Installing an LED floodlight is exciting because not only do you get more illumination, but you also get a lower utility bill. However, if you didn’t have an exterior floodlight previously, you will need to install it first. In most cases, you would opt to install exterior light without junction box.
But you must have the junction box somewhere indoors, where you have spliced the electric wires together. This is a NEC Code requirement to lower the risk of fires from electrical wire junctions.
It is simpler and you get to do away with additional work and costs of buying and installing a junction box.
However, a junction box makes work easier in case you need to do more external wiring later on. We recommend that you use a junction box. Anyway, read on to find out how you can do it in five simple steps.
Exterior Wiring Installation
There is really not much of a difference when it comes to exterior wiring and fixtures when compared to their interior counterparts. The only difference is that they need protection from the extreme outdoor elements. You will be surprised how much damage the constant heating and cooling, as well as UV-light do to exposed wires.
The good news is that exterior LED floodlights comes with a casing designed to protect them from harmful rays and extreme temperature changes daily. They cost a little bit. However, you will easily find out it is worth it if you have ever used an interior light outdoors -they simply don’t last that much.
5 Steps to Install a Install Exterior Light without Junction Box
- Find a Suitable Mounting Location for the Exterior Light.
- Locate the Mounting Point for the Exterior Light from the Inside.
- Run the Wire to Exterior Light’s Mounting Point.
- Mount the LED Exterior Floodlight.
- Turn ON the Exterior Light.
How to Install Exterior Light without Junction Box
Step 1: Find a Suitable Mounting Location
Identify the best location to mount your exterior flood light. Ideally, it should light as much space as possible and not be obstructed by anything. Outdoor lights serve as deterrence to would-be intruders. However, you should also be sure that location and height do not violate building and electrical codes. You may contact the city’s local authorities for guidance if you aren’t sure about it. Many have Local Authority websites answers for such common questions.
Step 2: Locate the Mounting Point from the Inside
You need to look behind the wall if the location you have chosen and make sure there is enough working space. You will need sufficient space when running the electric wire from distribution panel or a nearby junction box to that point. The wall should also allow you to use mounting clips to hold the electric cable. Go ahead and drill a hole at that point, it should just wide enough for the cable alone. You may use some caulk to seal any additional space.
Step 3: Run the Wire to Exterior Light’s Mounting Point.
Turn OFF the Circuit Breaker from which the wire you are about to run draws its power. Use a Tester to make sure that the Breaker is off, and the terminal that you will run the wire from isn’t still powered. If you aren’t sure you are doing the right thing, simply call an electrician to avoid putting yourself and other in harm’s way.
Next, run the cable from the nearby junction box or from the distribution panel -Where the circuit breaker is housed- to your chosen mounting location. The electric wire should run on the inside and only exit where the LED flood light will be mounted. Do not turn ON the circuit breaker yet. That will be the very last step.
You May Install an Exterior Light Switch
If you do not want to use the Distribution panel to turn ON and OFF the exterior light, then include a switch. Mount it where it is easily accessible and indoors. Then run the cable to the switch first, before you run it to where you will mount the exterior light.
Step 4: Mount the LED Floodlight
Once the electric cable exits where you will do the mounting, you need to mount the outdoor light so that you can connect it to the wire. To do that, you need to drill holes that will match its mounting bracket. You may use the bracket to draw an outline and the exact point where you will drill the holes.
Drill the holes and use anchor bolts to secure the LED flood light’s bracket onto the wall. After the outdoor light is securely mounted, the next and final step is to connect the electrical cable/wire onto the Floodlight’s terminals. Follow the guide that came with the floodlight if you aren’t sure which terminal connect to the live, neutral, and ground wires.
Step 5: Turn ON the Exterior Light
Once you have connected the electric cable to the floodlight, check the whole cable length from the floodlight to the circuit breaker. Ensure there aren’t any exposed wires, and then turn the Circuit breaker ON, followed by the switch, if you included one.
Your exterior Light is Now Installed.
That is it, as you can see, it isn’t a lot of work, but it is still requires some effort and planning. Overall, if you install an LED outdoor floodlight it will improve your home’s exterior aesthetics at night, and security. I hope that you found this guide to be informative and engaging. Enjoy your home’s new outdoor look every night.
Small question, where did you find in any NEC that indicated its ok not to use junction boxes to protect wire connections. I would really like to know.
You are right, whenever you splice wires, you must house them in a junction box. However, you don’t need to have the junction box where the fixture is. But you can use an existing indoor junction box, to house the spliced wires. And then run wires to your external light fixture from the existing indoor junction box.