Adding External Garage Light Fixture Help

[drewcorvette]

Adding a new fixture to my outside garage, the new fixture calls for a 4" round electrical box, but the original fixture has an older style metal box see the image. I believe it has BX armored cable with just a black and white wire.

Since the cut out is only for the old electrical box what is the best way to fit the new round electrical box in this spot, i don't want to rip apart or damage the exterior portion of the house. Cut-in with a multi tool?

 

[Terry D]

That new box you have is not made to recess in a building. It is for surface mount only. If the fixture will only mount to a octagon box, you will get one with ears that you can recess. The ears will give you a way to mount it. Be sure to use a coonector made for bx . Post a picture of the new fixture. It may fit on the box you have

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[drewcorvette]

Here is the fixture round mounting hardware plate, it won't mount to what's currently on the side of the house, the instructions called for a round electrical box.

 

[Terry D]

Here is the fixture round mounting hardware plate, it won't mount to what's currently on the side of the house, the instructions called for a round electrical box.

Now that i see the light, that has to mount to a weatgerproof round box like you originally posted. It uses all 4 screws. Is there anyway you can remove the recessed box you have and suface mount the new box over the hole and bring the bx into the back of the box. Hopefully there is enough slack in the cable

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[drewcorvette]

I can try to see if their enough slack on the cable, but the round electrical box even if i mount it over that original hole would be sticking out on the side of the house. how would i hide the box? Wouldn't it be better to cut a bigger hole and mount the round box?

 

[Meursault74]

You could cut out a hole to match, but if you fasten it to the wall like the rectangular box the ears on the round box would need to be in a location for recessed mounting. That is up by the front of the box. Is the original box ground by the conduit?

 

[drewcorvette]

The original box is grounded by the conduit i believe, as its armored bx cable.

 

[Meursault74]

Is there a stud behind the box you can attach to box to? Or can you put a stud there (if it's an unfinished garage).

Maybe there is a round adapter plate (or you could make one) to attach to the rectangular box and then screw the new light into the place.

I saw this, but I'm not sure if it'll work in your case. Maybe just a visual to what I'm thinking.

https://www.zoro.com/hubbell-killark-adapter-plate-vba/i/G4863302/

There's probably a few ways to get this done, just depends on what you have going on behind and what parts you can get.

Wait and seen when the electricians chime in, they've done this before I'm sure.

 

[Terry D]

That box that you posted is meant to be exposed. It is a weatherproof box. You could recess it. You would need blocking in back of it to mount it to so it is flush with the outside siding. It would be best to use all 4 mounting holes to secure the fixture.

Another way is to use the existing box and instead of mounting it to the box, put it over the box and mount it to the wood siding if it is solid enough

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[drewcorvette]

I guess I could try and attach it directly to the siding ovdf the existing box.. I rather not have to cut into the siding. The box will jut out though and not look flush which I was trying to avoid. Do they make a sone type of conversion mount for that box that would fit a round mount fixture?

 

[drewcorvette]

Any other suggestions?

 

[Terry D]

The adaptor plate in post #8 might work. The problem is the box that you have in the wall now is actually a device box. It is made for switches and receptacles. That is why it only has 6/32 screws. Im thinking the spacing of the screws are 3 1/4 on that box, I could be wrong. I cant find any specs on that adaptor plate showing the screw hole spacing. I would think that plate is designed to fit on a octagon or a 4x4 box. The other thing to worry about even if the plate will fit your box, is the position of screws of the box you have now. Since the canopy on your new light has writing on it, you would need the screw holes to mount the fixture to be at the top, bottom and each side to keep the words straight. If the plate doesn't fit, you could possibly redrill the holes to mount it to your box to keep it all straight.

If you are set on not installing a surface mount weatherproof box on the outside of the wall and mounting your light to that, then I would remove the existing box, install a metal octagon box with the screws at 45 degrees and that adaptor plate should fit on there and the words be straight, being that the spacing of the screws to mount the fixture are correct. You could also see if the light manufacture offers their own plate.

Here is a old work Metal octagon box that has the right clamps for your cable

https://www.gordonelectricsupply.co...K8KdHtmM2pQF31tBvkAv0fZvcxzIFJ2saAuilEALw_wcB

 

[drewcorvette]

here are more specs on the adapter https://www.hubbell.com/killark/en/Products/Lighting-Controls/Harsh-Hazardous-Lighting/Lighting-Accessories-Components/Splice-Boxes-Mounts/VBA/p/2166321#prod-resources-section

V Series - V Adapter Mounting Plate - Adapts Fixture Body To VB/VJ/Steel 3-1/2 In And 4 In Splice Boxes - Supplied With Gasket
Adapts fixture body to VB, VJ, or steel 3-1/2" and 4" splice boxes. Supplied with gasket.

 

[Meursault74]

here are more specs on the adapter https://www.hubbell.com/killark/en/Products/Lighting-Controls/Harsh-Hazardous-Lighting/Lighting-Accessories-Components/Splice-Boxes-Mounts/VBA/p/2166321#prod-resources-section

V Series - V Adapter Mounting Plate - Adapts Fixture Body To VB/VJ/Steel 3-1/2 In And 4 In Splice Boxes - Supplied With Gasket
Adapts fixture body to VB, VJ, or steel 3-1/2" and 4" splice boxes. Supplied with gasket.

Please all dimensions to see if it will work for you. I only pointed that one out to give you an idea of what I was thinking about. I didn't scrutinize details to see how well it would work with your set up.

 

[Meursault74]

Did you get the light mounted?