This is probally easy but I need to add a light fixture to one of my
rooms. One of the receptacles is controlled by a wall switch. I have
full access to the wiring via the above attic. Would I attach the lght
fixture wiring to the receptacle or the wall switch. I would like to
not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great.

"I would like to not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring
together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great. "

The other alternative is to use two junction boxes in the attic. Cut
the cable going to the outlet and put one end in each box. Then run
your new light cable into one box and run a short piece of cable
between the two boxes.

I just did this in my house. I had to run a wire from the receptacle
to the new box for the light. There was no splicing, all the wiring
was done at the receptacle and I made it an always on receptacle.

rjh959 wrote:
This is probally easy but I need to add a light fixture to one of my
rooms. One of the receptacles is controlled by a wall switch. I have
full access to the wiring via the above attic. Would I attach the lght
fixture wiring to the receptacle or the wall switch. I would like to
not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great.

Splicing the wires outside a junction box in the attic is a No No. If
you have enough free play in the wire, fine, but I doubt if that is going to
happen.

There are several possible solutions. It is hard to suggest one however
without knowing more about exactly what you have. Is the receptacle in the
same room as the light you are adding? How do the wires run to the
receptacle? That are there two circuits, one hot and one switched going
down from the attic to the outlet? If so you can replace the outlet (or
bridge the removed ear) cut the wire to the outlet box (I would at least
tape the now dead wires - What is code in this case??) and then add a
junction box in the attic to connect the wire to the new light to the hot
end of the switched wires you just cut.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

The wall switch, receptacle and future light fixture are all in the
same room. I believe that both ac outlets are switched on the
receptacle.

wrote in message
oups.com...
"I would like to not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring
together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great. "

The other alternative is to use two junction boxes in the attic. Cut
the cable going to the outlet and put one end in each box. Then run
your new light cable into one box and run a short piece of cable
between the two boxes.

Maybe, maybe not. I just put a junction box in for a light and had enough
slack to do it with one box.

wrote in message
oups.com...
"I would like to not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring
together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great. "

The other alternative is to use two junction boxes in the attic. Cut
the cable going to the outlet and put one end in each box. Then run
your new light cable into one box and run a short piece of cable
between the two boxes.

Maybe, maybe not. I just put a junction box in for a light and had enough
slack to do it with one box.

You can snake from the outlet to the light location. If the feed is located
in the switchbox, you can snake from that location. If the feed is in the
switchbox and goes into the attic, then back down to the switched outlet,
you can pick it up there as well. Most importantly, you have to know what
you have and where you have it, before you proceed.



"rjh959" wrote in message
ups.com...
This is probally easy but I need to add a light fixture to one of my
rooms. One of the receptacles is controlled by a wall switch. I have
full access to the wiring via the above attic. Would I attach the lght
fixture wiring to the receptacle or the wall switch. I would like to
not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great.

The switch controls (1) receptacle which is an "end of run". There are
no other lights/receptacles on this switch. The switch wiring goes up
into the attic and back down to the receptacle.

"rjh959" wrote in message
ups.com...
This is probally easy but I need to add a light fixture to one of my
rooms. One of the receptacles is controlled by a wall switch. I have
full access to the wiring via the above attic. Would I attach the lght
fixture wiring to the receptacle or the wall switch. I would like to
not have to do either and somehow splice the wiring together in the
attic area rather than having to fish wires through the receptacle or
switch wall. Any advice would be great.


I don't know if you have done this yet - Given what you posted here and as
replies elsewhere, and if I were to guess, your situation is likely the same
as what I have in all my bedrooms.

You feed goes to the switch and then from the switch to the outlet. I found
it much easier to fish to the switch, not the outlet. In my case only 1/2
the outlet was switched. I was able to move the switched leg in the switch
box so it was always hot and the connect for my light at the switch. I'll
try and draw the before and after using ascii art. View this with the
courier font. Your situation may be different ind its possible I do not know
what I'm talking about. Take everything you read here with that in mind. If
you are unsure of what you are doing then contact a qualified electrician.
Oh, and make sure the electricity if off before working on this.

before

BOX
---------------------|
|
|
SwitchBBBBBB|BBBB
BW | B
BW | BBBBB OutletW
BBBBBBBBBBB|BBBBBBBB OutletW
BWWWWWWWWWW|WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW |
---------------------|
BW
BW
BW
BW
BW
^^
feed


After

BOX
---------------------|
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW|WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWW
W | v
W SwitchBBBBBB|BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB LIGHT
WWWWBW |
BBBBBBBBBBB|BBBBBBBB OutletW
BBBBBBBBBBB|BBBBBBBB OutletW
BWwWWWWWWWW|WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
---------------------|
BW
BW
BW
BW
BW
^^
feed