Electrical?

[mikeyb_23]

My wife wants to turn our bathroom light from one big light fixture to two little fixtures. Is this something that's easy to do? Or does it need to be a electrician?

[dhillis]

Very easy.
1) Turn the lights on. Have your wife stand in the bathroom, call her on the cell, and start shutting off breakers until she is in the dark.
2) Untwist those red wire nuts.
3)Remove the light fixture. Usually held in by two screws near where the wires come out of the wall. This light fixture is probably glued to the sheetrock from the looks of it, so be ready to patch it some.
4)Add new light fixture.
5)Match black to black, white to white, and green to bare copper.
6)Turn breaker back on to test light. If works, turn back off and then finish with covers and whatnot.

Takes about 20 minutes if it isn't glued to the wall.

[Johnny Dangerr]

Yup pretty simple................

[mikeyb_23]

There is only one hole with the wires, I need it split to two holes. I need a light fixture over each sink. I had a bigger pic but had to resize it so it would upload. The new fixtures would need to be where the lights on each end are.

[dhillis]

There is only one hole with the wires, I need it split to two holes. I need a light fixture over each sink. I had a bigger pic but had to resize it so it would upload. The new fixtures would need to be where the lights on each end are.

Are you good with sheetrock patching? If so it is still fairly simple. Can explain if you feel comfortable patching the sheetrock. I not then you might as well start learning if you own the house....haha

In relation to the picture, where is the switch for this light. It will probably play a role in the wiring process.

Do you have easy access to the attic?

[Matt2006Martin]

Might have to do some patch work depending on the spacing of lights.
And make some new holes and just pigtail,I would think the biggest thing is running behind wall and not running into a 2X4 (16inch) spacing to new location ..use a ole metal coat hanger to run wire from ole spot to new or something firm ..

[dhillis]

Might have to do some patch work depending on the spacing of lights.
And make some new holes and just pigtail,I would think the biggest thing is running behind wall and not running into a 2X4 (16inch) spacing to new location ..use a ole metal coat hanger to run wire from ole spot to new or something firm ..

Biggest problem I see is that, if I were doing it, I would get in the attic and pull the wire up through the wall. I wouldn't want a pigtail behind sheetrock. I don't think by code you can do that anyway. The wire would then have to be run to the new light fixture closest to the switch. Then strip out the sheetrock between the light fixtures so that he can cut a hole in any studs that might be between the two. This way the only pigtail/connection is behind the light closest to switch but is still accessible.

[dhillis]

You will also need a few of these.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_70983-1716-LEZ18CO_1z0xc7b__?productId=3198727&pl=1

[super_dave]

Find run in attic from switch to that light.
Mount j-box on attic floor joist
Wirenut 2 runs (matching colors) and run down to predetermined holes.

The crappy part is going to be drilling up through the 2x4 into the attic.

[ofishil]

Its not hard. The hardest part will be patching the sheetrock. When you pull the old light off it may be ugly behind it too.

[whitie]

Are you wanting to control the two lights independently or together?

[whitie]

Two story or single? If two story is the bathroom located on the 1st or 2nd floor?

Brandon

[Matt2006Martin]

Biggest problem I see is that, if I were doing it, I would get in the attic and pull the wire up through the wall. I wouldn't want a pigtail behind sheetrock. I don't think by code you can do that anyway. The wire would then have to be run to the new light fixture closest to the switch. Then strip out the sheetrock between the light fixtures so that he can cut a hole in any studs that might be between the two. This way the only pigtail/connection is behind the light closest to switch but is still accessible.

Agree and thanks

[dhillis]

Find run in attic from switch to that light.
Mount j-box on attic floor joist
Wirenut 2 runs (matching colors) and run down to predetermined holes.

The crappy part is going to be drilling up through the 2x4 into the attic.

This would probably require the least sheetrock work, but would require you to but the most wire.

[super_dave]

This would probably require the least sheetrock work, but would require you to but the most wire.

That's why I would do it this way. I hate Sheetrock work.