Running potlights in an unfinished basement - Toronto

Submitted by otaknap t3_ycevp0 in DIY

I'm planning on running potlights in my unfinished basement. The house was just built this year and I don't plan on finishing the basement any time soon (if ever).

Typically, the slim led potlights are springloaded and hung on the drywall ceiling. I'm assuming the junction box is just placed inside the drywall bare. Since I have an unfinished basement, can I just sit a small piece of plywood inbetween the joists (tightly fitted such that it I don't need to screw it down), drill a hole for the potlight to install and then sit the junction box on top of the plywood. Plywood would obviously have to be large enough to hold both the potlight and junction box. Is there any issue with doing it this way? I'm assuming the junction box is all metal so it's grounded so it should be fine but I'm not sure.

There are multiple reasons why I plan on doing it this way. One reason is that potlights are cheaper than flush mount lights. Flushmount lights are going to require an electrical box and I have spare plywood lying around. Another reason is that it's less invasive, I'm not screwing anything into the joists. I'm simply just sitting the light and junction box on top of the plywood which is sitting inbetween the joists. If I leave enough slack on the 14-2, I can even move the potlights up and down the joists. Lastly, if I decide to finish the basement in the future, I can reuse the potlights as I would probably install potlights anyway.

I just want to make sure that installing the potlights on plywood is not going to cause any safety issue.

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danauns t1_itlqexn wrote

It's fine.

You should anchor the plywood, in fact it would have to be anchored to pass inspection if you ever chose to. ....you can't just have hard wired lights floating freely.

Add a screw or two to hold the wood in, and also anchor the controller/junction box and your good.

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otaknap OP t1_itlrmbd wrote

Thanks so much for your reply!

I was definitely going to anchor the junction box but I wasn't going to anchor the plywood. Depending on the circumstance and how tightly I can get the plywood to fit, I might have to. I wasn't planning on getting an inspection as I'm pulling the line from an existing circuit light and won't be touching the panel.

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usedTP t1_itm1o86 wrote

I don't understand why you don't want to screw the plywood to the bottom of the joists.

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otaknap OP t1_itm2cxj wrote

my joist has a 2x3 on the bottom of it which gives it a lip for a piece of plywood to sit on top. If the plywood fits very snug, I am thinking that it might not be necessary to screw it in. That way (without enough 14-2 slack), I can move the light a little bit if it needs adjustment. Also easier to remove if I ever decide to finish the basement. I will definitely screw it into the joist if it's not snug.

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usedTP t1_itm3m7q wrote

It's yours. Do what you want but 2 screws through plywood into a joist is nothing compared the the safety and reliability it would give you.

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dominus_aranearum t1_itm4stj wrote

Rather than just setting the included j-box on the plywood, secure it to the top of the plywood.

How are you planning to run your Romex? Drilling through the webbing of your TJIs? Stapling Romex to the bottom of joists is only code compliant (at least in the US) if there is backing, meaning you can go along one joist, but can't go from joist to joist to joist.

334.15 Exposed Work.

(C) In Unfinished Basements and Crawl Spaces. Where cable is run at angles with joists in unfinished basements and crawl spaces, it shall be permissible to secure cables not smaller than two 6 AWG or three 8 AWG conductors directly to the lower edges of the joists. Smaller cables shall be run either through bored holes in joists or on running boards. Nonmetallic-sheathed cable installed on the wall of an unfinished basement shall be permitted to be installed in a listed conduit or tubing or shall be protected in accordance with 300.4.

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otaknap OP t1_itma96k wrote

I was planning on securing the drivers (same as j-box?) on the the plywood but not planning on securing the plywood on the joist if the fit is tight.

Sorry for my lack of knowledge but what is the "webbing of your TJIs"? Not quite sure I understand. I was planning on just running the down the same joist and if i have to go to a parallel joist, drill through the osb in the middle of the joist or perhaps use one of the existing holes (if it already exists).

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dominus_aranearum t1_itmcgkd wrote

I'll assume your "potlights" are ultra-slim LED can lights?

An LED driver is the power supply that outputs the necessary power for the LEDs. The j-box would be the metal box where the electrical connection is made.

The webbing on a TJI is the OSB between the upper and lower chords. Just be sure to follow proper spacing and sizing when drilling through the joists.

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big_sugi t1_itmgtaf wrote

I was thinking these are cannabis grow lights

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dominus_aranearum t1_itmnl5b wrote

Possible but that would be really unwise given that it's an unfinished basement and being able to adjust humidity properly throughout the grow process would be a nightmare.

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big_sugi t1_itmnsxn wrote

Probably true; I don’t know much about the logistics of a grow operation.

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otaknap OP t1_itmroo4 wrote

thanks for the info! i'm assuming for the slim style LED drivers, a junction box or jbox isn't needed. so I'm assuming you were using the two terms interchangeably? Normally, I would ground the 14/2 wire on the junction box but given that there is no junction box and just the driver, I assumed that grounding the junction box within is adequate and I can simply just place or screw the driver on the plywood.

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dominus_aranearum t1_itmtgto wrote

Do you have a link for the lights you're using?

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otaknap OP t1_itn32o5 wrote

I haven't purchased them yet but I'm thinking about something like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/NURATEX-Recessed-Junction-Dimmable-IC-Rated/dp/B08ZJPXHDS/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCOJ5LhzzoniTws--Tf2Nr3DH9PVGwMucPQ7eWKHq8Ae1V-b7XfjgFhoCDW0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=442915811017&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9061009&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7745768066846521107&hvtargid=kwd-920215550283&hydadcr=13537_9588713&keywords=amazon%2Bled%2Bpot%2Blights&qid=1666641884&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-3-spons&th=1

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dominus_aranearum t1_itn3sff wrote

The metal box is the j-box/driver in this case. Use stress relief on your romex and attach it to the plywood.

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Razkal719 t1_itmfukx wrote

What LED can lights are you looking at? Usually the springs are to secure the LED into an existing can as a replacement for an incandescent bulb. The springs hold up the LED like the baffle trim is secured in a standard can light. I've not seen ones designed to secure directly to drywall, that doesn't sound UL or IEEE approved at all.

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otaknap OP t1_itms04g wrote

i was looking at potlights like the ones in the below link

https://www.amazon.ca/NURATEX-Recessed-Junction-Dimmable-IC-Rated/dp/B08ZJPXHDS/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCOJ5LhzzoniTws--Tf2Nr3DH9PVGwMucPQ7eWKHq8Ae1V-b7XfjgFhoCDW0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=442915811017&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9061009&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7745768066846521107&hvtargid=kwd-920215550283&hydadcr=13537_9588713&keywords=amazon%2Bled%2Bpot%2Blights&qid=1666641884&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-3-spons&th=1

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Razkal719 t1_itmxa55 wrote

Well, that's a new one to me. But you're right they are made to just clip to the drywall. Buy a couple extras because those aren't replaceable bulbs, if one goes out you'll need to replace the hole unit.

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ThozAlan t1_itn6i8h wrote

I am thinking of doing the same thing. Not sure if avail in CA, but looking at this for mounting:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/TRENZ-Lighting-6-in-Pre-Mounting-Plate/1001770474

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otaknap OP t1_itnreid wrote

Yes they do sell this. It's typically installed at the bottom of the joist and helps the drywaller locate the rough-in. Although I'm sure it'll support the weight of the fixture and driver, I'm slightly worried. I also feel it looks cleaner if the entire thing was in the cavity of the joists. Plus, I have extra wood available.

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