How do I install a ceiling light in a room where there are no holes in the ceiling for one to go?

Question

I would like to install a fixture box and fish the wire from a wall switch so the light would be controlled by the switch. There are three rooms that I would like to do this to with an unfinished attic above. Does anyone know of the best/safest way to complete this task? Also, would I need to use conduit in order to be up to code?

Answer 1

Sorry, I'm confused. What does the wall switch currently control?

In the long run, it might be easier to run a whole new line (circuit) and put the lights on switch on the new circuit. That way you won't be in danger of overloading the existing circuit with the new lights. Only so much electricity can go through a circuit before it trips or burns down the house.

Answer 2

First you want to make sure you have constant power at the switch . you should if you have more then one set of wires in the box. Check with a voltage tester (can get one at any home store)
If there is one set you could make it constant ,if it currently controls a plug. You will need to drill a hole in the wall above the switch and stick a fish down and notch a small hole above the switch and catch the snack you stuck down with another small snack ( you will need help from some one) Then in the room find center of room and stick a screwdriver through sheet rock and check attic to find location, cut in box ( old work type box) run wire from ther to switch . Check to see what size wire is in box and make sure to use same size usually 14/2 romex

Answer 3

Working with electricity is inherently dangerous. Can cause death or injury. Unless you have some knowledge. Do not mess with it.Your scenario is not completely clear. But lets give it a try. Do you have access to the attic? Wire cables will be ran up here. What part of the country do you live in? Different electrical codes for different localities. Whether it be armor cable, romex or conduit you must first get power. Where will you get it from? Are you going to run a new circuit or tap into an existing one? If you tap into existing one make certain it will not be over loaded. All this must be done with the power off.
Depending on the location of the switches and electrical box for the light fixture to be hung from; the hot lead must be attached to one side of the switch. From the switch a line will go to the light fixture. Out of the light fixture you then go to nuetral. Lets make a wiring diagram. On a piece of paper draw a line into a dot, this line is the hot lead. Out of the dot draw three lines. This is three wires spliced into one, the three wires/lines are all hot now. Each of these lines will independently go to a switch terminal. Draw a box with two dots for the switch. Dots represent terrminals. From the other side of the switch terminal draw a line to the brass colored terminal on the light fixture. Draw a circle with two dots [ one brass colored and the other will be silver terminal] for the light fixtures. From the silver color terminal of the light fixture you will draw a line which goes back to neutral. This is the white conductor. If your diagram is correct you should have one line connected to three lines. This is a splice connection. Each line will go to an independent box, three total,this is the switch. Out of each switch box a line is drawn to a circle, three total. Out of the cirles the lines will be tied together, three nuetral into one, spliced. These three into one will then go to neutral, white wire. This is one way of doing it. There are other variations. But they all follow the same principle. Hot into switch, from switch to light fixture. Back to neutral.

Answer 4

conduit is not required inside a house unless you for some reason wanted to have the wires run on the outside of the wall. in order to determine how many lights and receptacles are wired onto a circuit, pull one fuse or turn off one breaker, then go around the whole house and find out what goes off. radios and table lamps make good testers for this. if you have a line with 9 or less items (total after reno = 12) then you can use that line. each light fixture and receptacle counts as one, but switches do not.
MAKE SURE THE POWER IS OUT!!!!!!!
if you can do it this way, then you will take a new wire from an existing receptacle box, joining it to the new wire (black to black, white to white, bare to bare, and short jumper wires to the old receptacle) with marrettes (wire nuts) and feed a new wire (14 gauge "nmd" with a black, white, and bare ground wire) to the light box. the light box should be supported with at least a 2x4 over it between the ceiling joists, especially if you decide to put in a fan later. joists are seldom where you would like to put the light. run another wire the of the same type down to the light switch location. LABEL THE WIRES!! the wire joints inside the light box will be: cable from source (receptacle) black wire to white wire going to the switch. inside the switch, that white goes to one screw terminal, the black inside the switch goes to the other screw. bare ground wire under the screw at the back of the box. back to the light box, the black wire coming back from the switch goes to the black wire of the light fixture, the white from the receptacle goes to the white of the light fixture. bare ground wire goes to the ground screw inside the light box.
general tips: in the attic, you can usually see (under the insulation) where the interior walls are. this is where you would like to drill a hole about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. don't miss or drill on an angle or you could end up outside the wall or into the ceiling. (measure twice, cut once!) pass a thin chain or a heavy string down through the hole and have a helper looking into the hole you have cut for the switch box. when the helper can grab the string, make a hook loop in one of the wires, cut off the other 2, tie the string to the wire and as gently as possible, pull the wire up to the attic. best to find out where the studs are before cutting a hole, so that the box can be mounted directly beside but not on top of a stud. fishing the first wire up from the receptacle box requires you to remove the box. usually held on with 2 screws or nails, most easily removed with a sawzall or a pull type hand hacksaw. use the above method to get the wire to the light. BTW, you can run a wire from light a, to light b, to light c, as this is easier than tearing apart a lot of receptacles. the wiring inside the light is this then: take your first wire in from the source and connect the wire going to light b (black to black, white to white, ground to ground) and just treat that as one wire as per the above instructions for switch wiring. all cables must be secured inside the box (you shouldn't be able to pull them out when you are done).
that's about as much info as i can give you on line, without seeing the specifics of your house. if you are still having problems, I'd suggest a simplified electrical code book. home depot has them for about $20. if that does not help you, then call an electrician.

Answer 5

just find the wire to the light that is in the room and split into it, frame up a box out of 2x4 blocks andscrew the box to the sides cut hole out with drywall saw or knife not sure if you have to have a conduit,i wouldnt bother its only simple job.