Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Wiring Christmas lights w/o outside outlet

I recently bought Christmas lights for my balcony and realized I did not have an outlet outside. I have seen a few people that have wired their lights to the light fixture that lights the balcony. Can someone please tell me how I can safely do this?

Have one of the neighbors who's done theirs assist you.

ummm....well i dont really feel like knocking on some random person's door and asking them to help me with my lights.....im sure i can handle it with a little instruction.....so first i would flip the breaker off that goes to my balcony light, then take the fixture off.....and use a wire connecter to connect the wires, right?

I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to things electrical but if i can hook up a CD player in my car i figure i can handle this.

Thanks for any help

I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to things electrical but if i can hook up a CD player in my car i figure i can handle this.

This assumption is very wrong, and could easily kill you. Electricity can and does kill people and start fires. Why ask for trouble?

Do one of three things.

Add a proper circuit, or have an electrician add a proper circuit.

Extend the light to have a receptacle, or have an electrician extend the light to add a receptacle.

Buy a screw in adapter that will convert the light bulb socket to a non-grounded receptacle.

I'll assume you are going to buy the $2 screw in adapter. They happen to sell them on this site, but any hardware store will have them. You just unscrew the bulb, screw in the adapter, and plug in your xmas lights. There is absolutely no reason for you to remove the fixture and mess with wires.

If you do so, be sure that you do not overload the wattage rating for the light fixture. For example, if on the inside of the fixture is stamped "Bulb 75W max", and each of your light strings is 40W, you may only connect one string. None of the fuses or breakers will protect you from doing something dumb in this regard.

at supply store (home depot) i bought a device that screws in the light socket and has an outlet end. You lose the outside light, but can turn the christmas lights on from inside.

Len