Help with hanging pool table light

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Digger0038

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Everyone,

I am not sure if this is the area to ask this but I thought I would give it a try. Hopefully one of you can help me. I have a light that I want to put over my pool table but there are a few issues and I am not sure how to install it.
1. The light weighs about 10lbs and has 2 -4' flourescent bulbs with a plug. I need to change the plug to a wire that I can hardwire into my ceiling light box (ceiling box is not located over table).

2. My ceiling over the table is vaulted and there is not a stud directly over the table to screw some hooks into. There is no room to crawl into the ceiling to put cross bracing. Without moving the table what options do I have for hanging the light? Will some type of lag bolts through the drywall work or is the light to heavy?
 
I just hung the same sized light two days ago in typical ceiling drywall. I used some wall anchors and it seems very sturdy if you ask me.
 
I've always liked this type for drywall.

How many anchor points (chains etc.) are connected to the light?

Is the plug a heavier gauge three prong?
 

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Digger0038 said:
it has 2 chains and the plug is a heavier gauge 3 prong.
Click to expand...


I think the anchors will work. If you're really concerned you could add two more chains....so there would be two from each source that is securing the original chains. you would end up with two chains that form a V shape on each side of the light and you would use a total of four anchors in the drywall.



All these things are available at a good hardware store. Take a picture of the light with you and find someone who has some knowledge and see if they can offer advice.



I'm not an electrician but if the wire gauge is heavy enough you should be able to wire it direct, you should have hot, neutral and ground. Consult someone with more knowledge than myself about that though.

Digger0038 said:
also is it ok to stand on the table or am I taking a chance on unleveling it?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the table you own but to be safe you could just build a bridge over it. A couple step ladders and a plank would work. Just make sure the step ladders are sturdy and the plank can handle your weight.

If anything that I have stated needs to be explained more clear let me know. I have plenty of ideas....:D
 

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A 1/4 inch toggle eye on each chain will be strong enough to hold your lamp. A three wire plug has the bare or green wire for the ground, a white for the neutral, and the red, blue or black wire for the hot.

If there is a switch involved, this may change how the wires are used. If you have only three wires in your electrical box, don't worry about it.

Standing on your table in your socks is fine. Unless you have an $89 table with a plywood playing surface. :smile:

If you have a problem figuring out the wiring, draw a wiring diagram and I will tell you how to hook it up. I've been wiring for over 30 years and I may be able to help.

Best,
Mike
 
Mikjary said:
A 1/4 inch toggle eye on each chain will be strong enough to hold your lamp. A three wire plug has the bare or green wire for the ground, a white for the neutral, and the red, blue or black wire for the hot.

If there is a switch involved, this may change how the wires are used. If you have only three wires in your electrical box, don't worry about it.

Standing on your table in your socks is fine. Unless you have an $89 table with a plywood playing surface. :smile:

If you have a problem figuring out the wiring, draw a wiring diagram and I will tell you how to hook it up. I've been wiring for over 30 years and I may be able to help.
Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

Mike obviously knows what he is talking about. He saved me from saying it:thumbup:
 
Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate how helpfull everyone here has been. We are in the process of slowly moving into the house where I put the table. It was the first thing I purchased and had delivered into the house (priorities). I am moving the rest of the stuff in later in the week and plan on putting up the light sometime late in the weekend or next week. When I'm there I will look inside the light box and see what the wires are.

My wife wishes the table only cost $89.00.....It's solid wood with wood backing behind the slate. Standing on it will make it easier to get it centered.

2012-09-13_12-15-31_909.jpg
 
Find the center of the table and measure this distance off each side wall. Transfer these distances to the ceiling. Don't estimate while standing on the table or having a helper tell you when it "looks good". :smile:

Best,
Mike
 
Digger0038 said:
Hi Everyone,

I am not sure if this is the area to ask this but I thought I would give it a try. Hopefully one of you can help me. I have a light that I want to put over my pool table but there are a few issues and I am not sure how to install it.
1. The light weighs about 10lbs and has 2 -4' flourescent bulbs with a plug. I need to change the plug to a wire that I can hardwire into my ceiling light box (ceiling box is not located over table).

2. My ceiling over the table is vaulted and there is not a stud directly over the table to screw some hooks into. There is no room to crawl into the ceiling to put cross bracing. Without moving the table what options do I have for hanging the light? Will some type of lag bolts through the drywall work or is the light to heavy?
Click to expand...

Typically if your light has a plug, what you would do is change the ceiling box to a receptacle box, add a receptacle and plug the fixture in.

To hang a light in an off center location, locate the studs and bolt on a piece of wood or sturdy channel metal as a cross member on the surface, do the same a few feet away, then hang the light off the cross members like the illustration below. This will be very strong. If you paint the cross member s the same color as the ceiling, they will not be an eyesore.
 

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Digger0038 said:
1. The light weighs about 10lbs and has 2 -4' flourescent bulbs with a plug. I need to change the plug to a wire that I can hardwire into my ceiling light box (ceiling box is not located over table).
Click to expand...

Remove the ceiling light all the way down to the electrical box.
Install a pug in the electrical box.
Install a shield cover around the pug to cover the electrical stuff inside.

2. My ceiling over the table is vaulted and there is not a stud directly over the table to screw some hooks into.
Click to expand...

Find studs and build a cross brace between studs using lag bolts.
Hang light from these cross braces.

Use some lag leadscrew hooks to carry electrical wire from plug to the cables holding the light in 1-2 foot increments.
Use cable ties to hold electrical wire to cable. Leave wire a little loose.
 
I had a pro set up my table( who has a lot of experience and is a pool player) and asked him about standing on it to put the light up and he said to put a piece of plywood on the table. If your table is a 4 1/2 x 9, it should fit perfect. He said the weight would be distributed evenly on the plywood and it would not affect the level of the table.
 
Standing on the table is not a good move. If you have any doubt about it ask one of the Table Mechanics.
 
Digger0038 said:
also is it ok to stand on the table or am I taking a chance on unleveling it?
Click to expand...

Do Not Stand On the Table! Put a ladder on both sides of the table and create a walkboard using a 2x8 or an actual walkboard for construction.

Use drywall anchors from Lowe's or Home Depot. They sell them, with the hook for the chain, that will support, individually, up to 75 lbs. Works like a charm.

Everything Billiards
www.everythingbilliards.net
 
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