Track lighting can hang from a dropped ceiling if you use special brackets.
A drop ceiling is a secondary ceiling that hangs a few inches below the primary one. Drop ceilings are composed of lightweight acoustic tiles and thin plastic or aluminum supports, so they aren't strong enough to hold track lighting on their own. But track lighting can be used with a drop ceiling if special brackets and hanger wires are added. The primary ceiling still will carry the weight, but the lights will hang from the drop ceiling.
Instructions
1. Mark the length of ceiling on which the track lights will be attached with a washable marker. Make the marks on the ceiling supports and not on the tiles so they can be removed later with soap and water.
2. Lift the tiles around the marked areas and tilt them slightly to allow them to slide out between the supports. Remove the tiles from the ceiling and lay them against a wall nearby to prevent them from getting damaged.
3. Add an additional hanger wire to the ceiling supports at both ends of where the track lights need to be. This wire will help support the weight of the lighting fixture. If a hanger wire already is present, add another wire. The first wire already supports the weight of the ceiling and shouldn't be expected to handle an extra load.
4. Install the brackets onto the by snapping them into place.
5. Mount an eyebolt into the actual ceiling above each of the brackets. Tie a length of wire to the eyebolts long enough to extend a few inches past the ceiling support.
6. Route the building's wiring to that part of the ceiling. Make sure the electricity is turned off and follow all applicable building codes. Verify there is no power present by checking the wires with a non-contact voltage tester. Make sure wires don't hang against the ceiling tiles or support grid.
7. Attach the track lights to the brackets by sliding the lighting mounts into place and securing them with screws. Tie the loose hanger wires to the lighting mounts to catch the track lighting if the brackets fail.
8. Connect the building's wiring to the track lighting by use of wire nuts. The black wires tie together, the white wires tie together and the bare or ground wire connects to the green wire. Make sure all of the connections are secure. Turn on the circuit to the wiring and test to make sure they work.
9. Lift the ceiling tiles into the ceiling at an angle so they will fit through the holes, then straighten them out and put them in place.
Tags: , building wiring, ceiling special, ceiling special brackets, ceiling support, ceiling supports