How to Install Cable Lighting | All About Lights | Ask This Old House

[@benefactionhindrance]

Homeowner: Track lighting looks dated Electrician: let me give you something uglier

[@PJJ196]

The owners pick the stuff out bruh.. clearly operating on a budget

[@benefactionhindrance]

@@PJJ196 Oof!

[@IAmNotAFunguy]

Why halogen lighting in this application and not LEDs?

[@pepsicolachao4537]

LED’s are still fairly expensive and they came with the bulb. (Of course Scott inserted bulbs for him.)

[@shadowwalker23901]

a) " Rooms dark and we don't like the track lighting" b) "How about we install new track lighting" a) "Sounds Good" a) "Where done room feels bigger" b) "And brighter" I love the show ... but i think they steam rolled over the the fact they did not like the dated look of the track lighting and only addressed how dark the room was.

[@johndaniells4440]

I have concerns over the homeowners safety footwear. They were almost sock like in appearance.

[@MrE.Recked]

I as well was thinking its just a different track light but now hangs lower lol

[@peninsulahomerenovations9680]

Not to my taste, and seeing how the homeowner didn't like the track light that is not what I would have suggested. Plus 35wx6 is like installing a 210 watt heater along the ceiling. Their heads were almost hitting the lights... Just a little critique, I do enjoy TOH :)

[@joejoejoe451]

pvi...

[@_doty]

Terrible lighting solution for a room with such low ceilings. I like This Old House, but this suggestion was one of the worst I have seen. As others have pointed out, seven 35W lights create a huge draw just for lighting. Additionally, the homeowner could easily hit his head on the lights by mistak.

[@troywright5462]

You took the words right out of my mouth

[@abodalashkar5686]

Agree

[@EmoFox9]

its all scripted yknow,

[@TheInroad]

It's not about how stuff works in the space. It's about showing the viewers how to do stuff.

[@aurvaroy6670]

Yeah Scott sucks

[@yaosio]

When he said he didn't want track lighting but was okay with cable lighting I though it was some cool technology where light came out of a cable. Like a fiber optic cable or LED strips. Instead it's track lighting but with a bare cable.

[@redwhiteblue7831]

Low ceiling... so we'll install hanging lights...

[@redlense4]

LOL, I know. What about uhhhhh, recessed lights :-)?

[@aurvaroy6670]

I don't LED wafers were a thing back then...

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

Wonder how many times the family has bumped their heads on the cable or the scorching hot light heads.

[@jonasventurejr.6582]

The original lights were rotatable, instead of turning the light towards the room, they had to pointed at one wall so the rest of the room would look dark.

[@aurvaroy6670]

The homeowner wanted to get rid of those track lights

[@gagecarter1204]

What’s wrong with a few cut in boxes and wafer lights

[@MSI2k]

TOH, what are you trying to do? Get this guy a divorce? If his wife see that lighting system, she'll kick him out.

[@DuncanCunningham]

Are there cooler light options like LEDs on this system? Halogen is so hot

[@JaayDC]

Let's see some more electrician videos!!

[@jgroenveld1268]

Agree with the LED strips - especially for such a low ceiling. I would use a lamp for indirect lighting if that is what the home owner is looking for.

[@abghere]

Halogen? 35W x 7? Bad advise to the owner.

[@cup_and_cone]

abghere - Ya, that's a big load on a 12v transformer.

[@verdatum]

I believe there was an 8th just out of frame. 280W just to light a small room? Maybe the house is somewhere cold and they needed the extra heat.

[@Binkoro]

Can cable rails accommodate GU10 bulbs too? Or can they only accommodate low voltage bulbs like the MR16?

[@r3d0c]

LED light strips

[@billyandjohnny7734]

rhn9

[@Machete21510]

why is the ceiling so low?

[@verdatum]

The builders had short arms.

[@richardkaz2336]

Or short legs. Or both

[@Machete21510]

good one..?

[@jpian0923]

Because babies start out short.

[@conryan169]

It,s not the Floor is too high.

[@nhcharmedone]

Much rather have LEDS, these are using more power, and are going to crank out too much heat!

[@failuremagnet]

First rule of electrician business - sell whatever crap you have leftover in your truck from a cancelled job. And charge twice as much! But, it'll be good exercise for the kid when he/she stands up in their crib and hangs from the wiring!

[@hi-ks6sh]

I wonder what they did to those new looking dome lights

[@BradPow]

What happens when someone grabs both cables? do they get a 7 volt shock?

[@verdatum]

No. First, they have a resistive coating that the screws pierce into. Second, 12 (not 7) volts is not enough to go through the skin. You shouldn't go licking the 2 stripped wires at the same time, but this is pretty safe. Much bigger risk of the kid trying to monkeybar those wires until they yank out of the ceiling.

[@fixins]

Are you supposed to twist the wires together before you use a wire nut or not? I've heard people say both. This particular electrician twisted them together and then put the nut over the bunch. What's the right way?

[@joshuabrixey4679]

It varies depending on who you listen to, however the basics stay the same so this should help. The wires are supposed to be held together by twisting them together, this can be done either before adding the wire nut or through additional twists of the wire nut during installation (not recommended for larger groups of wires). The primary use of a wire nut is for insulation, it can be used to hold wires together but that use isn't recommended. This is partially due to the fact that wire nuts age and the plastic decays over time. If the wires aren't bonded together in a permanent fashion then when the plastic becomes brittle and breaks due to the internal stress, caused by the conductors/wires internal memory and other outside forces like short cables and tight electrical boxes, the wires will jump away from each other causing a loss of power, potentially electrifying the immediate area and "hopefully" throwing the fuse. There is a metal component in most wire nuts that helps prevent extreme cases of failure but it is not intended as the primary means of cable bonding. Note: I am not a licensed electrician and thus may have not completely answered the question but this should suffice.

[@FifthDread]

Did they even explore the option of recessed lighting???

[@r1ckastl3y86]

The homeowner did not want recessed lighting.

[@FORRELLARRINDELL]

Where can I find the tool belt that you are working with? Send me a link so that I can purchase the same one like yours or a little bit better.

[@SuperToughnut]

Why not go with recessed lights?

[@cframe571]

Why not recessed can lights. More head room. I didn't realize they made these type of "cable lights".

[@joezer64]

The cables remind me of the cables on power lines on the streets

[@vince6829]

Thanks for sharing

[@RichardGMoss]

Why halogen? What's wrong with LED?

[@danmantyla3315]

exposed wires in a baby's nursery room? yeah, great idea!! low voltage or not.

[@r1ckastl3y86]

FYI the wires are not exposed, they have a covering on them so you don't get shocked. Smh.

[@ThiasRussell]

Nice installation, but why not install a LED light strib ??? Thx for sharing Regards.

[@dolphfren]

Homeowner: Track lighting looks dated Electrician: Let's put up this modern track light that's way more Fugly

[@kapahi15]

I thought it was pretty cool great job!

[@r1ckastl3y86]

Same here. I like the older look they give honestly.

[@zekenzy6486]

nice work

[@julianreverse]

This is so 90s :-D

[@Arieeeee]

This ceiling is just too low for a track. I would have put in recessed lights.

[@ccoit]

I know they are low voltage, but it would have to sting if you touched those cables by accident.

[@jonathang4963]

My concern is when they want to move a light is you'll have a gap in insulation. I guess you are just supposed to put electrical tape over the bare spots

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

The entire wire is electrified. But It's likely 12 or 24 volts "low voltage" direct current (DC) so you won't get a shock.

[@markslinger3327]

how low is that ceiling? I'm 6'6", I'd be worried about walking into the wires

[@mushroom89]

Could have just used the existing track lighting to run more track

[@edwallace827]

Who knew? Knob and tube wireing is back.

[@HJCF0520]

I love TOH videos but this light wasn't the best for the application. Not to mention about 20 amps on the 12v transformer.

[@andres783]

35Wx7 lights, thats 245W while that room is lit up. Not only are the lights too close to the heads of the two guys, the heat those things give out will be annoying.

[@matthewwong1064]

I would have installed 2 flush mounts.

[@BBQPitmaster626]

I was waiting for him to mention that there's a dimmer. Almost all of his videos he adds a dimmer.

[@MrEljavi84]

To all commenters who say TOH gave bad advice on using halogen lights, they do what the homeowner wants. If the homeowner wants to jack up his electric bill then that's his problem, not TOHs.

[@jonasventurejr.6582]

It is the shows duty and responsibility to advice a new home owner on what is the best for the application, but in this instance , it was merely a product placement to sell by the company and the show had to install it on the someone house for free on camera so the company would pay them.

[@regibson23]

You're kidding me right? TOH gets a bunch of free products and they put in whatever crap they have on hand.

[@clydebalcom8252]

I'm not sure about that. I prefer wall sconces in a small room like that.

[@wakeupscreaming9883]

I didn't mind the so-called "dated look" of the old track lighting. it's just a certain style. you also had all of the lights pointed at the one wall, I guess to make it more dramatic it wasn't lighting up the entire room?? the new setup looks like it has an even lower height clearance than the first. I'm 6'5" so I notice things like that.

[@goemaerefabian6998]

excellent boulot

[@Bremend]

Wait, so just stick a hand up and you bridge the two wires...

[@gangisspawn1]

I'm optimistically assuming they have barbs like landscape lighting. But knowing TOH, probably not.

[@Pelo1969]

Cable lighting . So 90's !

[@BlastarX]

They forgot to say and much much much hotter !!

[@gerardoandrade6966]

Should have gone with recessed lights.

[@gokblok]

TAAAAAAAAACCKKKKYYYYYY

[@alexgault8500]

If he didn't like track lighting, and with how low those ceilings are, why not put in recessed lighting? Or a wall mounted set of lights? Those hanging lights seem like a hazard through and through. Imagine ripping that down when you install the furniture...

[@Mr.sassaman]

The new lights are awful looking. Jesus. And the ceilings are so low! Why hang lights all over the ceiling?

[@bmich281]

great shoebox room. Perfect lighting .

[@matthewnowak3488]

Halogens are to hot to run, he could’ve did LED low voltage or light strips as mentioned above.

[@kangjohan78]

Im more disturbed by the fact the cables are exposed. I do know they carry low Voltages, but it seems very inviting for someone to like pull on them or tug at them or short circuit them, etc.

[@dr4z1el]

First time I ever see an electrician turn off the breaker before changing a light fixture wired through a switch.

[@aurvaroy6670]

He always does that in his videos

[@jabberjaws09]

That's gross. "I don't like track lighting", okays well you're dumb and I'm going to put up cable track lighting. That's how the conversation went.

[@thebigdoghimself]

Seriously, 2017 and you are installing Halogen lighting into the guy's house?

[@ikecostner1]

John Salazar low voltage

[@thebigdoghimself]

Yes, they also make 12v ac as well as 12v dc LED's.

[@thebigdoghimself]

plus it's uglier than sin.

[@KarlBunker]

I wonder if this is an old clip. Sometimes they release older stuff on this KZbin channel. (Still ugly, though.)

[@fd3871]

it is not, literally just released on their website as part of their ongoing ask TOH videos

[@almcken2]

my head hurts just watching this. such low ceiling. go back and fix this mess !

[@no_name9825]

It’s easy to say y’all would do different, but let’s consider what’s above the sheetrock and the direction in which the ceiling joists run. As an electrician I have to say that I personally would have chose razor cans if there was accessible attic space above. I can understand this electricians choice and if the room had taller ceilings this would be even more appropriate.

[@daveoverbey2032]

I don't get it why you would hang drop lighting in a room where the ceiling is what 6' or so feet high! I understand it's a baby's room, but even then you're in there with the wires & lights running level with your eyes. I think I would have put some sort of soffit that beams light up onto the ceiling & down the wall hiding the bright lights from your eyes giving more a soft glow. Really you don't need to blind your baby with bright lights anyway, but still it be illuminating the room. Bedrooms & especially baby's rooms should not be so bright. As a baby growing up in foster care I was in homes that we slept in the darkest corners to learn not to fear the dark & now I never do or did fear it. People are taught fear when parents overreact to every scratch or bump that they make such a fuss over. I was taught to shake it off & so I did. I raised my kids that if they fell & looked O.K I did not allow anyone to run to his or her rescue. Not that I was not concerned but I observed with caution & if so they were really hurt I'd be the first to take him to the emergency if so it is an emergency But not on a scratch or a splinter or any bump. We are getting too soft on ourselves & raising our children to be crybaby's.

[@phonedave]

Taste is subjective, but man is that a small room. It's not a bedroom, but a large closet.

[@Techmatt167Official]

Everything is fine but it just made the room much shorter

[@JulieHewes-lt9lk]

Two questions. Why? And what on earth were they thinking?

[@rezheenrashid1724]

I don't think it is safe !

[@verdatum]

Why not safe? 12V is low enough that you can touch it with most everything short of your tongue and not even feel it; it doesn't have enough potential to complete a circuit across the skin. Really the biggest risk I see is that as the kid grows up, they're likely to play with it, and potentially break it; causing it to tear away from the ceiling.

[@holeinsock1000]

start with painting the walls that yellow looks like crap than worry about lighting lol

[@DrDman14]

Pt 2 How to replace lights after a divorce......

[@nathanstephenson7917]

Sure, low voltage...but what about the amperage? that is what is deadly..not voltage. Tesla proved that time and time again. I love the concept..but unsure of long time use with some rough and tumble kids.

[@Mrmudbone_gaming]

Unsafe for a child, ugly, and outdated. Why? Why not use LEDs and recessed lighting? It's a really small room with a low ceiling. I think recessed would be the best option.

[@aerial9719]

If that is going to be the kids room I have a bad feeling those exposed wires will get ripped out.... kids being kids....

[@verdatum]

And you intend to have that as a kid's room? They better hope he's nothing like me. I can think of about 4 different ways 9-year-old would have broken the crap out of that setup. Unlike track-lights, Those suspended cables are an attractive nuisance.

[@regibson23]

Well they may be inefficient halogen and you'll band your head against them, but at least they're hideous.

[@TheHobbyShopFilms]

Simple can lighting with LED's would be much better. You can use a combo of spot lights and flood LED's. I dislike halogen lighting.

[@ekhlastusar3520]

I want bangla tutorial video ligjtining arestor

[@scottgiberson6693]

Recessed lighting would have been nicer

[@BrandonLado]

this is the ugliest thing i’ve ever seen in my life

[@cup_and_cone]

That 12v transformer will be first thing to fail. I would have converted the existing junction box to a recessed light, then jumper off another 3 recessed lights around the room, making sure they use a standard E26 base for easy replacement...and just stick LED floods into them.

[@Pytre1]

They're going to feel silly when they have to patch so many holes when the cable lights go out of style in 2010.

[@MrBAchompBAchomp]

watch your head!

[@RodCastanedacom]

Ok... Euro Trolls, why wouldn’t this pass in Europe?

[@AutoUnder]

Doesn't look good at all, I would have extended the existing track around the room and replaced the heads.

[@alteredexistence4115]

I'm sorry but that looks horrible and I could be seeing this wrong but do the pins to tighten the lights puncture the cable on the ceiling to get power? Seems like a terrible and unsafe design if you ask me.

[@verdatum]

It looks like it does. But even if you move the lights leaving punctures behind, they really aren't any more dangerous than the fact that the leads on a battery are exposed. 12v you could directly grab hold of the bare wires with one hand, and it wouldn't complete a circuit. You'd have to really work to short it out, and even if you did, you'd likely just pop the breaker; maybe manage a couple sparks. (But yeah, I agree that it doesn't look good)

[@alteredexistence4115]

I've been shocked before without a popped breaker so I know this to not always be true(safety first people)...rofl and yea I noticed the leads as well...smh

[@verdatum]

you can absolutely get shocked on 120v. That has enough potential to go through your skin. 12v does not unless you try touching the wires to your tongue. "Short it out" means to pierce the plastic with that screw on both ends, then jam a copper wire into the two holes, directly connecting the hot and the neutral. This makes the most resistive portion of wire start to heat up, and since the resistance is close to 0 ohms, this causes the amps to spike, and the breaker to trip. No aspect of shorting out 12v would shock you; just possibly burn you.

[@JoeGP]

not what i expected, would never use those

[@Dredpath1]

In 10 years when your kid is grown up, I don’t think he/she will want that.

[@ss4george]

Terrible solution

[@MrCharliechayna]

that was the worst choice of light for a nursery, and halogen globes. get with the times bro. wtf is that transformer,

[@ethanlowry8757]

COUGH knob and tube 2.0 COUGH

[@HoofHearted2DAY]

Someone's gunna 'clothesline' themselves in that room - cables are low!

[@synthscamp7446]

These people are really ducks. Those halogen lamps will be perfect for their nursery!

[@jakeskinner2700]

Me and my wife want to start a family tonight

[@GonzoAudioTips]

This guy is always a hack! I keep watching like watching a trainwreck! Horrible solutions!

[@fnhwk]

Gonzo scott does good work, just dont always agree with his solutions such as in this video. However I'm sure the customer had selected those lights ahead of time. If it's what the customer wants, then it is what they get even if it looks retarded.

[@gokblok]

Stop letting Scott pick out fixtures.

[@paigem]

t..turn the heads the other way? lol just sayin

[@phatrides222000]

wtf? hell no! Just continue the track lighting!

[@fprintf]

Did the homeowner seriously think this was a good look with the low ceiling height? That big white thing, plus those lights hanging low. We cringe every time Scott Caron installs anything, but often just watch to see what a mess he is going to make of some homeowner's home. He has no sense of style at all, he needs someone to help him pick out the right fixtures.