Exterior light - how would fix this?

[vavet]

Exterior flood light was mounted with two sheet metal screw going right into the vinyl siding. The romex was run straight out of a larger center hole in the siding, there was no box. The other side is an easily accessible attic space.
for now, I’ve removed the light fixture, pulled the wires back inside, and put a box blank cover plate on the outside. I know it should be in a junction box.
my preference would be to have a light there, but not sure how to mount the box, cut the siding, and everything else properly.
ideas?

 

[Shiftless]

I suggest a pancake box.
I see from your photo that your sheathing looks like particle board or similar. If screws don’t hold well, you could fasten this box using machine screws, washers and nuts.

 

[mm08822]

 

[sparky 1971]

1/2" Siding Mounting Kit

This mounting kit is for smooth vertical mounting of light fixtures on all siding types. The kit includes a mounting block with a built-in electrical box, NM cable connector, and four paintable screws. It features UV-rated plastic for a long outdoor life.

www.menards.com

I have four lights on my house and four on the detached garage. Of the eight, only the flood light on the back of the garage has a box.

 

[AntonLargiader]

Other than the sloppy wiring, was something broken that needed fixing? Just wondering how much of a solution you're asking for. It looks like that is pretty well protected underneath the eave. Would it get direct rain on it?

 

[driftpin]

The round die-cast box mm08822 mentioned is what I'd do, and recently did. I ran a bead of silicone around the threaded hole in the back, and then a bead around the outer perimeter of the fixture, after it was screwed to the wall. That includes the screw tabs.

 

[PCustoms]

1/2" Siding Mounting Kit

This mounting kit is for smooth vertical mounting of light fixtures on all siding types. The kit includes a mounting block with a built-in electrical box, NM cable connector, and four paintable screws. It features UV-rated plastic for a long outdoor life.

www.menards.com

I have four lights on my house and four on the detached garage. Of the eight, only the flood light on the back of the garage has a box.

Might not work for OP, look where the "step" in the siding is.

I'd use the weatherproof box, a fat ring of sealant on the back and a couple screws and it will be well attached. The security lights I have needed a round box to mount to anyways, so this was a good solution for me.

 

[vavet]

1/2" Siding Mounting Kit

This mounting kit is for smooth vertical mounting of light fixtures on all siding types. The kit includes a mounting block with a built-in electrical box, NM cable connector, and four paintable screws. It features UV-rated plastic for a long outdoor life.

www.menards.com

I have four lights on my house and four on the detached garage. Of the eight, only the flood light on the back of the garage has a box.

is this a “barber’s kid needs a haircut” thing? They are supposed to have boxes, right?

Other than the sloppy wiring, was something broken that needed fixing? Just wondering how much of a solution you're asking for. It looks like that is pretty well protected underneath the eave. Would it get direct rain on it?

The previous fixture was the rectangular type with the small (1/4“ diameter???) x 3” long bulb. The lens/cover was missing and I’m not sure for how long. I didnt Want to have to try to source a new lens and was not at all confident there wasn’t enough corrosion in the bulb contacts that it would still work anyway. The tenant left me a motion detector, twin bulb fixture, so I figured I’d put that up.

The round die-cast box mm08822 mentioned is what I'd do, and recently did. I ran a bead of silicone around the threaded hole in the back, and then a bead around the outer perimeter of the fixture, after it was screwed to the wall. That includes the screw tabs.

Are you saying you’d put this box outside or try to attach to the 2x6 ridge beam inside and cut a hole in the siding?

 

[whateg01]

1/2" Siding Mounting Kit

This mounting kit is for smooth vertical mounting of light fixtures on all siding types. The kit includes a mounting block with a built-in electrical box, NM cable connector, and four paintable screws. It features UV-rated plastic for a long outdoor life.

www.menards.com

I have four lights on my house and four on the detached garage. Of the eight, only the flood light on the back of the garage has a box.

Doesn't that act as a box?

 

[FredWanaker]

What is behind the siding? Is there wood that a box can anchor to? If not you will need to put some kind of a brace between studs that the box can anchor to. Just screwing into the vinyl siding only is not going to be adequate. A round exterior box like others have shown can be mounted to the brace with the vinyl sandwiched in between, or you can cut the vinyl and partially put the box in it on the wood, and caulk well to seal it to the vinyl. Any wiring connections must be inside an approved box. Or a box like Sparky linked may work.

 

[mikedodge]

I'd use a deep box similar to attached pic, cut a hole to match it through the vinyl siding and backing and frame it in from behind with it sticking out enough for the light to sit.

The other option would be like post#2 so that you again could cut the siding around it and make the wiring hole to inside big enough to run the wiring in there properly. But might be best to paint the outside of the box or find a plastic one to make it less noticeable and prevent any sort of corrosion.

 

[sparky 1971]

Might not work for OP, look where the "step" in the siding is.

I'd use the weatherproof box, a fat ring of sealant on the back and a couple screws and it will be well attached. The security lights I have needed a round box to mount to anyways, so this was a good solution for me.

As long as it's tall enough to cover the existing hole and short enough that it doesn't get into the gable vent, it will work. A new hole will be needed though. It may need something other than the 1/2" step, I just put that up for a visual aid.

is this a “barber’s kid needs a haircut” thing? They are supposed to have boxes, right?

That will serve as a box and a flat spot for mounting the fixture, just like it says in the description. Two birds with one stone. I've used them several times and they work fantastic, but only with vinyl siding. You can surface mount an exterior box if you prefer, but unless the fixture is some sort of knuckle mounted flood light, it's gonna look like ****.

I used my lack of fixture boxes as an example of them being over rated. Lack of a box isn't going to cause catastrophic failure or spontaneous combustion. The house was built in 1961, I discovered there were no boxes when I installed new fixtures about seven years ago, and obviously haven't lost any sleep over the fact.

Doesn't that act as a box?

Yep.