[paintdrying]

I read on here yesterday that an outlet can not be run off a circuit that supplies a light. Is this always correct? I would like to know exactly why. If the light circuit only feeds one light and is 20 amp and 12/2 wires, then would it be okay to do?

 

[jbfan]

No, the receptacle can not be used with a switch loop.
As long as you have a hot and a neutral, you are good to go.

 

[paintdrying]

Okay, I understand. I just want to make sure I do not learn to do electrical work the wrong way in the beginning.

 

[Jim Port]

Certain circuits like for bathroom, kitchen, dining and laundry receptacle circuits cannot provide power for lighting. What does the circuit you want to tap provide power to?

 

[paintdrying]

Okay, it is in a unfinished basements with bare concrete walls. The circuit i want to tap into feeds six lights ( 60 watt incandescent pull chain) and one smoke detector. All running into the basement, it feeds nothing else. I need to drill through the floor, the base of a built in, through the side of the cabinet, into a fake chimney( 2x 4 framing covered with particle board) then out the front of the particle board into a box for the receptacle. Approximately 12 feet, or 40 feet too the panel box. The circuit feeds a 60 flat screen tv only. Their is presently a receptacle in the cabinet wired from the ceiling so i can not get to that circuit. The tv will draw maybe an amp. I originally wanted to run from the panel but it is full. My electrician was the one that said to tap the light circuit. He retired a few years ago so I always double check him against someone with a current license.

 

[Jim Port]

That circuit sounds fine.

 

[joed]

Unfinished basement with bare concrete walls requires GFCI receptacles.

 

[paintdrying]

This circuit goes through the floor, up into the first floor, does that then require a gfi?

 

[joed]

The receptacles on the unfinished basement concrete wall must be GFCI.