How to wire a small circuit for lights and power outlet?

Question

i ran power to a new shed i built and now i would like to install a light inside with a switch, 2 power outlets inside and a power outlet outside. how would i go about doing that...where do i start?

Answer 1

Follow Bob's directions, that will work fine!

Answer 2

The most simple way would seem to be to run a heavy Gage extension cord to a four square, GFI box in the shed-barring any larger plans. Any degree of permanence should be addressed by a qualified Electrician or source of information as the need to use appropriate underground conduit is essential. I use this crude method to obtain lighting in an extended storage shed. A good GFI switch will notify you of any wiring improprieties virtually immediately by way of shutting off all power.

Answer 3

Mount a 4" square box near your incoming power source.  From there  you need a white wire (neutral) connected to each device.  Take a black wire to one s***w on the switch and another color to go to the light fixture. The white wire passes by but doesn't connect to the switch.From the 4" box  run a black and a white to each of the outlets. Use GFCI outlets for safety because of the moisture in the shed.  Forget about the outside outlet.  Open the door and plug inside.

Answer 4

Make sure the power wire to the shed is not energized by flipping the circuit breaker off.

Mount the outlet boxes in the shed where you want them inside and outside (outside needs to be weatherproof). Mount the switch box and light receptile box where you want them.

Run the power wire from the house into the closest outlet box,  make a loop about 12" long then run the wire back out of the box to the next box, again make a loop 12" long then out to the weatherproof outside outlet box.

Now run the wire from the weatherproof box to the switch box, again make a 12" loop and then out to the light recepticle box and terminate with 12" wire out of the box.

Your outlets will have four screws, 2 brass, 2 silver. Starting with the first outlet box, cut the wire loop in half, strip the insulation off, remove 3/4" of the insulation from each wire (4 total 2 black, 2 white) and attach  the black wires to the brass screws and the white wires to the silver screws and the bare ground wire if available to the green ground s***w on the out let. Push everything back into the outlet box and attach the outlet to the box with the screws provided. Reapeat this for each one of your outlets.

Now, at the switch remove the outside wire insulation but cut only the black wire in half (leave the white wire in-tact without cutting it). The switch (Single Pole Single Throw) will have two brass screws where each of the black wires you just cut are attached after removing 3/4" of the wire insulation.  Push everything back into the box and attach the switch to the box with the screws provided.

Finally, strip the wire insulation from the wires protruding from the light recepticle and strip 3/4" of the wire insulation from both the black and white wires, attach the light recepticle with wire nuts provided with the recepticle and bare ground wire if available to the green wire s***w. Push everything back into the recepticle box and attach the recepticle with the screws provided. Install a light bulb and put your cover plates on everything. make sure the light switch is turned off, then energize your circuit by flipping the circuit breaker back on. If you hooked everything up correctly, you should be able to then flip your light switch and the light will come on and since you hooked everything in series, your outlets will also be working properly.

Invest in a basic electricity book at the DIY home store and read up on what we have discussed so you have a good understanding of electricity and how it works and the necessary safety precautions you need to take.

Its not hard, just tedious and a bit time consuming. Good Luck and may your light shine brightly!!

Answer 5

Nail all your outlets in first......that's the os one also.......now run you wire to all..........when you get to the plug that is closest to your swith......take a wire to the switch.....now go from the swith to the light........you will see the rest when you get there..........we could take your power to the light first, and bring it down to the switch.......some think that is correct....but you don't have to........just think thru you colors and what is neutral.......tie your grounds together so every thing is safe...it's a fun job.......and quite simple.....and leave enough wire at each box for make up.......6'' is ok.........have fun.