Need help Wiring Garage Flood Light
#1
07-18-15, 07:13 PM
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Need help Wiring Garage Flood Light
Attached below is my diagram work =\
I want to install a motion sensor garage flood light outside, I dont think i need a switch.
the two boxes are electrical outlets. Purple = flood light outside
the yellow pentagon represents the "unknown" power source.
I guess my real question is.....would it be possible to connect the flood light to the "outlet" on top.
if yes, please advise.
I want to install a motion sensor garage flood light outside, I dont think i need a switch.
the two boxes are electrical outlets. Purple = flood light outside
the yellow pentagon represents the "unknown" power source.
I guess my real question is.....would it be possible to connect the flood light to the "outlet" on top.
if yes, please advise.
#2
07-18-15, 07:18 PM
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I'm not following your wiring diagram.
Do you want to connect an outdoor motion floodlight to an always live receptacle ?
Do you want to connect an outdoor motion floodlight to an always live receptacle ?
#4
07-18-15, 07:34 PM
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Sorry for bad diagram , correct I would like to connect the flood light to always live receptacle.
Red equals neutral
Black equals live
Green equals ground
Red equals neutral
Black equals live
Green equals ground
#7
07-18-15, 10:15 PM
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I think i might need a switch after all...
So here are the updated pictures, there is an outlet on the ceiling of my garage, I removed the outlet/wiring for right now.
Basically I want to connect the flood light...to a switch....to some sort of power source.
Can I use the power source from my ceiling outlet? If so....how would I connect that back to my outlet outside?
So here are the updated pictures, there is an outlet on the ceiling of my garage, I removed the outlet/wiring for right now.
Basically I want to connect the flood light...to a switch....to some sort of power source.
Can I use the power source from my ceiling outlet? If so....how would I connect that back to my outlet outside?
#9
07-19-15, 04:14 AM
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In this particular set up, would the switch control the two outlets and the light?
Would it be possible to only control a single pole, the light?
Would it be possible to only control a single pole, the light?
Last edited by AznDragon533; 07-19-15 at 04:46 AM.
#11
07-19-15, 06:08 AM
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In the Diagram below, I am a little confused
Should there be a wire nut at those particular yellow spots? wouldnt those wires just be a straight line?
Should there be a wire nut at those particular yellow spots? wouldnt those wires just be a straight line?
#12
07-19-15, 10:47 AM
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Spices
Each white band is a separate cable. The wires get connected with wire nuts to continue the circuit through adjacent cable.
#13
07-19-15, 10:50 AM
Should there be a wire nut at those particular yellow spots?
At the ceiling receptacle you have a power in and power out cable.
At the switch you have two different cables. The one from the top is a two conductor cable (power in from the ceiling) and the one from the bottom is a 3-conductor cable (Power out to the outdoor GFCI receptacle). In addition the wire nut on the left includes a pigtail carrying power in to the switch to the switch.
At the outdoor receptacle you again have two different cables. The three conductor cable going in and a two conductor cable going out. In addition the white has a pigtail to the GFCI.
would the switch control the two outlets.
At the switch the black of the two conductor power cable is connected to the black of the three conductor cable and one leg of the switch so power contuses on the black wire uninterrupted through the switch box to the GFCI receptacle.
At the switch only the red receives the switched power. At the GFCI receptacle the red does not connect to the receptacle. The red connects only to the black of the cable from the light.
Or just read Wirepuller's much simpler explanation he posted while I was typing.
#14
07-19-15, 11:59 AM
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It looks like the power source wire is a 12-2
Can I use a 14-2 and connect that to the switch?
and then a 14-3 connect to the Flood light?
and then back to a 12-2 to connect to the outlet outside?
Can I use a 14-2 and connect that to the switch?
and then a 14-3 connect to the Flood light?
and then back to a 12-2 to connect to the outlet outside?
#16
07-19-15, 04:44 PM
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So I just went to check my breaker...
picture below...#17 is the garage, the breaker is 15 amp
but.....the wire on the ceiling looks like a 12-2 , along with the outlet outside..
suggestions?
picture below...#17 is the garage, the breaker is 15 amp
but.....the wire on the ceiling looks like a 12-2 , along with the outlet outside..
suggestions?
#17
07-19-15, 05:36 PM
Garages are usually are on a 20 amp breaker. if the cables are #12 I'd continue with #12. Does the breaker say 15 on the handle. I can't tell from the picture. Open the panel and check the size of the wires.
Why do you say the outside receptacle is 20 amps. Does it have a "T" slot? In the U.S. (Canada varies) you don't need a 20 amp receptacle on a 15 amp breaker if there are two or more places to plug in. A single duplex receptacle satisfies that requirement.
Is this outside receptacle an existing receptacle and you want to add one more or what?
Why do you say the outside receptacle is 20 amps. Does it have a "T" slot? In the U.S. (Canada varies) you don't need a 20 amp receptacle on a 15 amp breaker if there are two or more places to plug in. A single duplex receptacle satisfies that requirement.
Is this outside receptacle an existing receptacle and you want to add one more or what?
#18
07-19-15, 06:25 PM
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So i just moved into this house, the outside receptacle is an existing receptacle, it does not have a T slot, the previous owner cut the wire to the outside receptacle, the Wire is a 12-2 (grey wire picture below)
The Breaker to the Garage does say "15" on the handle.
Do you think this was a mistake on the previous owner for installing 12-2 Wirings?
I don't plan on adding more receptacles , just a switch and the flood light. I just want to make sure its fine installing 12-2 on the light, receptacle, etc.
The Breaker to the Garage does say "15" on the handle.
Do you think this was a mistake on the previous owner for installing 12-2 Wirings?
I don't plan on adding more receptacles , just a switch and the flood light. I just want to make sure its fine installing 12-2 on the light, receptacle, etc.
#19
07-19-15, 07:05 PM
Do you think this was a mistake on the previous owner for installing 12-2 Wirings?
#20
07-29-15, 06:41 PM
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I just got all the 12-2 wiring done...
I went out and bought a 15 amp light switch , would this be fine, versus a 20 amp switch?
I went out and bought a 15 amp light switch , would this be fine, versus a 20 amp switch?
#21
07-29-15, 06:58 PM
I went out and bought a 15 amp light switch
the outside receptacle is an existing receptacle, it does not have a T slot
