Submitted by MiddleChildSyndrome3 t3_y5j3lt in DIY

Changing bathroom light fixture over the sink in my master bathroom and discovered a lack of a junction box. House is vintage ‘93 if that matters, exterior wall. We have 2 sinks both had lights over them, neither have any junction box.

Would the base of the light count as a safe space for the connection? Do I need a junction box in the wall? Everything appears to be tied back through a gfci outlet next to the sink as well.

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Affectionate_Zone623 t1_isjxh9q wrote

As a contractor I see this all of the time. The best remedy is to install a pair of 1-gang old work or remodel boxes. These are usually blue boxes with tabs that flip out and hold tight to the back of the wall. Install is just a matter of cutting the hole, feeding the wire into the box, and tightening the screws. If you decide to proceed just be cautious of the wire in the wall when cutting.

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nalc t1_isk3lw5 wrote

Many light fixtures are rated as junction boxes, meaning you route the Romex directly into the fixture and make the connections inside the fixture.

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Mark7116 t1_isk6alb wrote

Pfft this isn’t anything. I rented a house several years ago, the secondary light in the kitchen was a crap shoot whether you were gonna get shocked when you pulled the metal chain to turn it on. Lol. The whole house has a total of FOUR breakers. The landlord was a home builder lol. Super nice guy, but tighter than bark on a tree. The “central air unit” was from 1985. The furnace was from the 50’s lol. I put in a ceiling fan in the master bedroom. When I took the old light down, (y’all will know the correct name for this) it was separate wires running side by side. NOT Romex or anything current. Lol. It was crazy. If you were doing laundry, you couldn’t make toast. Lol you’d trip a breaker.

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andyrue t1_iskc21v wrote

Please tell me "vintage '93" means 1893, otherwise I'm going to feel really... vintage.

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CliplessWingtips t1_iskjcpy wrote

Personally I'd just by remote control light fixtures. The switch is taped to the wall but it is just a lot easier.

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Mark7116 t1_iskjz4r wrote

I looked up what you said…yes. Lol. My mom’s house is the same way. Of course her house was built in the 1800’s. Her house actually has more value in tearing it down and repurposing all of the pieces of value. Like the cast iron coal chute door. The huge bannister that goes upstairs and wraps around. The porcelain door knobs. Some are porcelain and some are oblong metal. They all take what I call skeleton keys. Lol. Every bedroom upstairs has a transom window. My mom’s is way more unique than the one I rented. Lol.

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Hagenaar t1_iskxj25 wrote

> tube vanity light

Or really any bulb holder style vanity light. Many have the long style wall plate that has room for all the connections.

Mind you, one thing I rarely see in these is a proper wire clamp where the power wire(s) enter the box. Risk of damage to wire casing and shock. It's almost always a simple 1" clamp that costs pennies.

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BigPanda71 t1_islaany wrote

Which is why the wire clamps should probably be packaged with the fixture. I’m guessing the reason most people don’t use them is because they don’t know they need them and don’t want to make a second run to the store. That’s the reason I skipped it when I put a new vent fan in my bathroom. Ended up putting one in a few years later when I had to take the fan down to get access in the ceiling, but the wiring looked fine.

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treefish36 t1_islabt0 wrote

If using the round lighting box a 3-5/8 hole saw should’ve the right size for the jbox

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Exciting_Ad9005 t1_islnn3h wrote

Yep even in New houses there may not be a junction box in the wall because the original light fixture was a "metal box" which was up to code enough.

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plaidbanana_77 t1_isltphy wrote

It was probably compliant at install. If you monkey with it, bring it current. That’s the best practice.

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