replacement diffuser, 2 x 4

12 years ago

Guys, I posted this in the lighting forum. I've had some response there, but I am looking for more. I was in conflict about whether to post it here or over there first anyway. I know that lots of people that do electrical work have seen a lot of light troffers. I will check here and continue to check in that forum for answers. I appreciate any help for my cheapskate self.

I have a lay-in troffer in my home that has a boxed, plastic diffuser. I would like to replace the diffuser. It mounts on 4 metal tabs punched and bent from the troffer frame that are near the corners on the long sides. To remove the diffuser, you push in on the plastic near the tabs and catch it before it slips off the tabs on the other side. Is there any hope of finding a replacement?

I have seen some replacement diffusers and lenses on web sites. Most are being marketed as parts of lighting upgrade kits may be somewhat universal wrt mounting to recessed troffers, and most seem to be sold in large quantities. Can anything like this be found at local lighting suppliers at a reasonable price?

In a follow-up message:

For the lens, visualize a shallow ~2 x ~4 tray with sides 1 or two inches deep. There are slots in the sides that mate to the tabs on the metal, lay-in troffer.

Comments (9)

bus_driver
12 years ago
One electrical wholesaler in my area has an arrangement with a small shop that fabricates lenses and diffusers to order. You take your old one in and few days later, they call with price and delivery promise. Then you choose to pickup both the old and new at that date or just get back the old one.
ionized_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, if you have taken advantage of this service, do you mind telling me about how much you have paid for it?
bus_driver
12 years ago
The one I bought was a simple white plastic cover for a single tube fluorescent bath fixture. The cost was less than the price of a new fixture and I also did not have to install the new fixture.
brickeyee
12 years ago
Look under 'plastics' in the yellow pages.

Most cities have at least one shop that cuts plastic down to size.

They should be able to cut anything you want.
ionized_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
I am sure that someone can cut sheet for me. The trouble is that I would need fabrication and that will probably be prohibitively expensive. What I have is a 5-sided, shallow box. There are slots on the sides of the box that mate to tabs that project from the troffer. To remove the box, you slightly deform the sides to drop one side while holding it to prevent it from falling off the tabs on the other side.
brickeyee
12 years ago
"tabs that project from the troffer."

Still does not sound all that hard to cut.

You might even be able to cut straight and then affix the tabs.

Solvent welding is not all that hard and the 'cement' is not expensive.
ionized_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
True enough, however, the tabs are metal, punched from the sides of the troffer. They go into slots in the plastic diffuser.
doug_gb
12 years ago
Why not replace the fixture? Have you priced replacing it?

That way you'd have a new ballast also.
ionized_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks. I already have a box of primo ballasts to use up.