Move/Adding Existing Outdoor lamp fixture

[jefferdy1]

I have an existing outdoor light fixture on the patio of our house. I would like to remove this light have 2 lights approximately 10 -12 feet from the existing light location (1 to the left and 1 to the right) to provide better lighting for the backyard and patio area.

Do I just need to get a junction box or box extender (existing light is flush mounted to eaves) to make my connections where the existing light is? From there using metal conduit run the romex (what size? specs?) inside there to a mounting box for each of the lights. Do I need to worry about the existing breaker and what the additional load will do to the circuit. Not sure what the current AMP is on the existing circuit or how many outlets it is serving.

Hopefully this makes sense.

TIA
Jeff

[John Nelson]

If you want to make the connections where the existing light is, you will need to put a permanently accessible junction box there.

Use conduit or Romex, not both. If exposed, use conduit and dual rated THHN/THWN. If concealed, you can use NM-B. If protected by a 20-amp breaker, use #12. If protected by a 15-amp breaker, use #14.

You always should worry about whether the existing circuit can support additional load. It's simply a matter of figuring out what's already on the circuit and how much load you will be adding. However, it would be unusual for a couple of lights to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Go get a few good books on home wiring at your home center or public library and read them before you start.

[jefferdy1]

As far as the junction box goes is there something that can be added on to the existing box so I don't have to tear up the eaves so that I can then run conduit for the other lights?

Didn't realize the different types of wire usually just hear romex for electrical wire so I thought it would go inside the romex.

Finally, by conduit I am assuming the metal grade conduit attached to the brick exterior of the house and not pvc pipe?

Thanks
Jeff

[John Nelson]

If you use conduit, I suggest you use PVC conduit, which is different than PVC water pipe.

I don't know what kind of box you have now, so I can't guess how to modify it.