Can I hard wire a light fixture that is meant to be plugged in?

Question

I have a wall mounted reading light that has a two prong plug for a 110 volt receptacle. I want to cut off the plug and run the wire behind the wall and wire it to either a junction box or to an outlet. Can I do this? More info: it is a halogen lamp with a built in switch/dimmer.

Answer 1

Yes.

Simply cut the plug wire back to about 4" long.

Then run a wire that is appropriate for it's volt capacity in the wall, leaving about 4-6" of wire for handling and connecting. You can go to a local Home Depot and they can tell you what voltage of wire you will need, unless you are more experienced and already know what you need.

Then you will connect it to a switch by running another line to the area on the wall where you are placing the switch. Leave another 4-6" ow wire for handling and connecting purposes.

Be sure to cut your wall holes for the light and switch before running the wire, as you need to see down into the wall and the light coming through the hole as a guide, IF you are feeding the wire down in the wall through the attic.

Otherwise if you want to remove the paneling or sheetrock, that is your preference. However that would be far more expensive to do, as you will have o replace the sheetrock. If it is paneling it should be easy to do though, you shouldn't have to replace it if you don't break the paneling during removal. Sheetrock is far more breakable and is more easily ruined.

I do hope this has helped.
You can choose a dimmer or normal flip switch for this.

DISCLAIMER:
PLEASE be CAREFUL when working with electrical wiring, people die or are injured every day from inproper handling and inexpreience with electrical work. BE SURE to TURN OFF the electrical currents to the room you are working in BEFORE you attempt ANY electrical work. WEAR GLOVES, and use tools with rubber or wooden handles, metal handled tools will transfer electrical currents into your body and can harm you.
ALSO ... CALL your local electric provider and ask if you can do it and if it would be up to code. If you live in a rural or out of town area like I do, you can do as you like in your home. However in larger cities and such they have very STRICK codes you must adhere to when wiring, plumbing, building, and or, repairing your home.

Answer 2

The guy at home depot should probably get into another line of work . It would have been cheaper for you to buy a piece of wire and a plug rather than ruin a good cord . That green wire he said not to worry about is a ground wire and its there for a reason . Although there is a proper way to hook it up house current is AC ( alternating current ) which means it won't really matter which wire goes where ,because it really does no have any polarity it will work if you look at the extension cord even though the may look the same there is probably a difference in the wire , whether it be one wire ( the plastic insulation covering it ) is rounded more than the other or there is printing on it . That green wire goes to the ground usually he square pin on the plug . If you decide not to do it that way you can attach the wires any way you want it should work but make sure the power is off not just the switch when you connect it .. other wise you may get a new hair style .. and your eyes will shine in the dark .. good luck and be carefull

Answer 3

Plug In Light Fixture

Answer 4

To the best of my knowledge, yes, it can be done. However, as other answerers have stated, it most likely would not be up to code. This is due to grounding issues, as well as potential electrical hazards. Also, it is illegal to work with major power sources inside your home without the appropriate licensing, depending on the power configuration of the home, and surrounding area.

"Your municipality may use a code other than the IBC, but all building codes used in the United States contain similar verbiage. For example, the Uniform Building Code states that 'no building or structure regulated by this code shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate permit for each building or structure has first been obtained from the building official.' Exceptions in the code include works not exceeding 120 square feet in area, unless electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work is included."
-www.Doityourself.com

I personally do not advocate working on wiring within your home. I recommend hiring someone with an electrical license and experience.

That said, the best method I can think of offhand is wire the light as a standard wall lamp. Rather than cutting off the wire near the plug, you would need to cut the wire in the lamp, and run an insulated, preferably well grounded wire to an outlet and use that power, as a junction box is much more dangerous to work with.

My personal opinion of the situation though is to just leave it as is, or hire someone to just add / modify a real wall-mounted light.

Alternately, if this is just to keep that ugly cord from dangling on the wall, you could invest in a wall cord cover, such as the ones at homedecorators.com. search for "Cord covers" and you should find something suitable.

For the record I am an auto mechanic, general-purpose handyman, former professional maintainence personel, but mostly just an auto mechanic.

And, if you read through all of this, and still found this message to be of no help, go here to more information on how to do it. http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5534079532/m/1841053803

Answer 5

If you cut off the plug and run the remaining wire behind the wall, you are violating the National Electric Code. Fixture wire is not allowed to be run concealed in walls. This also applies to any type of extension cord. And there is a lot to be said for altering a UL listed device..

Consider this...you're laying in bed one night..Half asleep..The fixture suddenly starts spewing sparks...How do you disconnect it from the source? U can't unplug it, cause you have already cut off the cord cap..Wanna stick your hand up in a sparking fixture to turn the switch?? Not a good idea either..

Leave your fixture as is, leave it plugged in at the receptacle because it is UL listed to be that way..

Answer 6

It can certainly be done. In order for the work to meet code, the fixture wire will need to enter either the juction box or the outlet device box through a properly bushed hole. If you have PVC boxes, that's a good deal!

Coonecting the smaller stranded fixture wire to the solid, 14- or 12-gauge wire you will find inside the boxes is difficult. It is an eaiser job if you strip the fixture wire and "tin" the bare stripper with rosin-core solder. The result will work much better in a wire nut.

Answer 7

Sure, though you may be obligated to match any local building codes for wiring behind the walls, but it all runs off of the same power.

Answer 8

It can be done, but wouldn't be up to code