What type of junction box for attaching motion light to existing attic light?

kanigit

Hello,

I am installing an outdoor flood motion light in the backyard which will be attached to the soffit. I was planning to run the wiring off of the existing attic light (see image http://postimage.org/image/pne3i2wdb/). This attic light is controlled by a switch in the hallway.

Two questions:

1. Since the current attic light is wired to a switch, should I also have the motion controlled by the same switch or make the motion light always on?

2. What kind of junction box should be used to connect this to the existing wiring. The existing wiring looks like 14-2 NM, should I use the same size for the new light or 12-2?

Thanks in advance!

MisterZ

if you want the flood light switched with the attic light, this could be relatively easy.
However, your left with two options here. either leave attic light on while flood is on(waste electricity)
or operate attic light solely with pull chain. (no attic light when switch is on)

neither of these are ideal, but it's your house
to do this, run 14/2 from the attic light box to the new light box mounted in soffit.

preferably you would want separate control over both lights.
for this to happen you'll need to feed another 14/2 from the switch box to the flood light.

if you dont want to expand a single switch box for a double, you can get a double switch that operates two devices.
like this one

brric

You need to determine whether the incoming power feed is at the switch or in the attic jbox.

hammerlane

Up to you.


heres a decent article on installing soffit lighting:
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/e...nder_eaves.htm

Attached Images

 

ohman

Not trying to hijack this thread, but just a quick related question...is there such as thing as soffit (outdoor) decorative lighting (with motion sensor, and NOT wall-mounted)?? Is such a thing exist? Just curious, thanks!

Oso954

Heath Zenith makes a few. You can find them at either Home Depot or Lowe's. Also Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Heath-Zenith-S...ref=pd_cp_hi_2

teamo

You can also install a separate motion sensor for any type of light.