DIY & Home Improvement
Related: About this forumHow do I terminate this?
It went into an exterior light switch box. I want to seal it up.
valerief
(53,235 posts)OffWithTheirHeads
(10,337 posts)Is install an outdoor grade junction box with the wires taped up inside and an outdoor cover to close it off.
What I would probably do...
Make sure the wire nuts are on tight. Tape them up real good with electrical tape. Useing a happer, enlarge the existing hole enough to shove the wires inside the wall. Get some Stucco patch and a spakeling knife from the local hardware store. Patch the hole and paint.
amerikat
(5,000 posts)Terminate it inside. Seal the holes with caulk and repaint?
ret5hd
(21,320 posts)I am always agravated by a lack of plug-ins around the house. I would put a plug-in there, even if I would rarely use it.
Wash. state Desk Jet
(3,426 posts)At the switch is where the power is sent to the light. Am I correct in assuming that ? What I'm getting at is if I were to push the wire into the hole and seal off the holes, I would cut off the power source to the light either at the switch or the junction box which is behind the wall.
I suppose I would wonder about what all is on the circuit and so I would imagine the way to find that out is turn off the breaker that supplies that light and all else it supplies. That would give me a better idea about how the wiring is run inside the walls ,coming up or down the walls routed to the location -,i.e.. lights and plugs. Sometimes the box where the switches are located is also a junction meaning your power supply runs direct to the switch box than directed on to the source supply which is the light. If thats the case, than at the switch box -where the switch is ,the neutral -white wires are joined and tied with a wire nut. Than of course the black wire,power to switch ,the other black wire ,power feed to the location -light or plug, and your grounds which are joined and tied by a wire nut.
As it appears your question has an easy answer but, I don't know how much you know about residential wiring.What I can tell you is in the trades there is this saying goes with keeping the job on track-do it right or don't do it at all. A good electrical tester is a handy tool to have. And knowing how to use it is even more handy.
OK so, you terminate by cutting off the power supply to that location which is in effect decommissioning that feed line to the light. Than you push the wires into the hole and seal it off. To start your investigation into the mysteries of electrical wiring in this case you might remove the face plate at the switch ,remove the two screws the attach the switch to the switch box ,pull the switch out and look at the wiring .Of course shut of the power to that circuit at the breaker box. I mean there is like two ways it can go- the power is run direct to location at the light than routed down to the switch ,or it comes up to the switch and is routed from the switch to location.
If the power comes from source to switch than routed to the light -the neutrals tied together at the switch box -then for you it's an easy fix.
But thats wiring, sealing up the holes is simple-,just buy a small container of stucco patch at home depot !
SHRED
(28,136 posts)i ended up cutting shorter, new wire nuts, taped it up good and tight with electrical tape, put it back in the wall, and sealed the hole with caulking.
amerikat
(5,000 posts)Those wires need to be in a box either inside or out side the wall. Can't bury wires in a wall.
Just saying.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)I'm okay with the fact that they are safe.