[dfluxnet]

Hi Everyone,
At my new house I purchased it has a long covered porch with exposed 2x4s. Tapped off of an outdoor light on the wall is a run of electrical wire that runs up to the ceiling along one of the 2x4's approx. 6 feet total of run length stapled down then wired to a shop light. It is entirely under the covered porch. I would like to switch this light out to a outdoor rated fan. I looked at the wire and it says rated for outdoor use so is this acceptable? If it is can I install a standard ceiling box direct mounted to one of the 2x4's?

 

[joecaption]

Got a picture?
If it's a covered porch then it did not to be UF wire, just going to make it a whole lot harder to work with.
Need a fan rated box.
Now's the time to rerun that wiring if it was run below the 2 X 4's or exposed on the wall.

 

[dfluxnet]

I may have misspoke earlier, the wire is exposed during its 6ft run. It is just stapled to the wall and the side of the 2x4 till it reaches the shop light. Sorry I don't have a picture right now. I was wondering since it is outdoor rated wire is that ok? If it isn't would putting it in some kind of conduit be ok and if so what type of conduit could I Use that was very flexible?

The other question is I bought a fan rated box that attaches direct to the 2x4 but the outdoor fan I purchased has a canopy that is larger than the circumference of the fan box so there will be a small gap between canopy and fan box does that matter?

Edit: Found a picture very similar to my patio.
http://www.texaspatiobuilder.com/wp-content/gallery/ceilings/kocurek-exposed-rafter-ceiling.jpg

 

[Oso954]

The only concern I would have is how the wire emerges from under the porch light. How did they bring the wire out and Is it pinched by the base of the light ?

The run up the wall and along the rafter is not subject to damage, IMO. If I was going to do something to it, I might cover it with plastic wire mold. But that would probably be done for appearance sake at the urging of my other half.

The gap between the electrical box and the fan canopy ( as would be seen from above) is normal. Your wire connections and excess wire should be pushed up into the box, not left hanging down into the space covered by the canopy.

 

[dfluxnet]

The light has a small cutout in the top that the wire comes from. It does not appear to be pinched or distressed at all and there is silicone(?) caulking covering the hole. The light fixture is also under the porch and not direct exposed to the elements. There is no bend near the light. The wire travels up for about 2 ft to the exposed 2x4 and than travels along roughly 4 ft to where I want to put the box. The wire is barely touchable on the wall for a tall person and it unreachable on the 2x4 except with a ladder so I do not think it is in danger of damage either.

Oh and thanks for all the help everyone It is great to be part of a community like this.