Splicing into Existing Romex For Floodlight

[skon1212]

Due to people constantly trying to mess with my cars in my driveway, I purchased a Ring floodlight camera. I know it has to be hardwired but I really do not want to run a new circuit if at all possible. The light will attach to the wall above my garage door and there is an existing electric run above my garage that goes to the outlet for my garage door opener plug. What I wanted to do is splice into the romex going to the outlet and run a line to the exterior wall for the floodlight. I read up on it and it seems all I have to do is make sure there is enough slack to cut the line, attach matching wires with wire nuts and run a ground pigtail to the junction box that all the connections will be inside. Will this be the best way to accomplish what I want or is there a better way? I have done basic wiring before and ran circuits, but have never spliced into an existing run. Just trying to do it the easiest way possible.
TIA

 

[mike93lx]

It all has to be in a box. If you have enough slack, great, otherwise, you will likely need two boxes.

As an aside, I would look into Ring a bit before installing. They share video with some police departments and share data with an analytics company in Ukraine...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It all has to be in a box. If you have enough slack, great, otherwise, you will likely need two boxes.

As an aside, I would look into Ring a bit before installing. They share video with some police departments and share data with an analytics company in Ukraine...

reference?

 

[mike93lx]

reference?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech...h-police-forces-extending-surveillance-reach/

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...aring-data-detailed-maps-with-police-in-2018/

https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-privacy-concerns/

 

[SGKent]

Ring is getting to the point where it goes off but the video feed is sometimes 1 - 2 minutes delayed it seems. By then whatever has already happened. It happened twice today. The delay is so much it catches the FedEx / UPS etc driving away but not at the door. Sometimes the notice from the carrier that it has been delivered comes in before the Ring goes off. But a photo is better than no photo.

 

[rlitman]

reference?

Counter reference?

It doesn't have to be in a box if you use a listed Romex tap kit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VHF1B0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[wyliesdiesels]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech...h-police-forces-extending-surveillance-reach/

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...aring-data-detailed-maps-with-police-in-2018/

https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-privacy-concerns/

Hmmm when i get a chance Ill read them. Thx

Ring is getting to the point where it goes off but the video feed is sometimes 1 - 2 minutes delayed it seems. By then whatever has already happened. It happened twice today. The delay is so much it catches the FedEx / UPS etc driving away but not at the door. Sometimes the notice from the carrier that it has been delivered comes in before the Ring goes off. But a photo is better than no photo.

Yup, Ive noticed that too.

It used to be a lot faster.

Now the start of the recording is long after the motion has occured and the object is long gone.

 

[rlitman]

Ring is getting to the point where it goes off but the video feed is sometimes 1 - 2 minutes delayed it seems. By then whatever has already happened. It happened twice today. The delay is so much it catches the FedEx / UPS etc driving away but not at the door. Sometimes the notice from the carrier that it has been delivered comes in before the Ring goes off. But a photo is better than no photo.

That is supposedly a problem with your WiFi connectivity.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It doesn't have to be in a box if you use a listed Romex tap kit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VHF1B0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

"This NEC approved splice can be hidden behind a wall, but always verify this with your local building Codes which may differ from NEC."

 

[skon1212]

Appreciate the input. That tap splice kit may be the way to go as there is not as much slack as I thought.
As far as the Ring goes, if there are better alternatives, I am all ears. I bought the Ring floodlight cam at Costco so I can always return it. Even if I go to security cameras and a standard floodlight I still need to splice in somewhere to get power.

 

[sparky 1971]

This is based on the ASSumption that there is attic space above the garage. Why not just run a new piece of romex from the door opener receptacle to a junction box in the attic where you want to put the light?

 

[skon1212]

This is based on the ASSumption that there is attic space above the garage. Why not just run a new piece of romex from the door opener receptacle to a junction box in the attic where you want to put the light?

There is room and that is a possibility as well. Just a lot shorter run to tap into the Romex that is already there.

 

[Terry D]

Counter reference?

It doesn't have to be in a box if you use a listed Romex tap kit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VHF1B0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Im not sure this would fly in some areas, if you read the product description, it says it can be hidden behind walls. All spices need to be accessible.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Im not sure this would fly in some areas, if you read the product description, it says it can be hidden behind walls. All spices need to be accessible.

I've never cared for those. Replaced a lot of them in RV's hidden under kitchen cabinets and behind built-in furniture. I know they're used in mobile homes and some modular homes as well.

They're UL listed and code-acceptable per NEC 334.40(B), but I would never install one where any other method is a possibility.

 

[mike93lx]

Appreciate the input. That tap splice kit may be the way to go as there is not as much slack as I thought.
As far as the Ring goes, if there are better alternatives, I am all ears. I bought the Ring floodlight cam at Costco so I can always return it. Even if I go to security cameras and a standard floodlight I still need to splice in somewhere to get power.

You can always install cameras with a local dvr.

Alternatives or not, I would never give them access to video cameras in or around my house, but to each their own

 

[Git]

I have used the TE Connectivity Tap Kit - works great. Lowes has it for $7

 

[skon1212]

I have used the TE Connectivity Tap Kit - works great. Lowes has it for $7

I need to see that in person. Trying to figure out how you add a line to it from the picture. Looks like a great solution though.

 

[Git]

It is actually two pieces

On the main piece (the tap of the through line) you strip off a section of the outer jacket and the individual wires get pressed into metal teeth. Then you snap on the clear plastic cover that locks everything in place. The metal teeth extend in the plastic body and form a connecting point where the second wire then plugs into the main body using a similar type of connector

These connectors are only to be used for REPAIR wiring - they are not approved for new construction (walls open kind of thing)

This pic shows the main romex cable being tapped

This pic shows the second cable where it connects under the main cable

 

[skon1212]

It is actually two pieces

On the main piece (the tap of the through line) you strip off a section of the outer jacket and the individual wires get pressed into metal teeth. Then you snap on the clear plastic cover that locks everything in place. The metal teeth extend in the plastic body and form a connecting point where the second wire then plugs into the main body using a similar type of connector

These connectors are only to be used for REPAIR wiring - they are not approved for new construction (walls open kind of thing)

This pic shows the main romex cable being tapped

This pic shows the second cable where it connects under the main cable

Now I see it!! Thanks for the pics!!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It is actually two pieces

On the main piece (the tap of the through line) you strip off a section of the outer jacket and the individual wires get pressed into metal teeth. Then you snap on the clear plastic cover that locks everything in place. The metal teeth extend in the plastic body and form a connecting point where the second wire then plugs into the main body using a similar type of connector

These connectors are only to be used for REPAIR wiring - they are not approved for new construction (walls open kind of thing)

This pic shows the main romex cable being tapped

This pic shows the second cable where it connects under the main cable

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm just old school. I don't dig the whole tap thing. It reminds me of those lousy-tap-a-line thingies people use to hack up stuff on their car wiring.

Tommy

 

[ard]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm just old school. I don't dig the whole tap thing. It reminds me of those lousy-tap-a-line thingies people use to hack up stuff on their car wiring.

Tommy

lol

my precise feelings as well.

Old dog>>>new tricks>>>nope...

 

[azrider]

scotch-locks for Romex. That says hack job all over it.

 

[Jim greengo]

This is based on the ASSumption that there is attic space above the garage. Why not just run a new piece of romex from the door opener receptacle to a junction box in the attic where you want to put the light?

What he said.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm just old school. I don't dig the whole tap thing. It reminds me of those lousy-tap-a-line thingies people use to hack up stuff on their car wiring.

Tommy

Yeah, we call those "Vampire clips". Many teenage boys first cars had all kinds of Radio Shack amps and Spark-O-Matic tape deck and speakers hooked up with those things.

I think my first Radar detector used them too.

Jim