Retrofit canopy luminaire and installation method

1. A retrofit luminaire assembly adapted for downward illumination and having a housing with inwardly-directed ledges near the lower edges of the housing, comprising:

at least two support brackets secured to at least one of the ledges;

a face plate removably secured to the brackets on the lower side of the housing, the face plate adapted to hold lighting fixture components; and

first and second hanging tethers each attached at its proximal end to a separate one of the support brackets along one side of the housing, the first and second tethers being secured at their distal ends to opposite ends of one side of the faceplate,

wherein when the face plate is removed from the brackets, the face plate hangs freely held by the tethers to allow free access to the inside of the luminaire.

2. A method of installing a retrofit luminaire assembly adapted for downward illumination and having a housing with inwardly-directed ledges near the lower edges of the housing, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least two support brackets;

securing the two support brackets to at least one ledge;

providing a face plate adapted to hold lighting fixture components;

providing first and second hanging tethers each attached at its proximal end to a separate one of the support brackets along one side of the housing, the first and second tethers being secured at their distal ends to opposite ends of one side of the faceplate; and

securing the face plate to the brackets with the tethers such that the face plate hangs freely without further support during installation.