Need help with vanity light/junction box not centered.

9 years ago

Hoping I can find some help on here with our vanity light issue. We are replacing our long vanity light with a smaller one. Issue is the junction box is not centered with the vanity. It's off by about 3 inches. Is it possible to screw the fixture directly into the wall instead of the junction box?? The fixture will still cover the box fully. Trying to avoid tearing up the wall for a just a few inches.

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Bruce in Northern Virginia

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

The wire nut connections have to be within an approved enclosure, and accessible for maintenance. Many lights have housings that meet these requirements (for example, flush mount fluorescent lights), so you can route the Romex right into the housing behind the light, and then wire nut the connections before you put the housing on. However, without seeing your actual light, or its directions, its hard to know if you can do it that way.

If you can make all the connections within the existing box, you may be able to use the light housing as a "cover" for the box. Did the original fixture just sit on top of the box and serve as its cover/enclosure?

Bruce

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Comments (8)

Melissa B
Original Author
9 years ago
This is our current box and the line is where it should be. And the other picture is the new light. All connections will still be housed in the box, but we want to push the light as far left as we can while still covering the box and just attach it with anchors right into the wall. (The previous light was an open, wooden box with 5 lights)
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Melissa B
Original Author
9 years ago
Vith
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am thinking it is off due to a stud in the center. It would require opening the wall and re-framing the area to accommodate the centered box. If there is no stud there you can remove that junction box and use an old work box centered correctly.

If you can mount the mounting bracket on the wall and the wires are still able to get in the box then you can do it that way instead. Probably will have to get creative. If there is that stud in the center use a long enough screw to fasten to it.
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D B Electric
9 years ago
The wall appears to have already been opened up once and finished with repair done? Open the wall back up and mount the box where you need it to be centered at even if it means re frame-ing than repair drywall, paint and then hang new light
Melissa B
Original Author
9 years ago
Hasn't been opened up (by us anyway, the white is just where we torn down a medicine cabinet). Trying to avoid that if possible! Beyond my means, I'd have to hire out for that, just seeing if that is our only option.
Melissa B
Original Author
9 years ago
Current situation. Purchased a couple of crossbar brackets, similar to this:

Attached top to the junction box on the right and the left to the light fixture with anchor. Then the anchor went into the wall (I am not having luck with this!!)... Attached just with a screw and a bolt . Attached the bottom crossbar to junction box on the right and to the left is firmly attached to anchor in the wall. It is not a heavy fixture and does feel sturdy. Problem is this small bit is exposed:
Vith
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Other than move the box, the only thing you could do to hide it in that case is move the fixture over a little bit, or caulk over the exposed part (tape the edge and pull caulk when wet to get a nice line) and then paint the caulk (also tape and pull when wet)