
came with the fixture.

Is this OK, or could this present a problem down the road. I worry about
electrical fires, etc.

Thank you!

Kadee

What does the bar look like? There are at least two types of "metal
mounting bars".

One that let's you install a box between 2 joists like this...

http://www.alliedmoulded.com//ProductPics/9350-24C2.JPG

....and bars like this that can be used to mount "center post" fixtures or
fixtures where the mounting holes don't line up with the screw holes on the
box.

http://www.aolcdn.com/photogalleryas...90jn092310.jpg

In either case, it can't hurt to give him a call and ask. If he's a nice
guy, he'll explain it. If he doesn't, as in he blows you off or tells you
not to worry about, then you may indeed have a reason for concern about his
workmanship.

A trustworthy contractor will explain why he does things the way he does
and the explanation should make sense when he's done. If not, well, then
it's time to dig further.