Help with wiring Diagram Provided

[Creamcracker]

The 2 white lamps above are designed for hardwiring into an electrical system. There are 3 wires that come out of the back ...a green/yellow (which is attached by a screw to the backplate..which is metal) and then a white lead and a black lead. Can I run these wires through a wall then connect to a switch which will protrude back out through the wall... and then attach a longer set of wires to a plug so that I can just have it plug in to the wall outlet? If I do this, do I have to connect all the wires to a 3 prong plug or can I just discard the ground wire altogether. The fixture uses a 40watt bulb max.

Thanks Philip

[starleen2]

I say - anytime when you can have a dedicated ground wire running to an AC circut - then do it - just for safety and piece of mind if for nothing else. One more wire ain't gonna bust da budget!

[Creamcracker]

I say - anytime when you can have a dedicated ground wire running to an AC circut - then do it - just for safety and piece of mind if for nothing else. One more wire ain't gonna bust da budget!

I should have said this is for a non-teardrop application.....it's for an bedroom application to fix on the side of a built-in closet system with a "bridge" above a bed...
Philip

[eamarquardt]

One of the issues that concerns me on the forum is the offering of advise that may get someone in trouble. I gather that you want to install some extra lights in your home. There are no codes for wiring in teardrops as most of the time you are dealing with 12 volts which is a lot less (but still) dangerous, but there are codes for wiring in your home. Should you wire it incorrectly, there be a problem, and if you cause a fire, among other negatives of a fire, your insurance company might be able to deny your claim.

At a minimum to install the lights properly you will need to install boxes, romex or conduit, the wires must be installed correctly, and the ground wire must be mechanically continous (splices must be made with permanent crimp connectors, not with wire nuts). If you don't know how to do this get a book, contact some with experience to coach you, or hire an electrician.

You are playing with electricty that can kill you or someone else if the job is not done correctly.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[Creamcracker]

One of the issues that concerns me on the forum is the offering of advise that may get someone in trouble. I gather that you want to install some extra lights in your home. There are no codes for wiring in teardrops as most of the time you are dealing with 12 volts which is a lot less (but still) dangerous, but there are codes for wiring in your home. Should you wire it incorrectly, there be a problem, and if you cause a fire, among other negatives of a fire, your insurance company might be able to deny your claim.

At a minimum to install the lights properly you will need to install boxes, romex or conduit, the wires must be installed correctly, and the ground wire must be mechanically continous (splices must be made with permanent crimp connectors, not with wire nuts). If you don't know how to do this get a book, contact some with experience to coach you, or hire an electrician.

You are playing with electricty that can kill you or someone else if the job is not done correctly.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

I appreciate your comments...let me put the question this way....why can I not add extra wire to the lamps in question and put a two pin plug on the end (or a 3 pin if I can get one) and just use it as a plug in lamp like one would buy at the store...
Philip

[Miriam C.]

The 2 white lamps above are designed for hardwiring into an electrical system. There are 3 wires that come out of the back ...a green/yellow (which is attached by a screw to the backplate..which is metal) and then a white lead and a black lead. Can I run these wires through a wall then connect to a switch which will protrude back out through the wall... and then attach a longer set of wires to a plug so that I can just have it plug in to the wall outlet? If I do this, do I have to connect all the wires to a 3 prong plug or can I just discard the ground wire altogether. The fixture uses a 40watt bulb max.

Thanks Philip

It sounds like you are wiring a lamp until you talk of a switch.

If I am reading this right then NO! Your switch needs to be on the end with the load coming first.

Suggestions:
Go to a lighting store (that does repair) and ask for information and equipment to do what you want.

Why not hire an electrician to wire this bed for you.

[eamarquardt]

You can certainly add a three wire cord. Ground leads are important (for safely) and it's important to connect the hot to hot and neutral to neutral.

You should really affix the cord to the lamp in a secure way so that any tension on the cord doesn't pull loose the wires from your wire nuts (or even better solder the wires together and use tape or a wire nut-I'm an overkill artist). A cable clamp can be used with a knot in the cord to keep the cord from slipping through the clamp.

As I understand it doing it this way is legal, but given that your fixtures have ground leads you should really use them!! If you want to add an inlne switch I'm sure you can find one that will work. Just be sure to put the switch on the hot wire not the neutral (wrong) or ground (useless).

Cheers,

Gus

[starleen2]

I say - anytime when you can have a dedicated ground wire running to an AC circut - then do it - just for safety and piece of mind if for nothing else. One more wire ain't gonna bust da budget!

Same applies to Household installs as well - Why not have the ground wire from the lamp to the switch to the plug? you can buy three stranded wire at many hardware stores

[Larwyn]

Strange, I have no 3 wire lamps in my house, yet all of them have switches. I would tell you it's okay, but obviously somebody would come along and tell us what a stupid idea that is so;

Okay, nevermind.

[starleen2]

Strange, I have no 3 wire lamps in my house, yet all of them have switches. I would tell you it's okay, but obviously somebody would come along and tell us how stupid I am, so;

Okay, nevermind.

Goosh Larwyn - Why rain on my three wire parade! How can we keep the copper industry solvent if we don't add the extra wire OK enough of the sarcasm - Larwyn has a valid point - oh wait, nevermind (your OK Lawyrn!)

[Creamcracker]

I think my question is being mis-interpreted or I am not explaining myself well this evening.....I'm not against using a three stranded cord...I just didn't know if you could get them to self attach to a three pronged plug. Seems like I can so that's fine...I'll use a three wire attached to a three pronged plug. So if I understand the responses above ...I can attach the three wires coming out of the lamp to a three wire cord with a plug on the end that I could plug into a wall socket right? The only thing then I want to add into the equation is to put an inline switch (of some sort) so that I can leave the lamp plugged in and switch off the lamp using the inline switch without getting out of bed?
Philip

[Larwyn]

As far as I know, homemade lamps are legal. Even if they are a bit larger than the typical table lamp. I personally would have no problem with wiring those fixtures to a switch and plugging them into the wall. I would probably use a 3 wire cord with a a 3 prong plug, but I'd bet that a manufacturer would use only 2 wires and a two prong plug. As long as the switch is rated for voltage and current parameters suitable for the load the style should not matter. But it will be fun to sit back and hear all the reasons that you should not attempt to do this without first consulting a licensed electrician, your insurance adjuster, whatever entity you may worship, and probably the "Electrician in Chief".

[Nitetimes]

As far as I know, homemade lamps are legal. Even if they are a bit larger than the typical table lamp. I personally would have no problem with wiring those fixtures to a switch and plugging them into the wall. I would probably use a 3 wire cord with a a 3 prong plug, but I'd bet that a manufacturer would use only 2 wires and a two prong plug. As long as the switch is rated for voltage and current parameters suitable for the load the style should not matter. But it will be fun to sit back and hear all the reasons that you should not attempt to do this without first consulting a licensed electrician, your insurance adjuster, whatever entity you may worship, and probably the "Electrician in Chief".

I do believe Lowes/HD sell an inline switch specifically for this purpose, I'm quite sure they have the roll type and the paddle type, you just clip the black wire and put the ends in the switch and screw it together....very simple. And personally I'd use 2 wire lamp cord too. If they are gonna be separate 16/14 gauge is all you need.

I ain't skeered I'll agree with ya Larwyn!!!

[bobhenry]

I switched my plug in.

(for my TWO wire lanterns.)

Just remove the black feed form the duplex and route it to a switch then route it back to the plug in.

Tadah a switched plug in.

If you want one of the 2 duplexes hot all time just break the bond bridge between the two outlets. ( little copper jumper piece) and then run hot plug black to switch then feed back to the switched outlet.



The switch is grounded~ The outlet is grounded ~ but the 2 wire lamp is not~ But I don't even touch the lamp just the wall switch

[danlott]

You should be able to do it. I would wire the ground and use a 3 wire cord, these can be picked up at most any hardware store. Make sure to connect the black wires to the switch. You might consider using dimmer switches.

My question would be how do you intend to mount the lights? Are you going to use an electric box recess mounted on the closet unit? Will the switches be in boxes? Are you concerned about seeing the back side of the boxes or will they be hidden?

This would be fairly simple to wire and can be done safely. Just need more information on how you intend to mount everything. I would be glad to draw up a simple wiring diagram if needed.

Dan