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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)