Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message

Home electricity/wiring question

Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:02 pm
Posted by Glock17
Member since Oct 2007
22380 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:02 pm
I have a spot on my patio where a outdoor light once was. The wiring is still there but not light. How hard is it to convert that wiring to a standard 120 outlet? I’ll say I know zero about electricity and other than installing a basic fixture I don’t like fooling with it.
This post was edited on 5/30/19 at 10:04 pm
Posted by CBLSU316
Far Right of Left
Member since Jun 2008
11391 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:05 pm to
Easy, just hook up the outlet to the wiring. It will likely be switched like the fixture was.
Posted by VABuckeye
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2007
35486 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:08 pm to
Buy a tester and turn the breaker off first. Then it’s simple.
Posted by Glock17
Member since Oct 2007
22380 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:10 pm to
quote:

Easy, just hook up the outlet to the wiring. It will likely be switched like the fixture was.



Seems easy enough... I’m wanting to put an outlet there so I can hang a tv.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
38666 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:23 pm to
quote:

Easy, just hook up the outlet to the wiring


Yep. Question would be what amp circuit is it but just buy a 15 amp outlet and you'll be good.

Also, buy a tester as another poster said and put it against the wire up there now to see if its hot. Then turn off the breaker for that circuit and put the tester against the wire to make sure its off before installing the outlet.

Home Depot tester. It beeps when the wire is hot.

This post was edited on 5/30/19 at 10:24 pm
Posted by HunterGomez
B.R., LA
Member since Sep 2004
1709 posts
Posted on 5/30/19 at 10:36 pm to
If it’s in a wet location than you will want to get an “in-use” weatherproof cover or a similar box. Not a good idea to just slap an outlet up there with no weatherproofing. Also needs to be a GFCI outlet, or on a GFCI breaker.
Posted by bee Rye
New orleans
Member since Jan 2006
33961 posts
Posted on 5/31/19 at 7:42 am to
Do you have a wire just hanging out or is it in a box?
Posted by Glock17
Member since Oct 2007
22380 posts
Posted on 5/31/19 at 9:24 am to
Just the wires hanging out... I’d have to cut the opening a little bigger to do the box
Posted by bee Rye
New orleans
Member since Jan 2006
33961 posts
Posted on 5/31/19 at 3:16 pm to
you can either just mount an outdoor surface mounted box right there, wire in your receptacle and add a cover, or cut in a box. It would be a switched receptacle and your same light switch would turn on and off power to the receptacle. By code you should be using a weather resistant GFI.

LINK
This post was edited on 5/31/19 at 3:17 pm
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram