Electrical – Re-wiring plugged shop lights to LED panels

electricalledlighting

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT even close to an electrician, but I like to think I am fairly intelligent and can follow directions well…

I am in the process of remodeling my basement. I have a suspended/drop ceiling and I plan on replacing the ceiling panels in it, track system covers, etc. The basement currently uses 4 fluorescent bulb shop lights (see picture). Each shop light is plugged in to an outlet in the ceiling joist and all are controlled by a single lightswitch.

I would like to replace these with 2×4 LED panel lights that will actually hang in the suspended ceiling. They are Cortelco 2x4ft LED Troffer Panels.

My Question: Should I just wire a plug onto the LED panels and be done with it or do I rewire to get rid of the outlets and make the lights hardwired?

cob plug

mess

plug2
shop lights

Best Answer

Hard wire your new lights.

NEC 410.62 Cord Connected Lampholders and Luminaires
(C)Electric-Discharge and LED Luminaires
(1)Cord Connection Installation. A luminaire...shall be permitted to be cord connected provided...the cord is visible over its entire length except at terminations.