[Solidify]

Hi guys.

I would like to add light in my walk-in closet:

I'm leaning towards putting a pull-chain light fixture on the ceiling but if there are better solutions, I'm all ears.

There is an outlet behind the two-door closet you see in the photos, as well as the one you see on the wall adjacent to the closet. I've never fished wire before so I wouldn't know how to do this.

This is the first time I've done this kind of work therefore some guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[brric]

That is not a walk-in closet. If you put a light fixture in it, put an enclosed flourescent fixture above the door. Any thing else will not meet the clearance requirements. Absolutely no bare bulb pull chains.

 

[Solidify]

Is this what you're talking about when you say it won't meet clearance requirements?

 

[poiihy]

Is there attic space above? If so then it would probably be fairly easy to install (you just have to survive the attic...).

If not then you may have to cut holes and go fishing. (sounds like ice fishing heh...)

 

[Solidify]

Is there attic space above? If so then it would probably be fairly easy to install (you just have to survive the attic...).

If not then you may have to cut holes and go fishing. (sounds like ice fishing heh...)

No there's no attic. This the second floor of a 3 story building. My tenant's toilet is above my closet I believe.

 

[poiihy]

No there's no attic. This the second floor of a 3 story building. My tenant's toilet is above my closet I believe.

hahaha be careful where you drill... :vs_lol:

 

[Solidify]

Brric, let's forget about the type of fixture I'll be using for a moment. I'll get one that passes clearance requirements like you say.

I'm more concerned with how to get the power to the ceiling, does it need a switch or better with a motion sensor (the door is often left open), where would I draw the power from, how would I fish the new line, how do I fish it (will the door pose an issue), how do I know if it's safe to add more load to the circuit I'll be tapping into, where will the junction box need to go (since I'm assuming I'll need one)?

 

[poiihy]

you can fish to the nearest junction box. you should not need to worry about overloading a circuit with only a closet light. the light can be controlled by a door switch so it turns on when the door is open. or you can just have a motion detector or pull chain and that way you will not need to wire a switch.

Depending on how far it is, you may need fish tape, or you may be able to do it without it. I have never needed fish tape. if you go perpendicular to the beams/joists, you would need to drill through them, and to drill through them, you will need to cut holes.

you say there is an outlet on the opposite wall. you can cut a hole behind the box near the ceiling. then drill a hole above it to fish a wire up into the ceiling. depending on the directions of the joists and how far you want the light to be from the outlet, you may or may not need to drill in the ceiling. if you do then cut holes and drill through the joists. then you can fish your nm cable through the holes.

use the proper size cable. Use 12AWG if on 20 amp circuit and 14AWG if on 15 amp circuit.

 

[poiihy]

do you know where the joists and studs are?

 

[Solidify]

I have a studfinder that I can use to detect the stud where I'll to. And if it's the same direction as in my basement, the joists go parallel to the closet door when it is open. It other words, the joists (in the basement ceiling atleast) start from outside the closet and follow heading into the back of closet, if that makes sense.

 

[HDS]

What's on the other side of the closet walls? Could there be an outlet there?

 

[Arrow3030]

I used to work in San Francisco. We used a lot of wiremold in this kind of situation. It's a good option if there's no way to run wire without opening walls. Google search wiremold and if you think it will work for your project I'd be happy to offer advice.
A motion sensor will work very well in this application.

 

[poiihy]

What's on the other side of the closet walls? Could there be an outlet there?

There's an outlet on the other side of the back wall of the closet.

There is an outlet behind the two-door closet you see in the photos, as well as the one you see on the wall adjacent to the closet.

 

[Solidify]

What's on the other side of the closet walls? Could there be an outlet there?

At right side: my neighbor. It's a semi-detached home.
At the left side: nothing. Just a wall then my open staircase leading to the basement. No outlet there.
Behind the back closet wall: the master bedroom's private toilet.

 

[Solidify]

There's an outlet on the other side of the back wall of the closet.

No, what I meant is there's an outlet behind this closet:

And this is the staircase that's behind the "reach-in" closet:

 

[Jim Port]

you can fish to the nearest junction box. you should not need to worry about overloading a circuit with only a closet light. the light can be controlled by a door switch so it turns on when the door is open. or you can just have a motion detector or pull chain and that way you will not need to wire a switch.

.

Once again your lack of knowledge shows. You cannot make a blanket statement like that. It is going to depend on what circuit the closest junction box serves. Some circuits are restricted to their usages. Porcelain fixtures with a bare bulb are specifically prohibited.

I know you want to help, but it would be more helpful if you stuck to subjects where you had actual knowledge and not just jump into every thread.

 

[Dave Sal]

The simplest solution is to mount a battery operated LED light with a pull chain. I have one, an incandescent model, in a pantry next to the refrigerator. I change the batteries once every two years or so.

 

[Solidify]

The simplest solution is to mount a battery operated LED light with a pull chain. I have one, an incandescent model, in a pantry next to the refrigerator. I change the batteries once every two years or so.

Can you suggest me some?

 

[rjniles]

Can you suggest me some?

http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image...&qid=1449361317&sr=8-1&keywords=Sharper++puck

 

[Dave Sal]

Can you suggest me some?

This is the one I have.

http://www.amazon.com/Insta-Bulb-62...-29&keywords=battery+powered+led+closet+light

Here is a four pack with LED bulbs.

http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Light-Battery-Powered-Portable/dp/B00EW032BS/ref=pd_sim_201_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=41pxSmZRSJL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0PHQMG2BG5F3KSY2Z931

The reviews on Amazon aren't that good for either of them. They are not as bright as a normal wired light fixture, but for a small space such as a small closet it works fine for me, considering that there was no light fixture at all. If you need bright lighting then you should probably think about doing the hard wire job. I wouldn't want you to buy one of these battery powered models and hate it.