How to Hang Rail Lights on Drop Ceiling

Mark the ceiling length on which you will hang the rail lights. Draw the marks on the ceiling supports and not on the tile itself. Carefully lift the marked tiles and lift them so they slide out of the supports. Remove these tiles and set them aside to reinstall later.

Add hanger wire at both the ends of the ceiling supports where you will hang the rail lights. This length of wire supports the weight of the lighting. If the hanger wire exists already, add another length of wire to help hold the weight because the installed wire already supports the ceiling.

Snap the mounting brackets on the ceiling supports at the desired spot. Mount eyebolts into the primary or top ceiling, directly above the brackets. Wind a length of wire to the eyebolt that extends several inches beyond the ceiling support.

Direct the electrical wiring to the section of the ceiling you are working on. Insert the rail light’s mounts into the brackets and secure them with screws. Tie the hanger wires to the mounts to catch the lighting in case it falls.

Use wire nuts to connect the electrical wires to the track lighting. Join the wires by color, such as black with black, white with white and bare wire with the green. Insert a wire nut over each joint to form a connection, and ensure it is secure. Turn the circuit to test the lighting works.

Slide the ceiling tiles back into the ceiling supports, positioning them at an angle so they fit. Straighten the tiles to set them in place.