LED EMT (Electric Metallic Tubing) Light Fixture (Old School)

by steeleb in Workshop > Lighting

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LED EMT (Electric Metallic Tubing) Light Fixture (Old School)

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An LED is what's called a "solid-state lighting" technology, or SSL. Basically, instead of emitting light from a vacuum

(as in an incandescent bulb) or a gas (as in a CFL), an SSL emits light from a piece of solid matter.

In the case of a traditional LED, that piece of matter is a semiconductor.

Stated very simply, an LED produces light when electrons move around within its semiconductor structure.

To find out the cost to operate your new light fixture see this Cost-Calculator

Recommended Tools

  • Wire strippers
  • drill
  • 5/32" drill bit
  • Round file
  • Flat file
  • Hack Saw
  • flat screw driver
  • channel lock pliers

Materials

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Cost $55.00

  • 10 ft ½ inch EMT electrical conduit (cut Two 40 inch & Two 20 inch)
  • 4 Standard Base Snap-in light Socket
  • 3 Wire-Nut Wire Connectors, 22 to 14 AWG, Orange
  • 6 Wire-Nut Wire Connectors, 18 to 10 AWG, Red
  • 4 1 7/8 inch deep handy boxes with ½ inch knock outs
  • 4 Handy box 20 A Receptacle Cover (1.594" Dia)
  • 8 ½ inch set screw EMT connectors
  • 4 ¼ inch eye bolts
  • 8 ¼ inch nuts
  • 4 S hooks
  • 4 Pieces fixture chain
  • 4 1 inch screws
  • 12 foot #14 black copper wire
  • 12 foot #14 white copper wire
  • 3 or 4 ft 14/3 rubber cord (Length will depend on location of Receptacle, if used)
  • 1 Straight Blade male Plug, 15A 125V, 5-15P, Polarized (If used, Cord can be wired into switched junction box)
  • 4 LED Light Bulbs (40, 60 OR 100 watt equiv.)
  • 1 Can Spray Paint (your choice of color)

Cut EMT & Connect to Handy Boxes

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emt cont
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Cut Two 40 inch & Two 20 inch pieces of pipe

Use a round file (or channel locks handles) to remove burrs from pipe (see picture)

Connect all four handy boxes (see video & picture)

Using two 1/4 inch nuts install one eye bolt to each handy box

Keep project square! (neatness counts!)

Paint with your color (Let paint dry)

Add fixture chain using a S hook (see picture)

Modify Light Socket & Receptacle Cover

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Mark new holes on Receptacle Cover

Place in a vice

Drill out new holes with 5/32" drill bit

notch out slot for Lt socket to fit (see photos)

Its time to paint!

Fish Wires Into EMT Pipe

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Fish wires into EMT conduit pipe

Use a #14 black copper wire & #14 white copper wire

Connect all 4 handy boxes with the #14 copper wires (Allow 8 inches of wire to extend from each box for electrical conections)

Strip off about an 3/4 inch of insulation on each wire (see photo)

The end of each wire must be even as in photo

Connect the ground wire to handy box where power cord enters box

Twist the two stranded white wires from power cord & light Socket together

Twist the two stranded black wires from power cord & light Socket together

Place the end of each wire (stranded & solid) even as in photo and screw on the wire nut (turning clockwise until tight)

To finish off your wiring repeat the same steps with the remaining exposed wires in each handy box

Connect the Last Light Socket & Install the Male Plug

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Installing a Male Plug to a Rubber Cord

Connect the last light Socket (only one stranded & one solid wire in this box) see photos

Don't twist these last two wires (the wire nut will twist them) just get them even & screw on the orange wire nut

Install the male Plug if used (See video)

*****Fixture can be wired to a switched junction box) ****

See the last step

Finishing Step

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Note ***Fixture can be wired to a switched circuit***

**** Caution be sure the circuit breaker & and or switch is off (test with volt meter before working) ****

Install your choice of LED Light Bulbs (40, 60 OR 100 watt equiv.) light bulbs

Using the fixture chain hang the light to nails or one inch screws

Plug it into your switched Receptacle (or wire into a switched circuit)