Outdoor low-voltage transformer off of sconce? Possible

deckelectricallightingtransformer

I have a raised deck with walkway underneath. I'm in the process of resurfacing it and I'd like the switch to the sconces above and below the deck (different switches) to also light the deck (above along the railing; below along ceiling). If I had to, on top, I could run a plug-in transformer from the outdoor outlet. I don't like this solution because it's messy and uses an outlet and I don't have the control of the indoor switch (which can eventually be connected as a smart switch with motion sensors etc).

I'm considering the following options:

  1. GIVE UP – just plug in up top, and accept the fact underneath will always be dark.
  2. TRANSFORMER OFF SCONCE? – Wire outdoor LV transformer off of sconces and run LE/LED setup off that. Per code, all connections to the transformer would have to be in the box behind the sconce. Is this even possible? per code? I've never seen this done.
  3. NEW OUTLETS. Would have to go through brick (top level) or concrete (bottom level) to tap into the indoor circuit so that I could connect a LV/LED system at each level.
  4. NEW OUTLET somewhere else – find the easiest but closest place (I assume there's some length rules) to hook up a new outlet and try and connect the transformers from both locations.

Any other suggestions. Is #2 possible? I did something similar in my bathroom (tapping into a bathroom fan connection behind a wall plate), but this is outside and off of a sconce and I've never seen this before.

top level
bottom level

Best Answer

There's not really a proper way to do #2. You can't just have a wire running out of the bottom of the sconce. I have seen outdoor lights that have a plug built into them, so something like that would be an option. Of course then you have an unsightly cord hanging down.

My recommendation would be to plug in a transformer where ever possible and run only the low voltage wire to the lights. Low voltage runs have little to no code restrictions so you can basically do whatever is easiest. You could even put a switch on the low voltage wire inline and mount that switch under the corner of the railing or something. You're not limited to "proper" connections or junction boxes or anything else on the low voltage side.

That also gives you flexibility to install a new outlet if needed since the only thing it would be for is the low voltage transformer and wire.

Related Topic