Floating ceiling lights

Large-scale, seemingly now-screw ceiling lights

Submitted by: Jürgen, Stuttgart, Germany

Online since: 03/07/2009

Topside of the case board

Instructions for floating ceiling lights

Goal: Changing or maintaining lights or halogen transformers without tools thanks to the use of magnets.

Caution: Use an electrician for the electric installation!

Preparing the case board

Use a light-weight construction case board and mill round openings to the botom side to embed the magnets and bulbs.
Mill two cavities to the top side for wood with safety chains.
Drill through the entire wood for cables (slits) and the transformers (round holes).

Later, the whole board will seem to float on perforated plates on the ceiling thanks to four countersunk pot magnets type CSN-20.

Screw the magnets parallel to each other with a countersunk head screw, but only deep enough into the board so the magnets have a little wiggle room to level out potential unevenness in the ceiling.

Bottom side of the case board

Attaching the halogen bulbs

To be able to exchange the bulbs after assembly without tools, they are not screwed in but held up with one screw-on CS-S-15-04-N magnet each.

Note: The picture shows a ring magnet which should not be screwed on as it may break. Countersunk disc magnets or other pot magnets with a suitable diameter are better.

I used recessed luminaires that are specially made for this purpose and disseminate warmth downwards. The bulbs are metal-covered on the wood side, which allows the little residual heat to distribute evenly without a fire hazard.

Mounting the case board

Screw two longer perforated plates onto the ceiling and hang up the safety chain on the ceiling.

Let the case board snap onto the perforated plates.

Your beautiful ceiling lighting is all done! Different designs are possible (see below).

If you like this application, you may also be interested in the project Dropped ceiling with halogen spotlights.

Note regarding the customer project shown:
This magnet project is an application implemented by a customer. The specific parameters for this application – in particular the number, size, arrangement and adhesive force of the magnets, the material, nature and thickness of the mounting surface, dead loads and additional loads, lever actions, as well as environmental and operating conditions – may vary from project to project, and the exact conditions at the customer’s site are unknown to us. Consequently, the presentation of this project does not constitute technical guidance, an agreement on the legal and factual nature, a guarantee or an assurance that a comparable design would be suitable, sufficiently strong or safe under different conditions.

Before any adaptation to another project, it is the sole responsibility of the user to competently assess the specific local and technical conditions. Where necessary, appropriate safety measures must be put in place and professional advice must be sought. Anyone considering a similar application is responsible for verifying the conditions of use specific to their project and for selecting the necessary safety measures.

Our Customer Service will be happy to advise you on selecting suitable magnets, taking your project requirements into account.

Articles used

CSN-20
Neodymium pot magnet Ø 20 mm with countersunk hole, holds approx. 8,9 kg

1 pc. 3,00 EUR ea.*

from 3 pcs. 2,63 EUR ea.*

from 10 pcs. 2,29 EUR ea.*

from 20 pcs. 2,12 EUR ea.*

from 40 pcs. 1,96 EUR ea.*

Ask for a rebate from 180 pcs.

available: 92 006 pcs.

CS-S-15-04-N
Screw-on disc magnet Ø 15 mm, height 4 mm, holds approx. 3 kg, with countersunk hole, with north pole on the countersunk side, N35, nickel-plated

5 pcs. 1,82 EUR ea.*

from 15 pcs. 1,61 EUR ea.*

from 40 pcs. 1,45 EUR ea.*

from 80 pcs. 1,35 EUR ea.*

Ask for a rebate from 240 pcs.

available: 334 045 pcs.

CS-S-18-04-N
Screw-on disc magnet Ø 18 mm, height 4 mm, holds approx. 4 kg, with countersunk hole, with north pole on the countersunk side, N35, nickel-plated

5 pcs. 2,76 EUR ea.*

from 15 pcs. 2,44 EUR ea.*

from 40 pcs. 2,19 EUR ea.*

from 80 pcs. 2,03 EUR ea.*