Wiring – Installing Motion Sensor Security Light Over My Garage

lightingSecuritywiring

I want to find a power source for a sensor light over my garage. The closest options I see are a dual wall outlet that is being used for a fluorescent light and my garage door opener and a circular fixture in my garage that has a regular light bulb in it. Is there any way I can tap into either of those as a power source? My knowledge of household wiring is very limited. As a last resort I can get to the fuse panel in the garage but I'd rather not cut power to the entire house to install the wiring.

Thanks for your help!


The question was posed if I wanted a switch to the lights. Only if it's necessary. Let me ADD that I have a dual-breaker that has heavy gauge wire that is labeled "hot tub". This house no longer has a hot tub. So can I pull the dual breaker out and put in a single breaker and run 14ga wire to that for my power? I have a picture of my breaker panel.
http://s63.photobucket.com/user/Marinersfan/media/16999109_10154636253728192_659036662628526

Best Answer

You definitely should have a on/off switch for your security light. I would recommend opening up the wall outlet box and tapping off the 'hot' feed to that box. The simplest way to go is to replace that box with a box large enough to hold the existing outlet and the switch for the security light. Wire the hot feed and the neutral lines to the switch (and of course tie green grounds everywhere), then run a line from the output of the switch to the box (you need an electrical box behind the new light) holding the security light.

If you want that on/off switch to be somewhere else in the house, then of course a lot more wiring's going to have to be pulled.