Help installing led shop lights in garage

[krouchchocolate]

Hello,

Just recently purchased a house with a 3 car garage and I am looking to install the lights of america shop lights in my garage. 6 to be exact. I currently have 2 light fixtures in there right now and I want to remove them to convert them into outlets so that the shop lights turn on by the switch. I bought 2 of these receptacles from amazon since I could not find a circular shape one at home depot/lowes.

My question is, would I need to run another set of hot & neutral wires to allow both of the outlets to work on each receptacle? When I had removed the light fixture, there seem to be only 1 wire consisting of the hot/neutral/ground. However, the ground is not hooked up to anything right now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HEHCAU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[matt_i]

The 4" octagon box should hold an outlet with the coverplate you have. If you go with a metal box is also needs a ground pigtail. If you go with a plastic box, only the outlet itself needs a ground, the coverplate ties in thru the center screw. Keep in mind there are "mini" octagon boxes which are too tiny to hold an outlet within, but are OK for a single A-base screw-in bulb (the old incandescent/now CFL) simplest fixture. If you have that size box it will have to be changed.

I'm confused about "1-wire" does that mean 1- NM wire with 3 conductors (black, white, bare) or is it just a single black hot wire? I would not think the circuit would even work in the latter case.

In essence, if you had a hardwired light working there before, you should be able to wire in the outlet, without any changes, and then plug in the male plug of the fixture to the outlet.

 

[dfiler2]

The one set of wires you have coming in will power both of the receptacles shown in your link, assuming the box is the correct size.

 

[Norcal]

If you convert them to receptacles, then GFCI protection is required in a garage, there are no exceptions to the rule + the GFCI must be accessible.

 

[Shiftless]

If you convert them to receptacles, then GFCI protection is required in a garage, there are no exceptions to the rule + the GFCI must be accessible.

^^^^^^^^^^
That is correct!
Would the term "accessible" apply to a GFCI receptacle on a garage ceiling? I would argue that it does.

 

[SiGmA_X]

If you convert them to receptacles, then GFCI protection is required in a garage, there are no exceptions to the rule + the GFCI must be accessible.

You could use a GFCI breaker vs receptacle, right?

 

[Shiftless]

You could use a GFCI breaker vs receptacle, right?

Sure! More expensive but a good alternative.

 

[Norcal]

^^^^^^^^^^
That is correct!
Would the term "accessible" apply to a GFCI receptacle on a garage ceiling? I would argue that it does.

If you have to use a ladder to access it, I would not call it "accessible".

 

[Shiftless]

If you have to use a ladder to access it, I would not call it "accessible".

Norcal:
I think you are right. I found this quote from Article 100 in the new code...


Readily Accessible
Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspection without requiring those concerned to use a tool, to climb over, remove obstacle, or other.


Many inspectors and others would consider a ladder to be a "tool". So to conform to code, the lighting circuit with receptacles in the ceiling would have to be protected by a GFCI breaker.

 

[Norcal]

Norcal:
I think you are right. I found this quote from Article 100 in the new code...


Readily Accessible
Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspection without requiring those concerned to use a tool, to climb over, remove obstacle, or other.


Many inspectors and others would consider a ladder to be a "tool". So to conform to code, the lighting circuit with receptacles in the ceiling would have to be protected by a GFCI breaker.

A blank face GFCI would also be acceptable & would allow just the garage lights to be GFCI protected, since it is quite likely the OP's lights are off a circuit shared in the house.

 

[krouchchocolate]

I did read about it being needing to be gfci but could not find a receptacle with this and also being a circular shape. Is it mandatory to have a junction box behind the receptacle bc my current light fixture does not really have one. It just has 2 wires connecting to the light fixture (hot and neutral). Ground wire is just hanging there

 

[RAYJAY]

first off op where are you located at? code varies to where you live,

that said anything over 7 foot high that you can not reach with a ladder should not need a GFCI plug, ( flame away every one on this )


if you do need a GFIC or want one, just attach your supply to a GFIC plug in a different box ( you can use a square a nail on box for that, and work from there splitting for a switch in a junction box after the GFIC


nor being political here at all.

but these codes and laws are starting to **** really bad what ever happened to common sense.


and why the octagon box?

and you can get the plug covers like you got at home depot buy the cover separate, from the plug break the ears off of the plug .....

 

[Norcal]

first off op where are you located at? code varies to where you live,

that said anything over 7 foot high that you can not reach with a ladder should not need a GFCI plug, ( flame away every one on this )


if you do need a GFIC or want one, just attach your supply to a GFIC plug in a different box ( you can use a square a nail on box for that, and work from there splitting for a switch in a junction box after the GFIC


nor being political here at all.

but these codes and laws are starting to **** really bad what ever happened to common sense.


and why the octagon box?

and you can get the plug covers like you got at home depot buy the cover separate, from the plug break the ears off of the plug .....

The requirement for GFCI's without exception has been in effect for many code cycles.

The octagon box I suspect is for the existing lighting fixture.

 

[JCQuick]

You could use a GFCI breaker vs receptacle, right?

Sure! More expensive but a good alternative.

That's what I did doe my wall recepts the inspector even commented that it would have been cheaper to use the GFCI outlets. I then informed him I had a BIL in the biz and the price was very right (right=free)

 

[krouchchocolate]

I am located in Texas. The original light fixture is a circle/octagon shape which is why I purchase the same shape design from Amazon. Just wish the receptacle included a gfci on it. My question is, the original light fixture did not have a gfci since it was directly wired into the hot&neutral wires. Why would I need one now?

 

[Norcal]

I am located in Texas. The original light fixture is a circle/octagon shape which is why I purchase the same shape design from Amazon. Just wish the receptacle included a gfci on it. My question is, the original light fixture did not have a gfci since it was directly wired into the hot&neutral wires. Why would I need one now?

Because the new lights are cord and plug connected, buy hardwired fixtures & a GFCI is not required.

 

[cybrdyke]

It's not common for lighting circuits to be GFCI protected. Sure, it happens, but it can prove to be problematic. Since electronic ballasts became readily available in the late 80's, they have always had a little leakage current which is enough to cause nuisance tripping of both GFI receptacles and GFI breakers. LED drivers, which have alot in common with electronic ballasts also have this leakage current.
It doesn't happen all the time. The occurances are kind of random. You may never experience it in your garage or shop, but it happens from time to time. Commercially, there are very few places that you would put lighting on a GFI circuit. An indoor pool might be an example.
"Shop lights" were never meant to be used in large quantities to light up a large garage or shop. They were meant to be used as task lighting...hence, the cord and plug. The thinking was that the space would have hard wired lighting for general illumination and then if additional lighting was needed, shop lights could be hung and plugged in where necessary. Shop lights, before LED was available, used the cheapest of every component...the metal was paper thin, the ballasts were the cheeziest design and even the fluorescent tubes were shorter life than standard. This mentality, from the lighting manufacturers is still the same, even though the light source is now LED.
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