Installing a grow light above the shelf

Tools needed: tape measure, pencil, drill and hooks.


MAKE SURE THE HOOKS YOU CHOOSE CAN SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE LIGHT YOU ARE GOING TO HANG!

Most likely you want the light to hang over the middle of the shelf. You want it to hang centered directly above the shelf. To do this measure equal distance from the back wall to where you will put the hooks. For example, I measured 7“ from the back wall for each hook. This put the roughly 9" wide light in the middle of my 12" shelf. To figure this out for yourself, put the light on the shelf (or shelf supports if you put the shelf up last) and mark where it is centered. (You should not have bulbs in the light when you do this)
The T5HO I got from HTGSupply.com has a total length of 48” and the wires used to support the light (which happily and securely are already attached to the light) are 42” apart. So, I put two marks on the ceiling 7” off the back wall and 42” apart above the shelf. (It might be easier to put the hooks in before you actually attach the shelf to the shelf supports so that you can work directly under where you put the hooks) Keep in mind that you need to leave 3” of space beyond the hooks for a light like this. You don’t want the hooks in the ceiling right next to a wall resulting in the light being propped up against the wall.

Good Growing,
DR. E. R. Myers