Junction Box too big for new light fixture plate! HELP!
Okay. So I have only been working on this all day... so I hope my idea passes all electrical guidelines. In order to feel Okay with everything I need a second opinion before I just try and attach everything. Which I am still working out in my head. So the junction box is huge compared to my new Hampton Bay 3-Light Track Fixture. It was an oh so over used "boob" light which explains the large junction box I guess?
I figured if I cut a piece of wood in a circle to cover the junction box and then cut a smaller hole out of that to fit the fixture plate that'd be fine, right? I'll add pictures so you won't have to guess at my crazy plan. I am no electrician to say the least. Picture 1: my crazy plan of a wood circle to attach to junction box opening (with new fixture plate attached). Picture 2: Junction box.
If that is all fine and dandy (the junction box opening being closed with mostly wood). Then my next problem is this. All I was thinking about was closing this hole. Not attaching it later. I know... way to go me! But I have these really long screws (pic 3) that I could maybe drill into these little slit openings (pic 4) in the junction box? Or is that a no go? Or I have this metal bracket thing (pic 5) that came off the other light. Maybe I could cut it in half and use it on either side of my wood piece to attach it... then I'd have to spackle over it all and it'd look ridiculous. I don't know what to do! Help!
And as if that wasn't enough... the old light had this metal curly spring thing (pic 6) attached to the junction box which was attached to the ground of the old fixture. It kinda just came out with the fixture so it wasn't really doing a whole lot of good anyways. Am I good just attaching the new fixture ground to the screw on the metal plate and not to the junction box? Even if the metal plate isn't making contact with the junction box because of my crazy wood circle plan?
That is not a junction box. It is a pot light fixture. You cannot use it as a junction box. You need to remove it, patch the hole and install a proper junction box.
As mentioned..... that's an actual light fixture.
That spring is one of two or three used to hold the trim up to the ceiling.
In the picture..... remove the three or four 1/4" hex head screws. You can use a short screwdriver or socket set. After the screws are removed..... push the can up into the ceiling. You'll now see a junction box. You need to make sure the cable in the junction box is long enough to be removed and connected to a new box that you'll install.
Okay so I haven't found the junction box at all then?! Wow and I thought I was doing a not great but atleast an alright job. Should there have even been a boob light installed over this in the first place?? Wouldn't be the first crazy thing I've found in this house so far.
This is what is in the ceiling. The frame is nailed in between ceiling joists as shown with the brown lines. When you remove the screws the center cover (red arrow) will push up and out of the frame. You'll be able to see the junction box where the blue circle is. That's what you have to get to. Much easier to work from the attic if you have one.
I do have an attic. Much rather not go up there but hey I've come this far right!? So I'll go up there and remove it (got the ancient screws out) and connect my new fixture to the actual junction box. Is my wood circle piece a bad idea? If I'm going in the attic I can attach it from up there much easier anyways. Glass half full
Hi, looks like there will be some ceiling repair, while your in the attic find a rafter that is close to the location for the new fixture or use a bar box with a 4” round box in the center of that opening and patch around it, then install your new fixture, not as hard as it sounds.
Hi, you would completely remove what is there and and install the new box in the center of the old hole, bring the wire from the old fixture directly into the new box, you will obviously have to patch the old, there are several ways to do that, I might patch the hole first.
post a pic of what the area looks like in the attic.
Geo🇺🇸
Hanging New Light Fixture and all the wires that came with my new light fixture are the same color (Silver). One is just a plan Silver wire and the other 2 (looks like two wires together) are covered in rubber. How do I know which ones are which.
Hey all,
I recently bought a home that has a lot of outlets that are operated by switches. I think I know how to rewire, but wanted to ask people who more than think they know. I also know this has been posted on here before but I wanted to include my own pictures.
in the below picture, the red wires are wired into the bottom outlet. They are also connected with a wire nut to a black wire. One red wire is a pigtail that goes into the bottom outlet and the other one goes to a wire that I assume is heading to the next outlet.
The corresponding white wire is connected to two black wires with a wire nut. One of these black wires is a pigtail that is wired into the outlet. The other black wire also heads to the next outlet.
From what I can tell, it would be easier to run the new overhead light wires to the outlet. I would like to make the outlets always hot, and the new overhead light switch operated. What do you do with the red wires? I believe they would be excess at this point. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
[img]https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/image_7b0ee6f17b3f6e3fb48a23ec2bfca63c1cbe7bae.jpg[/img]
(No, I did not paint this room. It was like this when we bought it, and yes, I will be painting as soon as I get the new light installed.😊)
06-27-21, 06:23 PM
