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Started By
Message
OT electricians advice regarding outlet.
Posted on 9/25/19 at 9:04 pm
Posted on 9/25/19 at 9:04 pm
About a year ago i removed a porch light under my covered patio. I’d like to repurpose the power to install an outdoor outlet. The issue i foresee is the power is on a switch that still controls some flood lights. How difficult will it be to convert the power source to always hot on the old power source but still have the ability to turn off the floods.
I won’t be doing it myself but won’t even bother getting an electrician out if it’s gonna be a huge ordeal.
I won’t be doing it myself but won’t even bother getting an electrician out if it’s gonna be a huge ordeal.
This post was edited on 9/25/19 at 9:06 pm
11
Posted on 9/25/19 at 9:22 pm to LSU5508
If the wires in the switch box carry the hot and the neutral you could put a half switch half outlet in place of the switch. If you want the outlet always hot but away from the switch, if you have attic access above the switch and the new outlet location it should’t be a huge deal for the electrician especially if the outlet is going to be where the light was. You will probably have to add a GFCI breaker or outlet.
Posted on 9/25/19 at 9:24 pm to LSU5508
There’s really no way to make a switch leg a constant hot and still be able to switch the flood lights without adding another wire
Posted on 9/25/19 at 9:46 pm to LSU5508
Paging No8
Posted on 9/25/19 at 10:10 pm to LSU5508
are you planning to put an outlet where the old ceiling light went?
Posted on 9/25/19 at 10:14 pm to Chuker
yes i’m planning on putting an outlet where the old electric lantern was if i can keep the power hot.
Posted on 9/25/19 at 10:20 pm to LSU5508
Will have to run new always hot wiring.
Posted on 9/25/19 at 11:15 pm to mtcheral
Do the wire continue from the old porch light to the other outdoor lights or are there two wires leading out of the box?
Posted on 9/25/19 at 11:52 pm to LSU5508
quote:
About a year ago i removed a porch light under my covered patio. I’d like to repurpose the power to install an outdoor outlet. The issue i foresee is the power is on a switch that still controls some flood lights. How difficult will it be to convert the power source to always hot on the old power source but still have the ability to turn off the floods.
I won’t be doing it myself but won’t even bother getting an electrician out if it’s gonna be a huge ordeal.
Not enough info provided to give you a definite answer, depends on how it is wired how big a PITA it will be, could be as simple as moving one wire on the back of the switch or it could mean running a new leg from receptacle to nearest constant hot be it switch or nearest junction box that has spare capacity.
disclaimer, I am not an electrician so someone may have a better answer.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 4:44 am to LSU5508
There's more than one way they may have pulled the wires, so there's no way to know without someone looking at the job. I'm not a residential guy, so I don't know the most common tendencies, but if this light was the first drop from the breaker it should be easy.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 5:57 am to LSU5508
As said there is really no way of knowing how difficult it will be without seeing it. If you have all accessible attic over the old lantern box than it should be routine electrician work.
To clarify, the floodlights were on the same switch as the old lantern light, correct? So when the switch was flipped, both came on?
To clarify, the floodlights were on the same switch as the old lantern light, correct? So when the switch was flipped, both came on?
Posted on 9/26/19 at 7:36 am to cave canem
quote:
Not enough info provided to give you a definite answer, depends on how it is wired how big a PITA it will be, could be as simple as moving one wire on the back of the switch or it could mean running a new leg from receptacle to nearest constant hot be it switch or nearest junction box that has spare capacity.
disclaimer, I am not an electrician so someone may have a better answer.
With the information given that's pretty much the answer. Shouldn't be to difficult either way. If it is accessible, Id say this should take under an hour to complete.
If its not accessible, well then have fun.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 7:42 am to LSU5508
Hopefully someone pulled a 3 conductor length of Romex and not 2. If you're that luck you can use the 1 conductor not being used as your hot.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 2:43 pm to Chuker
quote:
To clarify, the floodlights were on the same switch as the old lantern light, correct? So when the switch was flipped, both came on?
Correct
Posted on 9/26/19 at 2:45 pm to LSU5508
quote:
OT electricians advice
quote:
Outdoor board
Posted on 9/26/19 at 2:48 pm to LSU5508
quote:
The issue i foresee is the power is on a switch that still controls some flood lights. How difficult will it be to convert the power source to always hot on the old power source but still have the ability to turn off the floods.
Find the always hot wire that leads to the switch, get a splice clamp and splice the wire to the outlet to this one.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 3:15 pm to LSU5508
How many wires are in the box that you want make into a receptacle?
Posted on 9/26/19 at 5:31 pm to LSU5508
quote:
Correct
That's what I thought. Was hoping lantern mighve been on it's own switch which would be super easy. Even so, If you have access to the attic then having an electrician come by would probably cost similar whether super easy or having pull a new wire from somewhere. Just them coming out is going to be a big chunk on something simple like that.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 5:46 pm to LSU5508
I’ve been wanting to do the same thing under my porch. If you end up hiring someone please update the thread with the cost if you don’t mind
Posted on 9/26/19 at 7:04 pm to LSU5508
How old is the house? Old school boys wired the hot to the light box and dropped the switch leg to the wall.
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