Wire a Surveillance Flood Light
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How should I provide power for a Surveillance Camera Flood Lights? Electric wiring for a Surveillance Camera Flood Light, Wiring to an Existing Power Source. © By: Dave Rongey |
Wiring Surveillance Flood Lights
Electrical Project: How should I provide power for Surveillance Camera Flood Lights?
My electrical wiring project involves Changing the Wiring of a Motion Detector Light on an Attached Garage of a Home.
- Hi Dave, I live in a 1977 ranch-style house where my porch is lit by two (original equipment) outdoor fixtures spaced about 20 feet apart, attached to the west side of the garage exterior?75 watts each. These of course can be turned on via a switch in the entry way hall. I also have two more outdoor lights installed on the front (north side) of the garage one on either side of the garage door to illuminate the driveway. These 2 fixtures were installed by me years ago and I just tagged on to the junction box of the porch light on the west side of the garage that was nearest to the front of the garage. So currently all 4 lights go on and off with the same indoor switch.
- My project is to replace the two fixtures on the front of the garage with 2 surveillance camera flood lights. Obviously these two flood lights will need power on constantly so I need to know the easiest way to rewire these 2 fixtures so they are no longer switched, but I want my 2 porch fixtures to remain controlled by the current indoor switch. My thought was to find the junction box closest to the garage (which will be in the attic), attach a new #12 wire there and run it to the two junction boxes that will house the new floodlights on the front of the garage. Of course I would disconnect the wire currently going to these fixtures from the switched junction box first. This would give constant power to the 2 front lights and the 2 porch lights would remain switched.
- The junction boxes in my attic are the square metal type (3- 4 inches square). How many #12 wires can I safely connect in this junction box? I have not been up there to look yet but obviously there is going to be at least 2 wires currently connected to each box up there. Would it be okay to add a third new #12 to power these floodlights? Thanks for any help/tips you can give!
This electrical wiring question came from Scott, a Homeowner in Portland, Oregon.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Scott.
How to Wire Surveillance Camera Flood Lights
- Application: Change the Wiring a Motion Detector Light
- Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, or Certified Electrician.
- Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools, Voltage Tester, and appropriate Safety Gear.
- Estimated Time: Depends on the personal level experience, ability to work with tools, install electrical circuit wiring, and the available access to the project area.
- Electrical Safety: Identify the electrical power source to the Motion Detector Light, turn it OFF and Tag with a Note before working with the electrical wiring.
- Electrical Wiring Parts and Materials: Electrical parts and materials for the Motion Detector Light should be approved for the specific project and compliant with local and National Electrical Codes.
- Electrical Codes and Inspections: Installing or changing home electrical wiring should be done according to local and national electrical codes as adopted in Portland, Oregon. A permit and inspections may also be required.
Wiring for a Surveillance Camera Flood Light
Wiring to an Existing Power Source
- The number of wires for a junction box depends on the exact box, however there are extension rings that can be added to most electrical boxes. For example you can get extensions for 4 Square, 3 Inch or 4 Inch Octagon boxes, as well as 1-gang, 2-gang and many other boxes.
- Your power source may be from the existing light circuit inside of the garage, or from one of the wall receptacles. These options will depend on access, and if the walls and ceiling are covered are not.
- Before making the connections, be sure you are not connecting to a wire controlled by a switch. This will require some testing or tracking down of the wiring to see where they end up.
- Your plan is good, and you sound like a knowledgeable person, so I’ll bet you will do just fine.
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