Add external light to some existing wiring

[BeeDee]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little advice. We have a wall by our back door, there is existing cabling running from the back door (irritatingly unground) to the wall at which point it comes up (see green box in attached image) and splits with one side going to the garage and the other to a shed (blue box in image).

I'm considering adding an external light for the back door area on to the wall (at roughly the red box in image). What do I need to consider? Obviously, the light, fuse box, etc will need to be weather proof.

Just now both the garage and the shed have their own fuse box (circuit break board) that these cables come into. I would be adding a light before these boxes though. The cable from the house comes from it's own circuit breaker so there is some protection but I believe it's a 13A circuit. In both the garage and shed the only thing it powers it lights, so nothing high load. The shed occasionally has the lawnmower plugged in too.

Would it be okay and safe to just cut the wire and add in the light with appropriate weather proof junction boxes or do I need the light to have it's own circuit breaker as well?

Thanks!

 

[John Gabriel]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little advice. We have a wall by our back door, there is existing cabling running from the back door (irritatingly unground) to the wall at which point it comes up (see green box in attached image) and splits with one side going to the garage and the other to a shed (blue box in image).

I'm considering adding an external light for the back door area on to the wall (at roughly the red box in image). What do I need to consider? Obviously, the light, fuse box, etc will need to be weather proof.

Just now both the garage and the shed have their own fuse box (circuit break board) that these cables come into. I would be adding a light before these boxes though. The cable from the house comes from it's own circuit breaker so there is some protection but I believe it's a 13A circuit. In both the garage and shed the only thing it powers it lights, so nothing high load. The shed occasionally has the lawnmower plugged in too.

Would it be okay and safe to just cut the wire and add in the light with appropriate weather proof junction boxes or do I need the light to have it's own circuit breaker as well?

Thanks!

View attachment 120978

Hey! As long as the circuit isn't overloaded (which it doesn't sound like it is), you can add the light using weatherproof junction boxes. Just make sure everything's rated for outdoor use and connections are solid. Ideally, the light should be fused down appropriately, either inline or at the light itself, to protect the circuit. If you're unsure, worth having an electrician take a quick look. Better safe than sorry!

 

[BeeDee]

Hey! As long as the circuit isn't overloaded (which it doesn't sound like it is), you can add the light using weatherproof junction boxes. Just make sure everything's rated for outdoor use and connections are solid. Ideally, the light should be fused down appropriately, either inline or at the light itself, to protect the circuit. If you're unsure, worth having an electrician take a quick look. Better safe than sorry!

Thank John, makes sense to me.