How do I add an additional light fixture to a fixture already on my wall?

Question

I have one light fixture in my bathroom. I'd like to take that one and make it two. I want to take my one fixture and put in its place two wall sconces.
Note: I have never dealt with anything electrical in my life (although I think I'm competent enough to do this with a little help from Yahoo! Answers) so please explain in great detail.

Thanks so much!

Sarcastic licensed general contractors, please do not reply. :-)

Answer 1

Hire a professional. This project is beyond your ability to accomplish at this point. It would also take too long to teach you in this forum, especially with no prior experience with electrical wiring.

Answer 2

There are a lot of variables.

How far are you moving the light fixtures?
Is the existing wire long enough to be moved from it's current location (where the current light is ) to one of the new locations without splicing the wire?
Are there any wall studs in the way?
Can you fish a wire from one of the new locations to the other new location?

Do you know the electrical code?

Do you know that you cannot tie wires together inside a wall cavity?

Do you know that two wires can only be tied together in an approved electrical box? That the box has to remain accessible? What accessible means?

Do you know how to patch drywall (or plaster if that's what your walls are made of)

Have you ever been zapped by electricity? Do you know how to cut off the power and test for the lines?

What if there are extra wires in the light box? What are you going to do with them?

If you can answer these questions and a few more I've forgotten, you are ready to start your project.

I love DIY'ers. You keep me in business!

A licensed General Contractor.

Answer 3

You can do this, but be prepared to do some "fishing".
You will need to fish additional wiring to two new 3" round old work style electrical boxes located where you want the new sconces. This can be done from above if you have attic access above the bathroom. If not you will have to go side-to-side from the existing box location. This is done with a long flexible drill bit (i.e. Diversibit by Greenlee tools : https://www.tselectronic.com/greenlee_prog/diversibit.html)

If access from above is availble, a new junction box should be located in the attic and new wires pulled down to the new box locations. The old electrical box and existing wiring should be removed if not used in this case. The old fixture location can be patched and finished. If no access is availble from above, the existing box would be used as a junction box and covered with a blank cover. The existing box would be temporarily removed to allow the new wires to be fished to the left and to the right to the new sconce locations. Once new wires are pulled back to the new boxes, make up your splices replace the box and put on the blank cover. Then, hang the new sconces.

Answer 4

get a book. the fixture you get has step by step directions. You need several tools. cut the light off at the breaker. Always make sure the power is off at the breaker.