A few months ago I put in some wired LED string lights in my backyard for a party. Problem is there is no power outlet close by so I had to run a long 100' extension cord to power them. We like the look of them so they have stayed up but haven't been used. Trying to decide if we should...
- Keep these wired lights and run power to them somehow
- Keep these wired lights and use a solar panel and battery system to power them
- Replace these lights for solar LED string lights
Ideally we'd like to have these lights on every night at dusk for a few hours.
Solar LED lights are great, but they tend to be rather dim and last only a few hours. For accent lights, they can definitely work. But for string lights that add some light, I'd personally stick with wired lights.
If it were me, I'd run a new circuit/cable underground out to your backyard in a convenient location.
Basics are to use a 15A breaker, 14/2 UF cable buried 18" deep, and a GFI receptacle. (Or add a GFI receptacle before it leaves the house and bury only 12" deep).
The fine folks here can certainly help with details if desired.
So I finally got around to redoing the string lights in a pattern that starts near the house and can be powered by my outlet (see images). The outlet is circled in red behind the trash bags. How would you guys suggest I finish off the cable run? Cable clamps with tapcons through the exterior wall? Make a new outlet up top somewhere? Another approach?
Do you have access to the attic where a plug could be installed in the soffit near the lights?
I have a very similar situation, string lights out back over the deck and patio but plug was down low like yours.
I got into the attic, ran a wire from an existing room to the soffit where I installed an outdoor GFI plug with cover.
Then I installed a wireless switch on that circuit so that we could turn the light off and on with a remote from the kitchen. It's been working great for several years now!
Thanks @Marq1 and nice setup there! Curious what kind of wireless switch you used.
There is access to the attic in that location but it's not super easy to get to since my only scuttle is in the garage at least 45 feet away. I could try to head up there and look around at some point. That's probably the best next step. Fortunately, as the original homeowner I have construction photos that cover some of that area but not to the detail that I'd need for this.
A couple of options I thought of are to tap into either the patio switch wall sconce run or patio fan run. The wall sconce run would require some surface mount work and conduit but makes more sense. The fan run I'd be able to tap off within the attic using a junction box but not sure it's ideal to have the string lights and fan wired together. Or maybe when I head into the attic I'll discover a more ideal run I can use.
Small cable clamps would work fine. You could also run a PVC conduit from the existing receptacle, up to the ceiling and over, and add a new receptacle there. Of course, Marq's suggestion of running a cable in the attic to a receptacle is the cleanest - but most work.
As long as the receptacle is GFI protected, and in an outdoor box, you should be good to go!
Thanks all. I ended up just running an outdoor extension cord along the top of the wall on the patio where it meets the ceiling and used some plastic cable clamps with tapcons. Connected it up with a Kasa smart switch and I am good to go now.
We have two ceiling porch lights that use the medium size flood lights in a 2 year old house.
Just tried them the other night and each bulb would light for a second then out. I tried different bulbs and they would do the same. I believe they are on a GFI circuit, but the panel schedule is useless. I will need to go through breaker by breaker to find the circuit. Anyway, the outlet for the porch is on a GFI circuit, with an outlet inside house. I test both outlets and they are fine. On a whim, I pulled one of the bulbs out of the light and tried in a floor lamp. It would not light, Again, in the porch fixture, it would light for a second, then out. Flip on off and repeat. First thought is poor connection at switch, but also thinking the fixture itself.
Thoughts?
Hello. I'm going through my office and installing new switches and plugs. I have two switches by the door. One switch has always controlled the overhead light. The other switch controlled a plug on the opposite corner of the room.
After installing new switches (single pole) and new plugs it no longer controls the plug across the room. But the plug across the room is always on.
So to troubleshoot...
• I accidentally installed a 3-way switch, tested it and it doesn't control the plug.
• Installed a single-pole switch, tested it and it doesn't control the plug.
• Swapped the wires on the single-pole (thinking I did it backward), and it doesn't control the plug.
Not sure what to do next. Any thoughts? It was working yesterday before I put the new switches on.
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04-18-21, 04:27 PM
I could try to head up there and look around at some point. That's probably the best next step. Fortunately, as the original homeowner I have construction photos that cover some of that area but not to the detail that I'd need for this. 
I could try to head up there and look around at some point. That's probably the best next step. Fortunately, as the original homeowner I have construction photos that cover some of that area but not to the detail that I'd need for this. 
