How can I retro-fit my shop light with a switch?

My shop light just plugs into the wall without having any way to turn it on / off without unplugging it. Unfortunately, I have no switchable outlets in my garage. Is there somewhere that I can find something like an extention cord that has a switch built into it?

You may purchase a switch with a pull chain. If this a fluorescent fixture there should be a knock out around the end that will allow the use of a pull chain switch. It uses the 3/8 inch diameter hole. Then attach one side of the switch with the white power wire, and the other side to the white wire for light.
Be sure to unplug fixture before doing this.

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U can buy a adaptor that comes with a switch to control the power to lite. Most better hardware store carry it. Or u can put a switch on the wall to control the lite. To put a switch on wall, u make the existing plug a switched plug . 1-plug to lite. 1- plug to power ur other stuff. All u have to do is: 1- take out the existing plug. 2- U see 2- wires/ black and white/ green or copper wire for ground. Make sure u turn power OFF first.
Things to buy….A blue rectangle box for old contruction. (with wings to clamp to drywall to make it inside) If u don’t have drywall/ get the type that has a metal bar on side so u can nail it to the studs. switch/cover/ romax wires.
Now, lets begin. 1- the old plug–u see 2- wires and a ground.(green/ or bare copper). The black wire should be connected to the small female side of plug and the white should be on the larger slot. Make sure they are tied in on the bottom. (of the 2 screws). Than u make a cut on the (black side) bar on the plug. another word, u severe the small copper bar on plug that connects to each other. 3. Connect the switch wires with the romax. romax wires have 3 wires…blk/wht/bare wire. The switch have 2- screws. Just connect the 1-wires to either top/ 1 wire to bottom. The ground wire have another screw on side.
Now ur ready to make the connection on plug. White wire goes with BLACK side screw ( top) and black goes with BOTTOM black screw and ground connects to ground. Close everything up and ur done. Turn power ON.

My shop light just plugs into the wall without having any way to turn it on / off without unplugging it. Unfortunately, I have no switchable outlets in my garage. Is there somewhere that I can find something like an extention cord that has a switch built into it?

You may purchase a switch with a pull chain. If this a fluorescent fixture there should be a knock out around the end that will allow the use of a pull chain switch. It uses the 3/8 inch diameter hole. Then attach one side of the switch with the white power wire, and the other side to the white wire for light.
Be sure to unplug fixture before doing this.

———

U can buy a adaptor that comes with a switch to control the power to lite. Most better hardware store carry it. Or u can put a switch on the wall to control the lite. To put a switch on wall, u make the existing plug a switched plug . 1-plug to lite. 1- plug to power ur other stuff. All u have to do is: 1- take out the existing plug. 2- U see 2- wires/ black and white/ green or copper wire for ground. Make sure u turn power OFF first.
Things to buy….A blue rectangle box for old contruction. (with wings to clamp to drywall to make it inside) If u don’t have drywall/ get the type that has a metal bar on side so u can nail it to the studs. switch/cover/ romax wires.
Now, lets begin. 1- the old plug–u see 2- wires and a ground.(green/ or bare copper). The black wire should be connected to the small female side of plug and the white should be on the larger slot. Make sure they are tied in on the bottom. (of the 2 screws). Than u make a cut on the (black side) bar on the plug. another word, u severe the small copper bar on plug that connects to each other. 3. Connect the switch wires with the romax. romax wires have 3 wires…blk/wht/bare wire. The switch have 2- screws. Just connect the 1-wires to either top/ 1 wire to bottom. The ground wire have another screw on side.
Now ur ready to make the connection on plug. White wire goes with BLACK side screw ( top) and black goes with BOTTOM black screw and ground connects to ground. Close everything up and ur done. Turn power ON.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm and is filed under Home And Garden. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.