Intro - Checklist - Prep - Rough In & Box Placement - Stud Preparation - Wire Installation - Terminal Placement - Wire Connection I - Wire Connection II - Fixtures & Outside Wiring - Track Lighting - Wiring Extensions - Breaker Box
Hanging Light Fixtures and Receptacles
Margin of Error: No room for error
When you did the "roughing in," the electrical box was attached to the attic or second floor joist so that the plate is flush with the finished ceiling material. At this point you are ready to complete your wiring.
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Pull the electrical wire through the cutout and box and strip it, just as you would for the outlets. Attach a surface mounted hanging light with the attachment strap that is screwed to the electrical box. Connect the wires together, black to black, white to white, and ground to ground, using the wire nuts as previously described. Push the wires up inside the electrical box. Then it is a simple matter to attach the cover-plate of the hanging light or the plate of the receptacle with the provided screws.
Outdoor Wiring
Outdoor wiring is essential for many uses outside the home: for security, porch and yard lamps, and tool operation, to name a few.
Basically, wiring fixtures suited for exterior use is the same as wiring indoor fixtures. However, exterior moisture-proof coated wires and boxes must be used. If possible, choose an outdoor outlet location that is convenient to get to, as well as close to an indoor receptacle. This will simplify the installation.
Outside outlets (or those in the bathroom, or garage) must also include ground fault interrupters. GFIs measure the amount of power the hot wire brings in and the neutral wire returns. If there is a 5 milliamp difference or more, due to excessive moisture, the outlet automatically shuts off. This reduces your chances of shock in wet or high-moisture areas. A GFI is usually a type of circuit breaker that is installed in the breaker box, whereupon you then use a normal outlet or an exterior light, the circuit of which is attached into a GFI breaker. However, GFIs also come built directly into the receptacle. The circuit of that receptacle can then be attached to a standard breaker or fuse.
Drill a hole through the existing wall to take the power outside. Even though you want to be near the indoor receptacle, do not position the receptacles back to back. Run the cable or the conduit and install the appropriate junction box. Connect the wires as previously described, matching the color-coded wires to the correct terminal. Be sure to seal around the holes with silicone sealant, once the conduit and/or wires have been put in place. If the circuit breaker box or fuse box is mounted outside, however, it will not be necessary to do this. Just run the wires directly from the box.
If you are adding exterior lights, many come with a special mounting strap which gets screwed to the box. Some have special threading so the light can be held to the wall.
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