What is a ceiling light batten?

Author: Candice Streich DVM  |  Last update: Thursday, December 18, 2025

An LED batten light is a type of lighting fixture that features a long, rectangular or linear shape with an appearance similar to traditional tube lights. This makes batten light a cost effective replacement for traditional fluorescent tube fixtures. They are typically surface-mounted on ceilings or walls.

What is a light batten?

Batten lights, also known as batten holders or fittings, are simple yet versatile lighting fixtures designed for ceiling or wall mounting. They are commonly used in various settings, from residential spaces like bedrooms and kitchens to commercial and industrial environments.

What is a ceiling batten?

Batten ceilings are a type of ceiling that is made up of timber, which is an affordable and sustainable material. Timber battens are often used in warehouses, workshops and garages as they provide good insulation against the heat and noise.

What is the difference between tube lights and batten lights?

While tube lights have long been a reliable choice, batten lights take it a step further by integrating LED technology for improved illumination and energy savings. Both options come in various sizes and are widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial spaces.

What is the difference between a batten holder and a light fitting?

It is the light fittings that is hard wired to the wiring in your home, café or space in which the light bulb is screwed into. Instead of fabric cable connecting a lamp holder to the ceiling, a batten holder reduces the need to use electrical cord. It is instead a lamp holder connected directly to a wall or ceiling.

How To Wire a Batten Holder

Can you put a shade on a batten lamp holder?

Typically the batten holder base is screwed to the ceiling. Once the batten holder is installed, attaching light fittings or shades can be performed by a competant handy-person.

What is a batten used for?

They are typically used as spacers to raise the surface of a material, or as a secondary framework onto which a surface may be fixed. One of the main uses of battens is in roofing construction, although they can also be used in wall construction, flooring, ceilings and a number of other applications.

Are LED batten lights any good?

LED battens

They are incredibly energy-efficient (using up to 90% less energy than incandescent lights). This helps to lower energy bills and reduce a building's carbon footprint. They are more expensive than fluorescent battens, but they last much longer (up to 50,000 hours).

What are ceiling tube lights called?

A fluorescent lamp, or fluorescent tube, is a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. An electric current in the gas excites mercury vapor, to produce ultraviolet and make a phosphor coating in the lamp glow.

What is the difference between batten lights and downlights?

Light Distribution: Downlights offer focused beams, whereas batten lights give wider, diffused illumination. Installation Area: Downlights are recessed into the ceiling, while batten lights are surface-mounted and more prominent. Versatility: Downlights suit ornamental purposes, while batten lights are more useful.

What size is ceiling batten?

Ceiling Batten is a kiln-dried timber used as a substrate for fixing internal linings to the underside of trusses or rafters. It is available in solid or finger-jointed forms, at approximately 68mm × 34mm, which is suitable for most applications. H1. 2 treated Radiata.

How do you work out ceiling battens?

Use the width of the room to determine which length of stringback you require and allow one strongback for every vacant metre. E.g. in a 4.2m x 5.8m room, use a 4.5m strongback to cover the width of the room. Using 1 every vacant metre, you'll need 5 strongbacks across the 5.8m run.

What are battens designed for?

Battens shall be designed to carry the bending moments and shear forces arising from the transverse shear force equal to 2.5% of the total axial force.

What is a ceiling batten for?

Metal ceiling batten systems provide a stable substrate for plasterboard ceiling linings. Regular users of metal batten systems consistently have fewer call- backs for movement related ceiling defects such as peaking or cracked joints and popped fasteners.

What are the different types of ceiling batten?

Ceiling battens can be made of either steel or timber – but steel's normally preferred because it's straighter. In most cases, your plasterer should use the systems and methods that are recommended by the plasterboard manufacturer.

What are fancy ceiling lights called?

Chandelier Applications

These elegant fixtures are best suited for larger, more formal areas, such as living or dining rooms with high ceilings. Their grandeur makes them ideal for spaces where you want to make a statement and create a sense of luxury.

Is it worth replacing fluorescent tubes with LED?

“It's definitely better to replace your fluorescent lamps with LEDs rather than replace them with new fluorescent lamps,” Keoleian said. “Our finding is consistent with the U.S. Department of Energy's indication that LED systems are 25% more energy-efficient than fluorescents.”

How to tell if ballast is T8 or T12?

T8 will have one-inch diameter, the T5 will have a 5/8 diameter, and a T12 will have 12/8 inch or 1.5 inch diameter. If T8 and T12 have the same bi-pin base, then you can use the bulbs interchangeably using the same fixture just as long as you check the milliamp requirements for the ballast.

What is difference between LED batten and LED tube light?

Batten lights often have a built-in housing and diffuser, providing a sleek and compact appearance. Tube lights, on the other hand, usually click into existing fluorescent tube fixtures, lighting the way to a more energy-efficient future.

Can I put a plug on a LED batten light?

Wiring to Plug: Although it is possible to wire LED battens to a plug, consulting an electrician is advisable to ensure safe and compliant installation.

Do LED batten lights get hot?

Firstly, it's important to understand that LED bulbs will always produce some heat. This is just a natural result of any electrical device using power.

What are batten lights also known as?

They are also known as LED batten moisture proof lights or LED batten waterproof lights. They provide uniform, spot-free illumination in a variety of settings. They are prized for their energy efficiency. and can save users up to 40% on energy expenditures when compared to fluorescent tubes.

Are battens necessary?

The Importance of Having Battens

In most cases, battens are necessary for several reasons. They generally make the roof more stable and give you the ability to install an extension of your HVAC system in your attic.

What is the function of the battens?

Roofing battens or battening, also called roofing lath, are used to provide the fixing point for roofing materials such as shingles or tiles. The spacing of the battens on the trusses or rafters depend on the type of roofing material and are applied horizontally like purlins.

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