Options for replacing porcelain bulb fixtures.

[gsea]

I have a couple of regular old porcelain fixtures and 60 watt bulbs lighting the 20' x 22' garage... and they are woefully inadequate. They are all wired in series on the same switched circuit. It is all sheetrocked in, with 11 ft ceilings and there is a bedroom above so no access. It would be more work than it's worth to try and run another circuit.

I bought one of the FEIT LED lights at Costco for my Dad for Christmas and was impressed by the brightness (though not necessarily the fixture itself). I'd like to replace all my porcelain fixtures with these or something similar.


1) Per NEC, can I replace the porcelain fixtures with outlets to plug shop lights into? (Wire is 14 ga white romex)?

2) Per, NEC can I cut the cord off the shop light fixtures and hardwire them to the romex or do I need a fixture that was designed to be hardwired?

3) How much better would that be than just replacing them with LED flood lights or CFLs with reflectors?


Thanks GJ!

 

[thewatusi]

1. Yes

2. No

 

[cybrdyke]

screw socket receptacle?

 

[Norcal]

If you replace the keyless lampholder with a receptacle, GFCI protection is required.

 

[Orionrising]

or you could do what some on here have and put high watt CFLs in em like 100 watt actual not equivalent

 

[wssix99]

1) Per NEC, can I replace the porcelain fixtures with outlets to plug shop lights into? (Wire is 14 ga white romex)?

Not if these are really wired in "series." You only have one wire going between fixtures?

 

[Rookie2]

This old house just gave a thumbs up on these......

http://www.earthled.com/products/eti-7-inch-spin-light-led-flushmount-fixture-54606143#.VLayMslnan8

 

[gsea]

Not if these are really wired in "series." You only have one wire going between fixtures?

Oops, you got me there. They are wired in parallel.

 

[gsea]

How does that work for a shop light fixture that has a ground prong though?

 

[wssix99]

How does that work for a shop light fixture that has a ground prong though?

Just get an octagon cover plate and replace the old fixtures with it. You would then put a three prong outlet in the plate.

The last time I got one of these, I recall it came with the outlet already attached.

 

[My Old Tools]

Just put Fiet LED flood bulbs from Costco in those lamp holders.