Heres the deal.. I just ran some outside romex wire that I plugged into a GFCI I want to run these 2 lamps for my patio.. and have it be controlled by a switch but also add a outlet below the switch so I can plug stuff into is there anyway I can wire these 2 lamps to the to the new outlet and have it be controlled by the switch? help be appriciated!

 

yeah you can.

just run it from the source to the GFI outlet then to the switch, and from switch out to the lamps.

this will give you GFI protection on both outlet and lamps, it will allow you to shut off the lamps with the switch and keep constant power to the outlet.

 

dont quite understand.. I already have a GFI outside.. I'm running a piece of romex with a plug on the end of it thats plugged into the GFI from that wire i want to be able to run a switch and a outlet which the switch will operate 2 lamps.. and ill still be able to use the outlet to plug **** in and out from..

 

Ok, so you have a GFI outlet already installed outside. You have a romex cable with a plug termination and that is plugged into the outlet is that correct?

And yer wanting to install a switch? to turn on and off the lights?

Im trying to visualize what yer saying here. I think i understand.

Are these lamps permamant fixtures?

What im thinking yer saying is that you have the GFI outside, and you have the 2 lamps. the lamps are cabled with standard romex outdoor cable and the cabling is ran to the house and either up or down to the outlet and just plugged into the outlet, and yer hoping to install a switch for the lamps.
Do you want the switch flush with the existing GFI?
do you plan to run the cable in-wall?


i have no idea what the side of yer house looks like or the position of these lamps, but for sake of it, this is how i would do it on my house.

I have a GFI near the base of the house, and i have a pergola with 2 supports. i would attach the lamps to the supports and with some good outdoor grade romex i would run the wire along the top of the pergola and down under the eaves and into the ceiling. I would then cut a hole in the outside where i wanted the switch preferrable right next to a stud and firewall, that way i could drill a hole in the firewall and pull the electrical down where the switch would be, pull some slack, then run it again down to the outlet. Then i would bridge the romex o0ff the outlet below, cut the cable where the hole is, drop in an outlet box, wire the cables (one from up and one from below) to the switch and mount it in the box and cover it.

Then voila, outdoor lighting, no wires seen, gfi, and outlet with 2 open plug holes.


Sorry man, im tyrying to visualise exactly what yer planning but im having a hard time.


But YES you CAN run the wire for 2 lamps and add an additional outlet and have it all bridged off the GFI outlet.

 

i think i got what yer saying.

You just plan to plug this into the GFI outlet, ruin the cable to the wall, install secondary outlet and a switch for the lamps. right?

yes u can do this.

the load yer gonna put on the outlet should be pretty minimal, you should be fine.

 

yes thats correct, there small lamps.. i was wondering is there a way I can wire these 2 lamps to the NEW outlet and switch or w/e so i DONT have to plug the lamps into the new outlet i want to hard wire them to the outlet and be able to operate them by a switch..

 

I'm an electrician and im trying to understand what your trying to do but its difficult. Haha. I think your making things too complicated than just running a whole new line with a switch and the two lamps. You can run a new outlet before the switch, and then add in the 2 lamps i guess. But if i'm reading right, you have a plug that you wired with the romex, and your plugging that into the GFCI to continue the circuit?

If you can, reword what your trying to do, using punctuation and such. Much easier to understand.

 

i'll PM you

 

Alright i'll try to make its as clear as possible..

1. Outside of my house I have a GFI already connected to electricity.. I picked up some outside Romex wire I added a plug to the end of the romex wire, and when finished it will plug into the GFI.. I ran the romex wire and stapled it to the side of the house and ran it to my patio..

2. I want to add a outlet and a switch off of this wire I just ran to my patio..

3. I want to run 2 patio lights and have the switch operate both of them, now is there a way I can wire the 2 patio lights to the new outlet.. and still have it controlled by the switch?

4. So basically I want to hard wire the patio lights to the new outlet without plugging them in and still have the outlet FREE to plug whatever in..

 

call bob...either bob the builder or bob vila.

 

Yes. You basically just run the romex out to the location you want the outlet. Wire up the outlet, then bridge it up to a light switch. You will have a constant 120v to the outlet, the switch will turn the lights on and off.

It goes...

GFI <Plug--------romex-------------Newoutlet---switch----Lights.

The outlets can be bridged so you can run multiple outlets in parallel, so what yer doing is putting the switch in parallel with the outlet. This is very common, i would be HIGHLY suprised to find you have a single light switch in your house that is not bridged off an outlet in the same room.

you of course will need to deffer to the wiring on the outlets, the diagram should be on the box, it really is a piece of cake to do this.

 

appriciate the help I like the diagram, Im going to pick up a switch and an outlet tomorrow for outside use.. can I just use a regular switch for this or do i need a 2 way/3 way switch? and what about the outlet..

 

2way switch is all you need. as for the outlet, nothing too fancy really.

just make sure you got stuff good for outdoor use.

 

sounds good thanks a lot for the help!!

 

You can use a regular 15A receptacle, but if its outdoors, or in a damp location it needs to be covered. Pick up one of those 16 in 1 outlet covers at Lowes, or wherever, its by Carlon i believe. And a single pole switch will do.