How to make a light fixture with power cord at home?

Question

Im just trying to take a light bulb and take a piece of wood, put the thing that it skrews into on the board, and attach a power cord so it can be plugged into a wall outlet. How to?

Answer 1

Hate to say it, but this really isn't such a hot idea. For one thing, if it causes a fire, you'll be responsible, particularly because you made it yourself and thus it wasn't UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed for the purpose you're describing. The main kind of socket at hardware stores is for making repairs, not for building a new fixture. I've seen many dangerous situations where someone installed a light fixture that just wasn't constructed properly.

If you connect wires (like others have mentioned here), it MUST be in an electrical box designed to house such a splice. Otherwise it's dangerous and illegal in most areas.

Besides, to do this thing right you're likely to spend as much money as it would cost to buy a simple new fixture.

But if you gotta do it, here's probably the best way:

With screws, attach a metal octagon box to the piece of wood. Use one of these two styles, depending on how you want to mount it to the wood:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=141495-427-DP%20161&lpage=none
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=70940-427-8146&lpage=none

Take a replacement lamp cord, or even better, an extension cord with 14awg wire (14-gauge, the thickness of the copper), and keep the plug end on (the one with the prongs) and remove whatever's on the other end. If using the extension cord, remove the outer rubber jacket 6-8" so you just have the insulated wires sticking out.

Insert the wire into the metal box by prying out one of the small holes in the side of the box so that the wire slides under the clamp. Make sure 1/4" of the extension cord's outer jacket sticks past the clamp; you should then have 6-8" of wire inside the box, and nothing but pure extension cord outside the box.

Then strip back 1/4" or so of each of the wires in the box. Crimp a Staycon-type connector onto each (here's a photo of what I mean: http://www.virginiawind.com/tips/images/wire_repair_04.jpg); you can find them at Radio Shack or most hardware stores. You must do this because the wire is stranded, not solid.

The rest is simple: Put the green wire under the green ground screw on the metal box (that's it for grounding). Put the white wire (more exactly, the white wire's connector) under the silver screw on a keyless lamp fixture (http://www.doityourself.com/invt/u244657), and the black wire under the brass screw. Cover both of the screws with a little bit of electrical tape, just to prevent them coming in contact with any exposed metal or wire. Then screw the keyless porcelain lampholder onto the box! That's it.

You'll likely want to use staples (preferably the kind with plastic on them to keep the wire from getting nicked) to hold the extension cord in place so it doesn't swing all over the place. You absolutely must staple the extension cord to the wood within 6" of where it comes out of the metal box.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Answer 2

It is possible, if you have an attic above the bedroom, and it is difficult. First decide where you want the fan to go. Drill a small hole in the ceiling there, and push a stiff straight piece of wire up into the attic. A wire coat hanger works good. Then get up in the attic and find the wire. Clear out the insulation to expose the ceiling sheetrock. Trace a metal ceiling fan box around where the wire came through, and cut out the hole. Install some 2x4 bracing, connected to the joists, to support the box and fan. Now the real fun begins. Find the top of the wall above the switch you want to control the fan. Drill a 1/2 to 5/8 hole through the top plates, as close to direclty above the switch as possible. Then kill the circuit that controlls the switch. Remove the cover and pull the switch as far out of the box as possible. Remove one of the tabs from the top of the box. If it was a 15 amp circuit breaker or fuse controlling the switch, you will need 14 gage wire. For a 20 amp breaker, use 12 gage wire. Your going to have to fish the wire through the hole you made above the switch, down inside the wall, and into the box where you removed the tab. You may want to buy or borrow a fish tape for this. The other end of the wire will go to the box where you want the fan. Connect white, black and ground(bare wire) to the top terminals on the switch. Hook up the fan according to the directions that come with it. Turn the power back on, and you should be all set. If you don't have an attic, you can either cut into the ceiling to run the wires or use conduit to run the wires on the surface of the wall and ceiling, and surface mount the box to the ceiling. Just be sure the box is securely anchored to a joist. If the box is not securely mounted you risk haveing the fan come crashing down onto whatever is under it.

Answer 3

Keyless Light Fixture

Answer 4

sounds a bit dangerous, but you do it exactly the way you said... attach a socket (hardware store) to a piece of wood, buy an extension cord and connect to the socket... plug in and you have light.

Answer 5

drill a hole big enough to thread the wire through and put the white wire on the light colored screw and the black wire on the darker screw wrap some black tape around it so you wont get shocked and plug it in.