How to Layout a pendant lighting design on the ceiling

Trying to layout a pattern of lights on a ceiling can be a difficult task
when there are factors like angled walls or vaulted ceilings. We recently
needed to install some pendant lighting in a diamond pattern similar to
the photo on the right. The ceiling is vaulted or sloped which makes
doing the layout on the ceiling very difficult. On this page I will show
you the techniques you can use to accomplish this project.
The first step is to figure out what the pattern of lights is going
to be. This can be for a single light or any number. In this
particular project, we are installing 9 pendants in a diamond
pattern. Because your laying this out on the floor first, it makes
it easier to find the position such as where a table or island is
going to be. In this case it is a dining room table. Once we
have the table location, we find the center and that is the
starting point. Using blue painters tape pencil marks can be
made for the center of each fixture.

Once you have a layout that your happy with and you have
double checked all your measurements, you will need to
transfer these points to the ceiling. You can use a plumb bob
on a string to do this, but it can be a bit slow. A great way to
accomplish this is with a laser plumb. These have become
relatively inexpensive and is an amazing time saver.


This is the laser plumb bob used to do this job. It is made by
Stanley, and I am very happy with it.

Using the laser plumb it is placed so that the bottom laser dot is
on the cross hair you drew on the tape on the floor. This will
shine the laser point on the floor up to the ceiling. Using a pencil,
make a cross hair making the laser dot the center. Repeat this
process for each light fixture until you have the entire layout
transferred to the ceiling.

Once all the marks are on the ceiling, the boxes will need to be
cut out and the wiring run to each.
On this project, all nine lights will be controlled from one location. The light fixtures being
used are Tech lighting Biz Low Voltage pendants.(go to page 10 on this link)These are wired
line voltage and each fixture has a transformer in the canopy. In a new work situation they
can be wired with a transformer in a remote location like a basement

The picture on the right is not the fixtures. What you see here is
some plastic funnels hanging on string. We used this to determine
the heights for this pattern. Since the actual fixtures are time
consuming to install and the height not easily changed, we want
this to be right the first time. Doing it this way also allows you to
play around with different heights. In this case we are using 4
different heights.
The job is complete now and here are the photos
pendant lights
Low Volatge Pendant Lights
Pendant lights
Pendant light fixture low voltage
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How to Layout a pendant
lighting design on the ceiling