can i wire ceiling can lights from an exisiting outlet? i will run wire from the outlet to a switch to the lights as needed. any pointers?

tia,
michael

 

This sounds like a good project. It should be very simple.

However, don't do it if this outlet is in a bathroom, laundry area, dining room, or serving a kitchen countertop. Post back if you want to know why.

Also, verify that the receptacle is unswitched. If the receptacle is switched, that adds a bit of complexity.

Although it is unlikely that adding a few lights will overload a circuit, it is always wise to check, especially if the combined wattage of the bulbs is very high.

Finally, be aware that these lights will probably dim slightly when you use that reeptacle (or any other receptacle on the same circuit) for your vacuum cleaner. This isn't a safety issue, and if it doesn't bother you to have lights that flicker when you start up the vacuum cleaner, then go ahead.

 

Thanks for the post. The outlet is not a those areas (GF?) The outlet is not swtiched, just a normal outlet. I wll check the load, but I doubt it to be a problem.

So, do I run a wire just as I said before? What do I do at the switch?

michael

 

First, go get two or three books on home wiring. There are probably at least 50 important safety considertions to this job, and it very probably that at least of few of them you are as yet unaware of. And I'm sure you can pick up a few tips on proper technique.

At the receptacle, simple connect black to brass and white to silver. If there are no spare screws, you need to use pigtails (the books will tell you what a pigtail is if you don't already know). At the switch, connect the two black wires to the switch and the two white wires to each other. Of course, connect all grounding wires to each other and to the green grounding screw at both the receptacle and switch. Green wire nuts are ideal for this purpose.