Adding a Light In Unfinished Basement

If your local codes allow romex (you can call your city building department) this will be pretty easy, if not you may be able to use MC cable. The last one has metal on the outside. This article is going to assume that you have a light controlled by a switch in the basement with the box exposed.

Adding a Light In Unfinished Basement

If you have any questions please ask in the comment link below, I will answer them to the best of my ability, also if you have future projects that you would like step by step instructions please post in the comment box I will usually answer the same day.

1) Tools and material

a) Razor Knife

b) 14/2 romex (BX or MC cable)

c) 2 romex connectors (BX or MC connectors)

d) 1900 box (4x4x1 and a half)

e) 1900 square to round 1/2" raised cover

f) For metal you will need tin snips. (I would prefer the proper tool but they will work)

g) Drill or phillips head screw driver

h) Romex straps or 3/8" straps for BX or MC cable

i) ground screws x2

j) wire nuts (tan)

k) white tape

2) Turn the power off. This will be easy because, turn the light on and hit breakers, when the light shuts off that's it. I would have an alternate light source ready before you do this.

3) Install the new box. Locate where you want to put the new light and screwthe box in. At this point take the light fixture off the box you wish to feed from. Make sure you keep in mind how you take it down. You will have to put it back together. Look where the white wire on the fixture is connected to, IMPORTANT I want you to mark it with white tape if it is not white!!!

4) Install the cable. Ok your cable must stay up in the joist. If you have to drill then drill you have to stay in the ceiling. Don't let your cable (Romex, MC) sag, so what you will do is run the cable completely from one box to the other leaving about 2' at each end. Better more than not enough, then start at one end and strap 3' from the box. Pull the cable tight and strap. Nice and clean.

5) Put connectors in the box. If you have romex put the romex connectors in the box, if you have MC put those connectors in.

6) This step is for MC only. If you have MC use BX cutters to cut the MC about a foot from the end. If you have tin snips(which are not approved and you are using them at your own risk) you will bend the cable real tight until it breaks, about a foot from the end. Carefully slide you tin snips in and cut. Slide the excess cable off, make sure you have no sharp edges, if you do snip them off. Your cable comes with little red tattle tails. These are slid in between the wire and the cable to stop the cable from cutting the wire. USE IT!! Then slide the wire into the connector and tightin

7) For romex only. You have it easy slide the romex into the boxes about a foot. Then take your razor knife and cut in the center of the flat side of the wire as close to the box as possible. You will make a 6" slice and pull the wire out of the covering. Cut any excess cover and paper. (the paper is in the romex, you'l see)

8) Screw in the ground screws. There is a threaded hole in the back of the box, that's where the ground screw goes. Only tighten a little. Now wrap the bare wire around (if you have MC strip the green wire and wrap it around the ground screw and tighten. If your other box does not have a ground screw already in it put it in and do the same to this box. If your box has a ground screw with a ground on it already connect your ground wire to the wire connected to the screw with a wire nut.

9) Attach the square to round cover. There are 2 screws on the new box this cover goes on now.

10) Install new fixture. Read the instructions for the new fixture and install.

11) Connect wires to old box. Remember when I told you to mark the white wire, now it pays off. Connect the white wire from your new cable to the white on the old fixture and the white wire in the box that you marked. Now connect the black wire from your new cable to the black cable from your fixture and you remaining wire in the box and install. Congrats!!! YOUR DONE.

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John

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. I can not be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.