A commercial LED linear pendant light hangs below the ceiling on aircraft cable and throws light down onto the desks, and on up and down models, part of it up onto the ceiling. It suits offices, classrooms, libraries and lobbies with an open or high ceiling. This guide explains how direct and direct indirect distribution works, how the fixtures hang and join into continuous runs, where the emergency driver versions fit, and how to pick a length, with the numbers taken from the Gielight LF spec sheet.
Direct and direct indirect light
A pendant can send its light in two ways:
- Direct: the full output goes down through the lens onto the work surface.
- Direct indirect: part of the output goes up through the top of the fixture and lights the ceiling, and the rest goes down. The lit ceiling bounces light back into the room, so the space reads brighter overhead and the fixture stands out less against a dark ceiling.
The Gielight LF sheet lists the up and down ratio as adjustable in the field, with four settings:
| Setting | Up | Down |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | None | Full output |
| Direct indirect 1 | One tenth | Nine tenths |
| Direct indirect 2 | One fifth | Four fifths |
| Direct indirect 3 | Three tenths | Seven tenths |
Up light only helps when there is a ceiling to light. A light colored ceiling with room above the fixture works best. Under a dark or open structure ceiling, a direct setting puts more of the light on the desks. Because the ratio is set on the fixture, you can match the setting to each room after it is hung.
The Gielight LF pendants we list
These fixtures come from our LED linear pendant lights collection, each with a posted price, in black or white. Each lets you set the wattage and the color temperature on the fixture. Wattage and lumens come from the Gielight sheet; prices are from the product pages at the time of writing and can change.
| Fixture | Selectable wattage | Rated lumens | Emergency driver | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gielight LF 2ft, black or white | 15 / 20 / 25W | 1,950 / 2,600 / 3,250 lm | No | $41.75 |
| Gielight LF 4ft, black or white | 40 / 45 / 50W | 5,200 / 5,850 / 6,500 lm | No | $54.75 |
| Gielight LF 8ft, black or white | 60 / 70 / 80W | 7,800 / 9,100 / 10,400 lm | No | $91.00 |
| Gielight LF 4ft with emergency driver, black or white | 40 / 45 / 50W | 5,200 / 5,850 / 6,500 lm | Factory 8W | $121.00 |
| Gielight LF 8ft with emergency driver, black or white | 60 / 70 / 80W | 7,800 / 9,100 / 10,400 lm | Factory 8W | $156.25 |
The sheet rates each size at 130 lm/W and lists these other specs:
- Color temperature: 3500K, 4000K, 5000K or 6500K, selectable on the fixture. For which one suits an office or a classroom, see 3000K vs 4000K vs 5000K.
- Color rendering: CRI above 80 standard, CRI above 90 optional.
- Dimming: the driver includes 0 to 10V dimming control wiring. For how the wiring and wall controls work, see 0 to 10V dimming explained.
- Life and location: L70 above 100,000 hours, ETL listed for damp locations, with an aluminium housing and a PC lens.
- Operating temperature: minus 4 F to 122 F ambient.
- Sensor: the sheet lists the LF as sensor solution ready, with an optional AC sensor canopy kit. The emergency driver versions are listed with a sensor base fitted. Ask us which sensor head fits before you order one. For sensor types, see occupancy sensors: PIR, microwave and dual tech.
The sheet gives the lengths as 24.5", 48.1" and 95.7". The product pages show two LF body sizes, so confirm the physical dimensions on your quote before you order connectors or a recessed kit.
Suspension and other mounts
The sheet shows four mounting methods:
- Suspended: the suspension mount kit is standard equipment. It includes the canopies, cable and power cord shown on the sheet.
- Surface, wall and recessed: available, with the accessories for these mounts ordered separately. We list a ceiling bracket at $5.25, a wall mounting bracket at $5.25, and recessed mounting kits for the 4ft at $23.50 and the 8ft at $36.50, in black. Ask us for white.
Set the hanging height with the designer for the room. The fixture needs clear space above it for the up light to spread across the ceiling, and the drop has to suit the ceiling height and the tasks below. Check local code for the support and wiring of suspended fixtures.
Continuous runs and connectors
The LF joins end to end with a tool free press lock connection, and the end cover comes off without screws. The I connector for straight runs is standard. The sheet also shows L, T, X, Y and 120 degree connectors for corners, branches and shapes, and an optional soft diffuser that you can cut on site for a seamless lens on a long run. We list the L connector at $39.00 and the X connector at $50.75 in black. Ask us for the other shapes.
The sheet limits each power feed to a total connected load under 500W at 120V and under 1000W at 277V, connectors included, and gives the fixture count per feed:
| Size and wattage | Fixtures per feed at 120V | Fixtures per feed at 277V |
|---|---|---|
| 2ft, 25W | 19 | 38 |
| 4ft, 50W | 9 | 19 |
| 8ft, 80W | 6 | 12 |
Lay out a long run as a set of feeds. In a classroom, a single row over the desks may need two feeds at 120V, or one at 277V, depending on its length.
Emergency driver versions
The sheet lists emergency versions on the 4ft and 8ft models. We list both sizes with a factory 8W emergency driver, so you can put emergency lighting into the pendant row instead of adding separate units. Ask us for the emergency driver sheet before you lay out the room, so you have its runtime and the wattage setting to use on the 8ft model.
Plan the emergency fixtures with the designer or the local code official, because the required light level, duration and fixture count come from the code your jurisdiction adopted. Check local code. For how battery backup fixtures work and how they are tested, see emergency battery backup LED fixtures.
Choosing pendants for an office or classroom
- Ceiling first: pendants suit open, high or exposed ceilings. In a standard grid ceiling, a panel or troffer may fit better; see panels, troffers and center baskets and troffer retrofit kits vs new LED panels.
- Light level: find the target for the room in foot candle requirements by space type, then compare lumens per fixture at the wattage you plan to set.
- Length: 4ft and 8ft runs line up with rows of desks; 2ft pieces fill out a run or suit a small room.
- Up ratio: pick direct indirect under a light ceiling with room above the fixture, and direct under a dark or very high one.
- Feeds: count fixtures per feed from the table above at your circuit voltage.
- Emergency: decide now which fixtures in the row need the emergency driver version.
- Finish: black or white, and order the connectors and brackets in the same finish.
Check each product page and spec sheet for that fixture's UL, ETL and DLC listings. Every line we carry has a minimum 5 year manufacturer warranty. Need help with the numbers? See how to read an LED spec sheet or selectable wattage and CCT.
Common questions
What is an up and down LED linear pendant?
It is a linear fixture that hangs below the ceiling and sends part of its light up onto the ceiling and the rest down onto the work surface. The Gielight LF lets you set the share of up light on the fixture, from none up to three tenths of the output.
Can I switch the pendant to down light only?
Yes. The Gielight LF sheet lists a direct setting with the full output going down, plus three direct indirect settings with one tenth, one fifth or three tenths of the light going up.
What is the LF fixture limit per power feed?
The Gielight LF sheet lists 19 of the 2ft, 9 of the 4ft or 6 of the 8ft per feed at 120V, and 38, 19 or 12 at 277V, with total connected load under 500W at 120V and under 1000W at 277V.
Do you list linear pendants with an emergency driver?
Yes. We list the Gielight LF 4ft and 8ft with a factory 8W emergency driver, in black or white. Ask us for the emergency driver sheet, and check local code for the emergency light level and duration the room needs.
How is shipping handled?
We ship to all 50 states by parcel or LTL freight, direct from the manufacturer's warehouse. Submit your order for a freight quote with the delivery address, and nothing is charged until you approve the final total.
Shop the LED linear pendant lights collection, or send your fixture list for a job quote. Questions? Contact us or call (845) 681 2684.
Ready to price the job?
Build your order and submit it for a freight quote. We ship from the manufacturer's warehouse to all 50 states, and nothing is charged until you approve the total.
Request a freight quote