I want to install a floodlight without paying an electrician?
Sunday, March 9th, 2008 at
4:05 pm
Joe H asked:
I have a backyard porch light about 20 feet away from the point of where i want to mount my floodlight. It seems to me all i need to do is cut the power going to the switch, use the same gauge wire and connect the black to black and white to white. Is there anything else i need to do
Tagged with: Electrician • Floodlight • Power Switch
Filed under: Do It Yourself (DIY)
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brighton electric
It is unclear what you are going to do. If you want to add a second light, the best way is to parrallel off the existing fixture, thereby maintaining all wiring and only adding a hot(black) and a neutral (white). When you say you want to get into the switch, remember that the wires at this switch may not be hot and neutral. It is the usual practice of electricians everywhere to use only two wires to install a single-pole switch, as there is no need to involve the neutral. So, be absolutely sure of what wires you tie in to. As stated, the ones in the existing ( switched ) fixture are certain to be correct.
brighton electrician
Leave the switch alone. The black wire is live and the switch only breaks the circuit, The outlet for the light will have the black wire in there, along with the white wire. The black wire will go to the switch and come back up to the outlet. Take your wire from the outlet and go to your location. You will need black, white and green wire. The green is a ground. Black is live , make sure you hook it to the switch side and not the live side. Use the same wires from the light you remove Always turn the power off before you start.
brighton electric
If you are well versed in residential wiring, then by all means.
If you don’t know what you are doing, then pay an electrician. It isn’t worth saving $100 if you burn the house down or someone else gets electrocuted the next time it rains and you [or a child] flips the switch. There will be codes in your area that might require special outdoor wire, GFCI’s, conduit, etc.