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When electrical box is not centered over table

17 years ago

We recently bought a small second home on a lake. There is only one small eating area where a table can go and unfortuntely the existing light fixture is not centered over the table. It is swagged but I really don't like that look. Any ideas on what might be done?? Thanks.

Carolyn

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Comments (4)

DavidR
17 years ago
A lot depends on which way the existing cable enters the box. if you're moving it toward the cable's source, it's not too tough. You rip out the old box and install a new old-work box, then patch the old hole in the ceiling. (Warning - other code issues may arise, depending on the age and condition of your existing wiring.)

But if you want to move it further away, your options are more limited because you can't extend the cable inside the ceiling with a concealed splice. That's contrary to code and hazardous. In that case you can :

1. Splice more cable inside the existing box and put a cover on it (it MUST remain accessable; you can't plaster or drywall over it). Extend the new cable to where you want the new box.

2. Replace the cable completely, fishing the new one all the way back to the switch box. This is not a trivial job.

All other solutions I can think of will be cosmetically less desirable. Swagging is the obvious choice but you don't like that. Another is to use surface mounted wiremold boxes. Most people don't like those either.

Bottom line is that if you're not familiar with electrical work you probably will need to call a pro. After you see the estimate, you may decide you don't mind the swag after all. ;-)
ilitem
17 years ago
Another solution is to purchase a track and track feed that will provide the desired effect. Many times, if this is the only light in the area, you can not only put a chandelier on the track (less than 25 lbs.) but you can add some track heads to brighten the area. We did this at our beach house many years ago and have done the same for others that did not want to do major electrical work.

Track companies make a part that the chandelier may be wired to directly to the track. You may have to go to a lighting showroom (not a box store) to get this, but it is not difficult to obtain.
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More wishful nonsense. You need to understand what a "listed" product is, and what that means. The divider is specifically listed to divide the box to a degree short of making them two physically different boxes for the purpose of putting separate voltages in each side. It is NOT listed to make the box into two ENTIRELY separate boxes for the porpose of abandoning half of it behind drywall. PERIOD By your logic, I can put a curtain across the middle of my living room and sell my house as a duplex. The listing on the divider is just as specific as the listings of wire. You can buy a 16 gauge lamp cord and use it in your house, but the minute you try to put it inside a wall, it becomes a code violation. You can use 14 gauge NMB inside the walls, but the minute you try to put a 20 amp breaker on it, it becomes a code violation. You can put a divider inside a box for the purpose of putting two separate voltages in a box, but the minute you try to use that divider as an outside wall of a box for the purpose of covering up half the box, it becomes a code violation. There is no way you can drywall over a box that is supposed to be flush with the finished wall surface without putting the drywall in the box. You would just be violating the codes in different ways no matter what fool reasoning or method you keep coming up with. The only benefit anyone is getting from you bumping this is A GOOD LAUGH. Just because you just discovered dividers, does not make them the cure-all for your laziness of not wanting to do this correctly. I have been using dividers correctly for over 30 years, on a regular basis. Believe me, I have known what they are allowed to do long before you posted a picture of one here. "There are lots and lots of dividers for sale on the Internet that are used for this." --Just because you can substitute the word "this" for "the purpose of putting two different voltages in the same box" does not mean that you can then turn around and add "illegally covering up a box" into your own definition of the word "this".
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caribcarol
Original Author
17 years ago
The track idea sounds easier than trying to move the box.
Has anyone seen these online? Thanks.

Carolyn
ilitem
17 years ago
You can check out WAC Lighting, Lightolier, Juno, Halo, Nora Lighting or any other track line. They should have chandelier adaptors listed. If not on their website, visit a lighting showroom and ask them about it. There are a few things to keep in mind:

1. There is a weight limit on the chandelier.
2. You will probably need to use a line voltage chandelier.

If you have any other questions, let me know. Check out the manufacturers websites above to see if they have the product. Each of them makes it, it is just a matter of whether the information is on the web.

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