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RenegadeT

RenegadeT

no shirt,no shoes,no dice
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this is non-automotive tech, so I'll post here in chit chat.
I need some lighting down our deck stairs for our aging blind dog. I had some solar deck lights, but they seemed to have died. Right now I have a strand of white Christmas wrapped around the ballusters and we have to plug 'em into the outdoor GFCI outlet every night. Near the outlet, there is an exterior light with a switch inside, I was thinking I could 'tap' into that somehow. Off to Lowe's where I found the the 2-prong socket/outlet adapter below. I couldn't find anything with the 3rd ground prong. I'm no electrician, but I don't feel comfortable with trying this outside (this is reminding me of a Christmas light thread, I'll have to dig that up) and clipping the ground prong off my extension cord. I'm going to searh the net for a replacement exterior lamp that might have a weatherproof 3-prong outlet with it. What are my other options?

aimages.lowes.com_product_converted_695706_6957064565027lg.jpg
 
I use a solar "on/off" switch for my Christmas lights. You could use this and plug whatever lights you have into that and the switch into any outside GFCI outlet. I think I bought mine at Wal Mart a few years ago. The solar sensor will automatically turn the lights on when it gets dark and off in the morning, etc. Its rated for outside and is weatherproof.

kind of like this(its not what I have but similar concept): https://www.google.com/shopping/pro....3&ei=Z_rBUofROaHIsASkxIC4DQ&ved=0CLgDEKYrMBI
 
Check out Wal Mart, I just got a nice timer that senses dusk/sunrise but can also be set to time out after incremental hour amounts, it works perfect and was in the Christmas 50% off stuff. I think it ended up being like $5
 
RenegadeT said:
this is non-automotive tech, so I'll post here in chit chat.
I need some lighting down our deck stairs for our aging blind dog. I had some solar deck lights, but they seemed to have died. Right now I have a strand of white Christmas wrapped around the ballusters and we have to plug 'em into the outdoor GFCI outlet every night. Near the outlet, there is an exterior light with a switch inside, I was thinking I could 'tap' into that somehow. Off to Lowe's where I found the the 2-prong socket/outlet adapter below. I couldn't find anything with the 3rd ground prong. I'm no electrician, but I don't feel comfortable with trying this outside (this is reminding me of a Christmas light thread, I'll have to dig that up) and clipping the ground prong off my extension cord. I'm going to searh the net for a replacement exterior lamp that might have a weatherproof 3-prong outlet with it. What are my other options?

aimages.lowes.com_product_converted_695706_6957064565027lg.jpg
Click to expand...
The adapter you are describing can only be two prons, as the body of the fixture isn't grounded...ie where the adapter screws in there is no ground for the adapter to pick up.


You could add a light switch and circuit...or

Have you thought about 12v led lights?
I've done a little something with these wired into a inverter (ie battery tender)
http://www.under-glow.com/index.php/offroad-white-rocklights-212.html
 
What about a few low voltage lights on the stairs ? The lights are bright enough but not so bright as to attract alot of bugs, and electonic eye/automatic on/off w darkness is built into the transformer on the set I hooked up. They also are easy to install and to add more lights anywhere along the run of the wire or wires. I installed some cheapish homedepot ones in my folks yard leading to the porch and they've lasted for years outside. They make them for attaching to decks, walls etc.
 
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just saw this on TV...
http://www.amazon.com/Telebrands-Light-Angel/dp/B00DRHKG0M

That solar timer is just what I need; I already have big white LED lights wrapped down the stairs, just need something so I don't have to plug/unplug them every night. I'll check Walmart in Kernersville for the Christmas clearance. All Christmas stuff was gone from Lowes in Greensboro, and I refuse to hit Walmart-Wendover/Greensboro.
 
x2 or 3 or 4.. on the timer. I bought one for around 40 bucks at Lowes that not only has dusk/dawn but can be set for various times also. That way if your away from home it turns the light on randomly. It is an outdoor timer so it's sealed for rain.
 
Why do you think you need a ground plug?
 
RenegadeT said:
dunno, I assume the ground is there for a reason, probably safety related.
Click to expand...


Yeah, but what needs a ground? The only thing that *has* to have a ground is an appliance that isn't double-insulated. If your drill or whatever has a ground lug, it needs it, because it might short internally and put 110V to the case of the drill. But because the case is grounded, it would create a direct short to ground and trip the breaker.

If it's just an extension cord that happens to have a ground, that's all it is. It's meant to provide a ground path for an appliance that needs it. Same thing for a timer or photo-voltaic switch. It just has a ground path so that you can plug things into it that need to be grounded.

Christmas lights and such typically don't have or require a ground, because they don't have an enclosure that can be electrified.
 
yeah that's true..the extension cord has the ground but the Christmas lights do not.
Its a moot point now, I found a timer power outlet tower at Walmart for $6, dawn-dusk plus 2/4/6/8hr after dark timer
 
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