Can an outlet be converted into a light fixture in a pantry?

Answer 1

for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

This can be a complicated project. First and foremost turn the breaker off that supplies the voltage to that circuit. A light fixture outlet is usually switched and the majority of times it is on the ceiling. To bring this circuit down to accommodate a wall receptacle will mean fishing a new wire from the ceiling junction box down to the new wall receptacle outlet. One the rough in is completed the switch will be removed and the two black wires will be spliced together. This will make the old light fixture junction box connections "hot". Install a blanking plate on the old switch junction box. This will keep small fingers out of the electrical splice. Now splice the black to black and white to white in the old ceiling junction box. Install a blank cover on this box. Now the voltage supply will be at your new wall receptacle. Connect the new receptacle to the circuit and install a cover plate. Turn on the circuits breaker and the new receptacle should be in operation.

Note: Light fixtures are typically on circuits with other lights and sometimes outlets for electronics, both of which are adversely affected by sharing a circuit that powers motors and compressors. So, if you are planning on plugging a freezer, washer, dishwasher, or the vacuum cleaner into this outlet, check to be sure your Home Theater isn't on the same circuit breaker.

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

+++

I'm pleased you prefixed the answer with a statement of country. In the UK the power and lighting circuits are separated immediately after the supply company's master switch and fuse, and fed through separate fuses or (nowadays) circuit-breakers. You NEVER mix the two: you can run a table-lamp with a standard 3-pin plug from a 13A outlet socket, but you cannot run an appliance off the light fittings, and definitely never connect the lighting-ring wires to a wall socket as described above. That would be not only dangerous due to the likely higher current hence overheating & fire risk, but probably illegal as a result. The wires are never "spliced" either, if that means twisted together and taped or sleeved, but are connected in proper junction-boxes with screwed terminals.

In times past it was possible in Britain to buy 2-pin bayonet-connector leads enabling small appliances to be plugged into the light fittings in place of the bulb - without an earth pin! They were outlawed decades ago. Incidentally, the supply frequency (50Hz in UK & Europe) is not relevant to the point here.

Answer 2

Yes, you should be able to. (1) Make sure that the circuit breaker to that fixture is de-activated. (2) Remove the celiing fixture and unfasten the fixture from the two wires going into it from the junction box (usually held together by wire nuts). (3) Attach the wires coming from the junction box to the terminals of the new outlet you will be using. (4) secure the outlet to the junction box. (5) Re-activate the circuit breaker. If the former ceiling light was controlled by a switch, the new outlet will also be controlled by the same switch. DISCLAIMER: This instruction is for an ordinary run-of-the-mill ceiling fixture. If more than two wires are involved or the light is controlled from more than one switch, these instruction may not apply.

Answer 3

If you are speaking of an electrical fixutre... YES! You will have to separate the wiring first of course. At a local hardware store, you'll need to buy the required receptacle and matching plug. Be sure to specify the amperage of the device before buying the hardware. This can damage your device. If you are unsure, ask the manufacturer...

Answer 4

ANSWERS ABOUT ELECTRICAL REWIRING SHOULD INCLUDE A DISCLAIMER CONCERNING THE LEGAL AND SAFETY ASPECTS (see bottom) If the wall outlet wires go to the light. Turn power of at the breaker box. Remove wall plug. There should be two wires in and two out. Newer houses may have a third wire for ground, and this one may have no insulation. Take wires off and keep them from touching. Turn power on and if the light is out, that outlet goes to the light. Turn the power off. Install the switch but you have to wire one set of wires to each other then wire the other two to the switch (make sure the power is turned off after you check to see if that wall receptacle goes to the light). : ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL WIRING SAFETY OFFICE BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO CHANGE ANYTHING : - ELECTRICAL SERVICE PANEL, BREAKERS, CABLES OR OUTLETS - : ON ANY ELECTRICAL POWER CIRCUITS : IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. If you do this work yourself, always turn off the power

at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND

always use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes

(not a simple proximity voltage indicator)

to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

Answer 5

There is an adapter for this purpose. It screws in to socket as a typical light bulb, and has a outlet on the opposite end. These however are not recommended. An electrical outlet should be rated for 15 amps. A bulb outlet is not rated for this much current and could be a fire hazard. Also this type of an adapter lacks a ground connection point.

Answer 6

Sure thing. Cut an extention cord in two. pipe it into an electrical box. Wire the white wire straight through. The black wire goes to the single pole switch. For safety wire the ground both straight through and to the switch.

Answer 7

Yes, just remove the outlet and wire the light in.

Answer 8

Yes the light will come on.If you want safer protect the circuit by a fuse.Typical fuse for wall outlet is 13 amp but for lights it is only 5 amps