Have been looking for an electrical box that I can use to clean up my led light installation. Anyone have a suggestion from a big box store. I removed a fluorescent light fixture, so there is no box in the ceiling, and the hole in the plasterboard is just to the right of the joist. The lights are controlled by a Zooz light switch. I have found a plastic round box with two tabs on either side that I can use to screw the box to the ceiling, but then the wires will just hang out of the holes neatly stapled to the ceiling, but I was hoping to find a fitting that has a rubber seal, maing it look more professional. Any thoughts. Thanks
Joists run Top Left corner of picture, to bottom right of picture.
Which way do the ceiling joists run in relation to the wires? Asking because if parallel run those wires behind drywall and just use any single gang or round gang box with a blank plate.
If yes are those wires long enough to pull through a hole you could drill through that joist? Trying to think how you get wires within same bay as your LEDs or could you move your LEDs back a little?
Ok cool so if this were my house I would do the following:
Make existing hole bigger to accommodate a round old work junction box. Personally I don’t like blank plates in the ceiling so I would buy a cheap round light fixture and install it there for additional light
move LEDs back a little so the wire connection is on the other side of the joist I drew
run wires from round junction box towards both LED lights behind drywall and pull out to connect to the lights. Given they are also 120 you should put a junction box by both LEDs, maybe behind them? I cannot tell what the LED strips look like.
Most of the time wire has to be "secured from damage" or something like that to meet code. So above the drywall probably would be the easiest way to fix that. But only if it is Romex (marked NM). You can't put light fixture cords above the ceiling or in walls, it isn't rated for that. Fire hazard.
And all connections need to be in a box that is accessible, either a cover plate or a light fixture as noted above would work.
If you have cords for the light and not Romex, you are going to have to figure out how to secure those cords, and somehow cleanly transition to a ceiling junction box.
I would personally put two new ceiling boxes above those two lights, and hard wire them with Romex right to the fixture if possible. Lots of times strip lights have knockouts in the "top" side just for that purpose. Fishing two new pieces of wire and putting in two old work boxes should be a piece of cake by the look of it.
Option 1:
Then install a normal run of the mill duplex outlet. Add plugs to your LED lights and your are legal.
The reason for this box vs a round box is it is easier to cut a rectangle when you have cables exiting the hole. I use a hacksaw blade with duct tape for a "handle".
Note:
The "wings" top and bottom are shown extended. On installation they would fold down to the box ends and when in the ceiling turning the screw they naturally swing open and clamp the housing to the drywall.
If you want a more secure installation add two "hold-it" clamps.
Option 2: (my favorite)
Add the same box but run Romex to the LED lights and either use a plug or if the LEDs give your the option, wire them directly to the box. You might need some special cover.
Your stated goal is to make it look professional. If I am understanding correctly, your plan is to have cords for the LEDs hard wired inside a fixture box and then have the cords proceed along the surface of the ceiling. You can't do that and have any hopes of it looking (or being) professional. The only proper way to transition from permanent behind the wall outlet to "temporary" surface wiring is with an outlet.
If you love to do drywall (or plasterboard) patching, run Romex from the center outlet fixture to outlets on both sides near the LEDs through holes in the joists. Under no circumstances try to squeeze it between the joist and the ceiling material, or to exit at any point.
If your LED fixtures support wiring and mounting as a fixture, forget the outlet/plug and wire them directly inside their own box. You're not really supposed to just poke wire through a hole into a fixture (like your florescent was) although it is often done.
Alternatively, install an outlet center of room, and then run lamp cords to it from both sides. You should label the outlet as LED fixture only and "Non GFCI" if this is a garage. Don't use extension cords.
Bottom line: Don't use wiring designed for behind the wall/ceiling on the outside. Don't use wiring like lamp cord behind the wall and ceiling. Don't connect the two except via an outlet.
Thanks @HAL9000 Yes I want to make it look the best I can, and also be safe, or at least not cause people to question the safety of the installation, that is why I would follow your suggestions about running wires etc.
What I might end up doing is using an Old Work Box with a plate, drill two holes in the plate to pass the wires through, but add rubber grommets so reducing the chance of rubbing and exposing bare wire.
I can' t comment on the actual safety of your plan, however I do not believe it is legal to run a "lampcord" into a electrical box.
If you can bring the LED strip to where one of the new junction boxes are perhaps you can use a repurposed end piece from a track light to adapt the end of the LED strip to the box.
If not I would suggest you put a receptacle (perhaps a single not duplex) and replace the LED cord with one of the "flag" ones found on some extension cords. Just cut the extension cord to the length you need. This assumes you can change at the end of the LED strip.
Or, look at products called "Wiremold" they have a number of options. One is a surface mounted metal "raceway" where you can legally run mains cable. Also they have a number of basically cord covers. They are all on the surface but it is an option you might consider. There are carried in HD so I assume other stores as well.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean, that isn't a proper way to do it. It's also more trouble. Install an old work outlet there, and put plugs on the end on the LED cords. Plug 'em in.
The main point I was trying to get across is you can't connect permanent/behind the ceiling wiring to temporary/outside the ceiling wiring inside the box. But you can use an outlet and plugs.
Got you. Basically the way I temporarily have it now, as shown in the picture above, can not be placed inside a box. You have to have a transition such as a receptacle in the box, and then plug the the Led light via a three prong plug into the receptacle.
I was thinking, if you can get the end of the LED to an old work box in the ceiling, you might be able to use one of these to cover the connections from the LED to the box. Basically it would be the same as the termination of a track light.
I realize you don't want brown but it was the first I saw.
OK thanks. Looking at the wiring options of these, I would have to agree with what others like @JohnRob suggest and add a single gang plug near each light that you can simply plug them into.
As suggested before use a round or single gang old work box at the current wire location so those wires are safely terminated and connected.
Feel free to add another light in this location also or if you have a left over LED strip (since you bought a pack of 8) add another strip here also.
Run 14-2 Romex to each light location within that joist bay along the line that I had highlighted above with enough length to reach the lights.
Terminate these new Romex wires into a single gang Old Work box and add a receptacle that you can then use the light supplied wire to plug them into these new receptacles
Given you are connecting them to the existing wires, they will be switched just like they are today and you won't have the wires draping down like they are currently.
