Outdoor Lights mounting block and wiring

[oachalon]

Hi,

I am roughing in all of the electrical for my garage. Have some outlets in, next is inside lighting, and then onto outdoor lighting. By the garage doors I want to have 3 outdoor lights, one on each side of the door. For the siding they have the mounting blocks with basically built in pancake boxes/shallow boxes, but those boxes are made for one NM wire. How do most people rough in multiple outdoor lights together on the same switch? The inside is going to be finished, so I don't want some random junction box, and wiring all 3 lights back to the electrical switch box is a waste of wire. Do they make deep boxes with the mounting blocks to allow multiple NM wires so you can "daisy chain".

Thanks,

 

[sparky 1971]

Given those parameters, I would probably set a deep 4X4 box with a single gang mudring to use for a receptacle and it could serve double duty as the junction box for the lights.

EDITED. Post #8 is what I would actually do.

 

[oachalon]

That might be an option. What do they do when people build new houses? Most people have more than one light by their garage doors, is it a junction box just in the attic?

 

[kbuhagiar]

That might be an option. What do they do when people build new houses? Most people have more than one light by their garage doors, is it a junction box just in the attic?

I would just be grateful that there are solutions available.
Would it really be so bad to run a little extra wire if it solves your problem?

 

[whateg01]

That might be an option. What do they do when people build new houses? Most people have more than one light by their garage doors, is it a junction box just in the attic?

I would say they probably put a box where there is expected to be a light at rough in.

 

[Innovate1]

It's been years since I dealt with those but the siding parts we used were just a flat surface where the light went and you put a standard box behind it. so you could easily put a deeper box for more space if you needed it.

 

[dave*99]

The light canopy might have usable volume. Add it to the box volume. I have Arlington 8141DBL blocks on my house and the electrician put (2) 14/2NM cables in them.

 

[sparky 1971]

I'm going to guess that what has been mounted is similar to what is linked below. Unless I absolutely had to do something else, I would just run my 14/2 in and out of each box. So what if two of the boxes have two cables in it. Use small, but quality wire nuts like an Ideal 73B or orange/blue twister to same some space and be done with it.

Siding block

Arlington | Siding Mounting Blocks

Mounting block with built in electrical box for smooth vertical mounting of light fixtures on all siding types. Paintable. UV rated plastic for long outdoor life.

www.aifittings.com

73B

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Ideal-30-073-Wire-Nut-73B-Wire-Connector-Orange-Box-of-100?utm_source=google_ad&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=geo_pmax_test&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2eilBhCCARIsAG0Pf8tEdU3c3pCNDst93vWTQKiKKJJknqHwKPMUYvm6LfdBOE1t55eM8LEaAh0KEALw_wcB

Orange blue twister

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-Twister-ProFLEX-Mini-175-Ct-Jar/5001689195?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-elc-_-ggl-_-LIA_ELC_106_Tools-Wire-Connectors-_-5001689195-_-local-_-0-_-0&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2eilBhCCARIsAG0Pf8tEwnHiImwh08HDHG3d0vhq665Vv9dMhWeBg8JqmQShFHLjUVVnLM0aAt6vEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[nadogail]

A few feet of NM usually costs less than an extra box.

 

[oachalon]

I might try and just put 2 NM cables in each of those siding mounting blocks when I wire it up.

Going all the way back to the switch is a lot more wiring plus I am putting 6 outside lights on 2 switches in the same box. That would mean 7 sets of nm in a 2 gang box. That doesn’t make sense either.

 

[cliffcharb]

Jumping in to inquire about which style lighting block ya'll would suggest I install on my garage build. I'll be using James Hardi Vertical panels which are 5/16" thick.
Arlington FR405

Arlington | FR405F Product Information

Non Metallic flanged fixtured hand box. For New construction. For 5/8 wall finish thickness can convert up to 7/8 wall finish thickness.

www.aifittings.com

or
Arlington 8141F

Arlington | 8141F Product Information

Siding Mounting Block. One piece design. Built in 10.5 cubic inch box. 1

www.aifittings.com

 

[dave*99]

The 8141F is for vinyl siding. Not useful for your Hardie panels.

Try the Arlington 8161.

 

[mikedodge]

That might be an option. What do they do when people build new houses? Most people have more than one light by their garage doors, is it a junction box just in the attic?

They either run the wiring from one box to another or back to a single junction box somewhere accessible.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Do the lights you're planning have raised canopies?
Their volumes add to their wiring space by Code.

 

[sparky 1971]

Jumping in to inquire about which style lighting block ya'll would suggest I install on my garage build. I'll be using James Hardi Vertical panels which are 5/16" thick.
Arlington FR405

Arlington | FR405F Product Information

Non Metallic flanged fixtured hand box. For New construction. For 5/8 wall finish thickness can convert up to 7/8 wall finish thickness.

www.aifittings.com

or
Arlington 8141F

Arlington | 8141F Product Information

Siding Mounting Block. One piece design. Built in 10.5 cubic inch box. 1

www.aifittings.com

I use old work boxes for vertical siding as well as most horizontal siding that isn't vinyl. A 3-5/8 carbide grit hole saw through the siding, then a standard toothed saw through the sheathing. Sometimes longer screws need to be used in the brackets.

Allied Moulded Products Electrical Box, 14 cu in, Ceiling Box, 1 Gang, Fiberglass, Round H9338=ESK | Zoro

Order Allied Moulded Products Electrical Box, 14 cu in, Ceiling Box, 1 Gang, Fiberglass, Round, H9338=ESK at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

 

[billconner]

I use old work boxes for vertical siding as well as most horizontal siding that isn't vinyl. A 3-5/8 carbide grit hole saw through the siding, then a standard toothed saw through the sheathing. Sometimes longer screws need to be used in the brackets.

Allied Moulded Products Electrical Box, 14 cu in, Ceiling Box, 1 Gang, Fiberglass, Round H9338=ESK | Zoro

Order Allied Moulded Products Electrical Box, 14 cu in, Ceiling Box, 1 Gang, Fiberglass, Round, H9338=ESK at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

When you use that, do you use any gasket or seal used between canopy and sheathing/siding?

 

[sparky 1971]

When you use that, do you use any gasket or seal used between canopy and sheathing/siding?

No, but I will sometimes silicone fixture canopy.