How To Install Porch Light Without Junction Box

One of the simplest, about constructive ways to enhance the safety and security of your home is to add a motion-sensor floodlight to the garage. The dual-lamp model installed here comes on automatically if something—or someone—crosses its field of vision.

If yous're hesitant about working with electricity, don't worry. We've greatly simplified the process by safely tapping into an existing garage circuit and by running the wires through surface-mounted metal tubing, called conduit. This technique speeds the installation by eliminating the need to blindly pull wires through walls and ceilings.

All of the supplies required for this project are sold at hardware stores and home centers, including the thin-wall metal conduit, which is referred to as EMT for electrical metallic tubing.

Outdoor Garage Calorie-free With Motion Sensor Overview

Illustration by Gregory Nemec

The outdoor garage low-cal shown here has ii lamps and an infrared move sensor, which automatically turns on the lights if a person or vehicle approaches the garage (they get off after a few minutes). Dwelling electrical projects similar this typically require you to connect wires to the main electrical panel and then fish them backside walls, under floors, and higher up ceilings—not an easy job.

However, the wiring for this driveway floodlight is confined to the garage, so you tin tap in to an existing electrical outlet and so use like shooting fish in a barrel-to-install surface-mounted metallic conduit to run the wiring.

The ane⁄2-inch-diameter conduit, known as EMT (electric metallic tubing), is sold at domicile centers and electrical suppliers for virtually 20 cents a foot. Yous can also purchase right-angle conduit connectors ($iv) and preformed curved elbows ($3) that allow you to turn corners with the rigid metal.

Principal electrician Allen Gallant suggests replacing the two-plug outlet with a combination GFCI receptacle and switch ($22) brought out from the wall with an extension box ($4.50). He prefers to assemble a fixture from separate parts (near $60 total) instead of buying a single unit considering that way he's able to upgrade the quality of the motion sensor.

Alert: Before starting this projection, turn off the electricity to the garage at the main electrical console. And then test the garage receptacle past plugging in a radio or lamp to confirm that the power is off.

How to Install Outdoor Garage Lights (With Motion Sensors)

1. Attach the Extension Box

Photo by Richard Howard

• After turning off the electricity to the garage, remove one of the existing wall receptacles.
• Screw the metal mounting plate that comes with the extension box to the electric box in the wall.
• Use a screwdriver to pry the round knock-out plug from the top of the extension box. Adhere a i/2-inch metal conduit connector to the top of the box.
• Fasten the extension box to the mounting plate with the 2 long screws provided.

two. Connect the Conduit

Photo by Richard Howard

• Measure from the top of the extension box to the garage ceiling then subtract 1 1/2 inches. Saw a piece of conduit to that dimension and file smooth any sharp burrs.
• Slide a right-angle connector onto one cease of the conduit. Insert the other end into the connector on the extension box.
• Put a conduit hanger on the conduit. Bank check that the conduit is perfectly plumb, and then mark the hanger's position.
• Motility the conduit and screw the hanger to the wall. Slip the conduit dorsum into place and secure it by tightening the screw on the hanger.

Tip: Employ a magnetic torpedo level, which sticks to the conduit.

3. Install a Preformed Conduit Elbow

Photo by Richard Howard

• Concord a conduit elbow confronting the wall corner and cut a piece of conduit to fit betwixt the elbow and the right-angle connector.
• Insert the conduit into the right-bending connector; if it's longer than 12 inches, install a conduit hanger.
• Join elbow to the conduit with a direct coupling.
• Continue installing conduit across the front wall, catastrophe it over the center of the garage door. Use hangers every 12 inches.

four. Bore Through the Garage Wall

Photo past Richard Howard

• Measure from the summit of the doorway to the ceiling and decrease i inch. Then movement outside and marking the siding that dimension upward from the middle of the door.
• Bore a level hole through the garage wall with a 7/eight-inch-diameter spade bit.
• Inside, connect a junction box to the conduit running across the front end wall. Then screw the box to the ceiling.
• Run a length of 14/2 nonmetallic cablevision (Romex) from the junction box through the hole to the outdoors.

5. Attach the Round Outlet Box

Photo by Richard Howard

• Spike a cable connector to the pigsty in the base of the round outlet box.
• Feed the nonmetallic cable through the connector, then tighten the connector screw.
• Fill the pigsty in the wall with silicone caulk or putty.
• Press the round outlet box apartment against the siding and secure it with 2 2-inch-long galvanized decking screws.

Tip: Use a connector wherever a cablevision or wire enters a box.

six. Pull the Wires Through the Conduit

Photo by Richard Howard

• Remove the encompass plate from the right-angle conduit connector that's nearest the wall receptacle extension box.
• Feed an electrician's fish tape into this connector and push button it through the conduit until it comes out the extension box.
• Employ electrician'south tape to attach one each of blackness, white, and greenish fourteen-gauge stranded copper wires to the fish tape.
• Pull the fish tape until the wires come up out of the connector, then undo the fish record.
• At the junction box, button the tape into the conduit. Reconnect the three wires to information technology, then pull them into the box.

seven. Assemble the Outdoor Garage Lights

Photograph by Richard Howard

• Carefully screw the motion sensor into the centre hole in the round lamp-holder comprehend.
• Thread the two lamp holders into the holes on either side of the motion sensor.
• Finger-tighten the motility sensor and lamp holders; don't use pliers. Final tightening and adjustment aren't done until later the garage light is mounted on the garage wall.

Tip: If desired, spray-paint the outdoor garage lights to match the house. But non the sensor — pigment might impede its performance.

8. Brand the Connections

Photo past Richard Howard

• Trim the cable coming from the round outlet box to six inches and use a utility pocketknife to cut away the plastic sheathing.
• Use wire strippers to remove one/2 inch of the plastic insulation from the black and white wires.
• Bring together the cablevision to the garage light.
• Attach the garage light with machine screws and insert bulbs.
• Make the wire connections at the junction box and switch. Then turn on the ability and adjust the lamp holders and motion sensor.

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Tools

Source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/garages/21016403/how-to-install-a-garage-floodlight

Posted by: maynardwelver.blogspot.com

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