building LED light boxes vs. buying pre made boxes

[nashvillesigns]

hello!
i tried to search for this topic. no luck. So i am going to ask.
i bought a 36"x48" light box from a supplier. total disaster as, they under supplied the amount of LED's in the box. they only gave me 24 LED lights when the design size call for 74.
Since i didn't know better, i have to fix the problem.
i am torn between wanting to build my own because it is the only way to keep costs down, and farming these things because its not a specialty.

question one of D.I.Y.
extruded aluminum parts for the cabinet?
where to find those? why are some indoor boxes 6" thick? seems like overkill.
do i have to use 6" thick? can i use something thinner?

LED supplier is the easy part. same with the 12vdc ballasts. no questions about that.

question two of farming
Who makes good quality boxes?
i am looking for plug and play. Don't list names when i have to add my own plug. that is rude business practice. if i say indoor outlet only, i mean it.

thank you guys!
Christopher

 

[rjssigns]

Don't DIY anything electrical unless you're a certified master electrician.

 

[bigben]

I can't help, but I'll look into this post to see what other have to says.

 

[TXFB.INS]

Don't DIY anything electrical unless you're a certified master electrician.

+1
you need to be or have a master electrician to do this work.
Especially if you are wanting to list it as UL and more importantly do it safely


regarding the cabinet you got, send it back to the supplier and have them add the correct number LEDs
or get a local electrician to add them for you

 

[J Hill Designs]

74 LED's for a 3'x4' box?!?!

also, it depends. sloan now makes capsules that would light that 3'x4' box with 6.

also, unless your shop is UL licensed, dont go building electric stuffs.

 

[Techman]

wanting to build my own because it is the only way to keep costs down, and farming these things because its not a specialty.

Charge the right amount for the job and not worry about prices of supplies.

why are some indoor boxes 6" thick? seems like overkill.

Because just a couple of years ago boxes did not use LED's ,, fluorescent was the lights used and they needed the space to diffuse the light evenly.