How to Install Flood Lights

Installing flood lights on your home will allow proper lighting in dark areas which is great for safety. It can also give much needed light to those outdoor tasks that need to be done at night. Wiring an outdoor flood light is a great addition to your exterior property.

Things You'll Need

• Electrical wire with matching amperage (ask an electrician for help to determine proper amps)
• Electrical switch with matching amperage
• Old construction conduit box
• Flat head screwdriver
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Wire cutter and stripper
• Sawzall
• Plastic caps
• Drywall saw

Instructions

1. Turn off the electricity at the main breaker.

2. Saw a hole in the spot that you want the floodlight. Make this hole the size of your conduit box.

3. Cut a hole in your wall where you want the switch. Cut this hole the size of the switch conduit box.

4. Run electrical wire in the wall from this hole to the area that you want your switch.

5. Run another wire from the switch to the nearest outlet by following step 6 or if not wanting to do that, then wire to a circuit in the breaker box if wiring independently on a separate circuit by following step 7.

6. Wire to the outlet by removing the outlet. First remove the faceplate by unscrewing the middle screw. Next, unscrew the outlet by unscrewing the top and bottom screws on the outlet. Pull the outlet towards you. Pull your new wire through the conduit box. Strip the wire back about one inch. Wire into the outlet matching black with black, and white with white. The bare copper wire is ground and will screw onto the green screw on the outlet. Proceed to step 8 if following this step.

7. Wire to a dedicated circuit by opening the breaker box. Unscrew the screws around the breaker and remove the cover. Run your wire from the switch to the breaker. To do this you will run the wire through the access holes in the breaker frame. Strip back one inch of wire and screw your black wire into the circuit breaker set screw and screw down tightly. Screw the white and copper wire to the metal bar in the breaker box using the set screw and screw down tightly. Screw back on the cover.

8. Bring the wire through the conduit boxes for the flood light and switch. For each conduit box install it by pushing in the wall and tightening with your screwdriver until tight.

9. Strip the wire back one inch on both ends.

10. Twist the wires together that come from the light and the conduit box by matching proper wire color and plastic cap them. Screw the floodlight onto the conduit box.

11. Screw only the black wires onto the switch. Screw the black wire coming from the power source onto the bottom screw, and the black wire coming from the floodlight onto the top screw. Tighten the screws by turning clockwise. Attach the bare copper wire to the green screw on the switch and tighten. Screw the switch into the conduit box and apply your faceplate. Turn back on the electricity and test your installation.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn off the main electricity before starting