How To Run An Outlet From A Lighting Fixture Box : DIY Electrical Work

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Running an outlet from a light fixture box is something that can really make your home more convenient. Run an outlet from a lighting fixture box with help from a foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video clip.

Expert: Joshua Clement
Filmmaker: Nathanael Rittichier

Series Description: You always want to be as careful as possible when performing electrical repairs in your home. Find out about electrical repairs you can do on your own with help from a foreman for Lighty Contractors in this free video series.

13 Responses to "How To Run An Outlet From A Lighting Fixture Box : DIY Electrical Work"

rockintothedawn says:

August 12, 2015 at 7:57 pm

he never told us to put blacks together?

Reply
Coco DeRasta says:

September 3, 2015 at 7:57 am

It would be best to add another outlet off of a plug or swith as long as
theres a HOT in the box. He is adding this plug off of the RETURN wire so
this new plug will not work unless the light is on.

Reply
b3derkas says:

September 12, 2015 at 8:59 pm

This is exactly what I was looking for. Just bought a house and the access
from the house to the garage has a simple light fixture similar to what is
in the video though it is mounted to the wall. Before the garage opens up
the light is on a 1 1/2 foot wall before it does open up more to the right.
Basically that little corner blocks light to 3/4 of the garage. If you need
to get to other side of the garage this is fine though if you want to work
you’re basically in very dim light. Because it is connected to the switch I
wanted to extend lighting to the center of the garage. Would it be better
to just dump the fixture and run the line to where I want new lighting?
Hard wire it? The linear distance is about 12 feet from where the light
fixture is to where I’d like to hand new lighting.

Reply
stevedawg85 says:

December 4, 2015 at 8:17 pm

Does this mean the new outlet will only work when it is switched on?

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the “s24team” s24team says:

December 31, 2015 at 9:50 pm

One of the best how to videos I have seen on the subject. Thanks a ton

Reply
blueillusion1985 says:

January 10, 2016 at 5:36 am

Did anyone else see him cut through the ground wire when he “gets rid of
the extra insulation”, and then it suddenly reappears? ^^

Reply
Jay Harbor says:

January 12, 2016 at 6:02 am

I would use 3 wire cable plus ground from the switch to light for constant
power and two wire cable from the light to outlet

Reply
neoplasmax says:

May 9, 2016 at 12:23 am

here is a question.. I have a simple lamp and switch series circuit with
the lamp getting having the source… OK it goes to a 2 receptical switch
box on the wall with yet another simple series wiring with a single switch
and lamp.. Lamp again being having the source wires.. Now let’s say I
wanted to add a simple 24/7 connection of power just above the switches for
a fire alarm.. Instead of running a new wire from the lamp to that switch,
can I simply reverse the wires at the lamp on one of these and have access
to a neutral and a hot at the switches without any trouble? Cause it’s an
old house.. it just has the two-wire with no common and it’s nearly
impossible to run a wire from the lamp all the way to switch for a new
connection near the switch… If I swap the wires at one lamp.. that would
send the hot wire down to switch without interrution from the switch.. it
would allow me a unswitched neutral and unswitched hot at the box without
having to do much at all but take one lamp down.. would this work? Long as
there is no other connection in the circuit of the one I swapped…???

Reply
wet cake says:

July 25, 2016 at 10:44 pm

thanks, your video was very helpful

Reply
Samson Evanston says:

August 5, 2016 at 6:57 pm

Its clear that he was using #12 wire, (Yellow), should’d he be using a 20
amp plug?

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dancingwithczars says:

August 17, 2016 at 4:03 am

You are not entirely correct when you say the outlet power will be
controlled by the light switch. That’s not necessarily so. It depends on
whether the hot wire enters the lighting circuit through the wall switch
box or through the light fixture box. I’m not an electrician, but I think
both ways are code compliant as long as all connections are made inside a
box. If the hot comes in at the light fixture, then you can tie in to it
there for your outlet power and the light switch will have no affect on it.
That’s how my house is wired, though it’s several decades old. If the power
to the lighting circuit enters at the wall switch box, then you would want
to tie in there for your outlet power if you didn’t want it to be switched.
You can usually tell if the power enters the wall switch box first by the
presence of two white neutral wires wirenutted together inside the box
along with two ground wires tied together and two black wires connected to
the switch. One of those black wires is the incoming hot and the other one
goes to the light.

Reply
James Knowlen says:

September 20, 2016 at 8:11 pm

Why don’t some of you so called professionals put up a video showing the
right way to do this if it’s incorrect.

Reply
fermin campos says:

September 25, 2016 at 3:55 am

your wrong the way your doing it the outlet will only have power when light
is one if the switch is off there is no power in the outlet you need to get
the power from the switch

Reply

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