Light fixture with outlet?

Posted by on November 14, 2005, 12:45 pm

The only outlet in my bathroom is in an old, porcelain light fixture
(house built 1932). I'd like to replace it, but am unable to find such
a fixture. Does this mean I need to replace the fixture with a sconce
and have an outlet installed elsewhere? Any idea what an electrician
might charge for something like this?

Posted by No on November 14, 2005, 12:52 pm

If you like the light fixture and want an outlet then thats what you
should do. If you want to replace the light, find one you like and do
not use a built in outlet as a decision factor. If your new light
doesn't have an outlet then its no big deal to add one (Usually).

Where are you located? It could cost anywhere from $60 to $300 to do
this job plus the cost of any new fixtures.

Posted by Doug Kanter on November 14, 2005, 12:58 pm

> The only outlet in my bathroom is in an old, porcelain light fixture
> (house built 1932). I'd like to replace it, but am unable to find such
> a fixture. Does this mean I need to replace the fixture with a sconce
> and have an outlet installed elsewhere? Any idea what an electrician
> might charge for something like this?

Is there a light switch on the wall as you walk in (or elsewhere)? Does it
control the light fixture you mentioned? If yes to both questions, you can
replace it yourself with a slightly different thing that's got a switch on
one side, which travels left to right instead of up & down, and an outlet
right next to it. It fits into the same internal wall box, but requires a
different wall plate. Probably costs about four bucks, with plate. Get a
book on basic wiring from the library or one of the home centers. The wiring
for such a switch isn't tricky at all, but the book will help you understand
what the various wire colors do, and how to use connectors. Also buy an
inexpensive test light, so you be sure the wires are really dead after
you've pulled the fuse or shut off the circuit breaker. If this plan works,
you can change the wall fixture to anything you want.

Pay attention to the book, make sure there's nobody pestering and
distracting you, and you should be able to do this without blowing your hair
off.

Posted by on November 14, 2005, 1:07 pm

There is a switch on the wall, but it only controls the ceiling
fixture. The one I want to replace is on the wall, and has a chain to
turn the light on. The outlet works, but the bulb socket does not.

Posted by Doug Kanter on November 14, 2005, 1:13 pm

> There is a switch on the wall, but it only controls the ceiling
> fixture. The one I want to replace is on the wall, and has a chain to
> turn the light on. The outlet works, but the bulb socket does not.

We're all assuming that you no longer want one of those porcelain fixtures.
Is that true? If you DO want another, you can get them at home centers &
hardware stores for four or five bucks, with an outlet in them. But they're
so ugly.....

If this bathroom on the first floor? If yes, the wire to the wall fixture
might come up from the basement, instead of down from who-knows-where. If
this is the case, it's a fairly simple job to run a wire from there to the
wall switch. Not VERY simple, but "less of a nightmare than some other
things".

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