Help moving an outdoor light

[Daddie05]

Hi GJ!

There is a light that I want to move closer to my French doors so it can flank the opposite light by my door.

Am I going to need an electrician to move the white cable on the right if it's too short for me to move it? Or can I extend it myself with the proper electrical wire(s)?

The guy that's installing the siding is going to take the panels off but he doesn't do electrical work so I just thought bud ask if it's something a normal person can do. I would prefer not to use wire screws.

Thanks in advance




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[grantw]

Any time you use wire nuts, you need to be in an accessible location. Like an outlet box with a weather proof blank cover. Nothing wrong with using nuts, but if you have the opportunity to do it "right" (cleanly), you should.

If this lead is coming from a inside light switch on the same wall, and you are having the siding pulled off, I'd say it's within the realm of possibility to replace that segment with a longer section of 14/2 with ground or 14/3 w/ground through the studs.

But keep in mind the requirement for nail plates if you can't drill your new holes deep enough.

 

[Daddie05]

Any time you use wire nuts, you need to be in an accessible location. Like an outlet box with a weather proof blank cover. Nothing wrong with using nuts, but if you have the opportunity to do it "right" (cleanly), you should.

If this lead is coming from a inside light switch on the same wall, and you are having the siding pulled off, I'd say it's within the realm of possibility to replace that segment with a longer section of 14/2 with ground or 14/3 w/ground through the studs.

But keep in mind the requirement for nail plates if you can't drill your new holes deep enough.

I am not sure where the cable is coming from yet. I am going to ask him tomorrow. Through the studs was what I was thinking of doing too. 14/2 is the type of cable?


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[DirtyJersey]

Yep!
14/2 Romex. Blk/wht wires with bare ground.
14/3 has a red wire also

Like he said, if you cannot drill through center of studs you should use nail plates to protect the wire from nails,screws....

How did you turn that light on???
Thats where the wire is coming from.

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[Norcal]

The siding looks new, planning where one wants a light should be done BEFORE residing, makes things a lot easier. The issue can be fixed though.

 

[mm08822]

What is the lefthand cord for?

 

[ard]

What is on the inside?

Specifically what is ABOVE the space on the inside?? If you are lucky, that white wire is in the attic and goes down through the plate and out the side- just pull it back, put a little junction box in the attic and run a new wire to the new location.

So, the question again: is there a crawl space/attic above that area? Can you see that wire head down? Gently yank and see if it moves, while someone watches.

 

[Marctrees]

Daddie05 - Everybody has different skills.

I am sure you have some that I do not.

Respectufully, it is very obvious this is not one of yours.

Everything above considered, you should have a licensed electrical contractor do this.

Everyone has their limits.

Electrical is one of those things that need to be done correctly.

Marctrees

 

[grantw]

What is the lefthand cord for?

looks like speaker wire?

 

[mm08822]

looks like speaker wire?

agree, just trying to make sure not for 120vac.

 

[cybrdyke]

I remember one of my friends having a sign taped up next to his phone at work. He worked at an electrical supply house and would daily get calls from regular folks who had no knowledge of what they were doing. They always wanted free advice. His sign read:
"Sir/Madam - the electromotive forces of electricity can be some of the strongest forces found in nature. Failure to understand the significance of the finer details of electrical products and installation techniques can have fatal results. Please contact a local, licensed electrical contractor who will be happy to take care of you."
It was funny to pop in every so often and find him in the middle of reciting that.
OP- not referring to you....just a funny story that popped into my head.
Carry on.....
CD

 

[rburke65]

If that right hand wire was for a light and the light was switched, then the right hand wire has to go to a switch.....I assume on the inside of the house. You will need to either set a junction box and splice theirs to extend them to the new location of your light OR run new wire back to the switch from the new location of the light.

 

[Daddie05]

I just had time today to remove ve the siding and I am going to need an electrician because the cable is too short and I don't know where it's going into since there is no attic space to further investigate.

The other cable is a speaker wire but not sure where it leads to. We just bought the house like 6-7 months ago and it was just tucked away until the demo started. I might ask the electrician on Sunday if he can tell me where it's coming from. It would be nice to hook up some nice outdoor speakers with the hidden cables


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[MrBalll]

I just had time today to remove ve the siding and I am going to need an electrician because the cable is too short and I don't know where it's going into since there is no attic space to further investigate.

The other cable is a speaker wire but not sure where it leads to. We just bought the house like 6-7 months ago and it was just tucked away until the demo started. I might ask the electrician on Sunday if he can tell me where it's coming from. It would be nice to hook up some nice outdoor speakers with the hidden cables


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A junction box and wire nuts would be easiest if you do it. But, good to hear you have an electrician coming over.

Dig around in closets and see if the speaker wires come out anywhere. I moved into my house and found I had speaker wire in the backyard. Finally found it all tucked up hiding on the top shelf of a closet I have in my front yard garage.

 

[AntonLargiader]

I just had time today to remove ve the siding and I am going to need an electrician because the cable is too short

You can put a Tyco splice into the wall and not need to leave it accessible.

 

[Daddie05]

A junction box and wire nuts would be easiest if you do it. But, good to hear you have an electrician coming over.

Dig around in closets and see if the speaker wires come out anywhere. I moved into my house and found I had speaker wire in the backyard. Finally found it all tucked up hiding on the top shelf of a closet I have in my front yard garage.

You can put a Tyco splice into the wall and not need to leave it accessible.

Thanks for the tips guys. The lights were sensored lights and my wife wanted them on a switch so the electrician handled it using a roundish blue plastic box. He also told me that I need to get a gfi for our outdoor outlet. Are these as easy as replacing an indoor outlet/light switch?