Receptacle wiring "help"

[Bross956]

Fella's, I have an exterior light that I want too swap out for a receptacle outlet. I lowered the light fixture and noticed it's a four wire setup. "Excause my lack of professional terms". Only two wires are being used to power the light, white and red. So other then the ground wire being connected the black, white & red go where on the receptacle? Thanks in advance.

 

[Kaizen]

you only need two of them. BUT are there two light switches that turned on/off that outside light? that extra wire is a traveler normally on a 3 way switch. you have to disconnect that and put in a normal switch or your outlet will only get half of the power.

 

[Bross956]

Inside i have a 3 switch plate. 1 switch controls inside hallway light. 2 switch controls exterior light/swap out. 3 switch controls exterior flood light

 

[alfredeneuman]

You'll have to transition from the fixture box to a device box, use a GFCI outlet rated for use outdoors, and an in-use cover.

 

[Kaizen]

Ok then you will use the white and either the red or black. If you didn't notice which one was in the previous light you need to put a voltmeter on the white and the black with it live. You should see 120 volts. The non used color is either capped there or runs to the spotlight.


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[wyliesdiesels]

Fella's, I have an exterior light that I want too swap out for a receptacle outlet. I lowered the light fixture and noticed it's a four wire setup. "Excause my lack of professional terms". Only two wires are being used to power the light, white and red. So other then the ground wire being connected the black, white & red go where on the receptacle? Thanks in advance.

you only need two of them. BUT are there two light switches that turned on/off that outside light? that extra wire is a traveler normally on a 3 way switch. you have to disconnect that and put in a normal switch or your outlet will only get half of the power.

Ok then you will use the white and either the red or black. If you didn't notice which one was in the previous light you need to put a voltmeter on the white and the black with it live. You should see 120 volts. The non used color is either capped there or runs to the spotlight.


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The travellers would NEVER go to the light fixture.

Travellers go between the two 3-way switches. Only a black from the common screw on the switch, the white neutral and a ground would go to the light.

Im thinking someone used **/3 NM-b to wire the light.

 

[Kaizen]

The travellers would NEVER go to the light fixture.



Travellers go between the two 3-way switches. Only a black from the common screw on the switch, the white neutral and a ground would go to the light.



Im thinking someone used **/3 NM-b to wire the light.

Thanks for the correction. Was thinking they were spliced in the box. Maybe if op puts up a pic it will show if it's feeding through with the second hot


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[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks for the correction. Was thinking they were spliced in the box. Maybe if op puts up a pic it will show if it's feeding through with the second hot


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I should clarify myself.

They would never go to an EXTERIOR LIGHT FIXTURE since the switches are on the inside.

I have done INTERIOR 3-way lights where the travelers are spliced in the light fixture.

But thats rare too as its usually too many wires to stuff and is easier to go direct between switches.

 

[matt_i]

Imo, You have two choices, to either keep the 'other' wires connected the exact same as they were, and just use what you need to power the outlet. Or, you can go on a detective search and rescue mission to determine where the other wires are fed from, when they get voltage, etc, to determine how to use them in the new setup. Previously someone else had a plan and you could potentially try to figure it out.