"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
PS, there is no box behind the siding


Damn. Well I can try using one of those 1/2" high boxes and see if I can
inset it into the sheathing beneath it. In some ways I wish I hadn't
uncovered that little mess - but on the other hand it was an absolute fire
waiting to happen.



"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
Three options: You can use a siding box, which would probably look silly
on the wood, You can cut in a gem box, right around the existing cable,
which would work fine, or you can mound a pancake box right on the
surface and get new fixtures with deep canopies to accommodate the
pancake box. You need new fixtures anyway




"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..
Secretly in the back of my mind I think I know what I'm gonna have to
do, but I'm hoping for an out.

The porch lights on my house are firetraps and have to go. So I get
some new ones and begin the process of unmounting one of them - big
mistake.

http://photos.imageevent.com/eigenve...e/P5050111.JPG
As you can see its simply screwed onto the siding.
http://photos.imageevent.com/eigenve...e/P5050112.JPG
And the romex is fed to it through a hole in the house.

Dare I cut the siding and hope that there's an electical box behind it?
I really really hope there is, otherwise I have quite a task ahead of
me - ripping out the drywall and installing an box to mount the new
fixture.

So staring at that mess I look at the old fixture - bigger mistake

http://photos.imageevent.com/eigenve...e/P5050113.JPG
No that isn't green insulation - that's exposed hot and neutral wires
that are almost corroded through. In fact the Romex wires that it was
connected to were corroded as well - not terribly but there was a
definite green film on the wires.

So what am I looking at here - completely removing the old Romex,
installing an exterior box, then cutting my siding to install the new
fixture?

For now I've clipped the connection, wirenutted both the hot and neutral
wires and wrapped them with electricians tape and put the old fixture
back on the siding to keep it moderately covered from the elements.
Should I be safe until I can do a permanent install or would it be a
good idea to unhook the wires from the actual switch inside the house
too?