Romex Termination to Male Plug

[ted pierce]

Can I terminate romex with a male plug, essentailly using it as an extension cord? I have an exterior light (located in a hard to access spot) wired with romex running inside the attic to a box, where it is hardwired to power. I would like to break this connection, terminate the romex with a male plug, then plug into a wirelss on/off controller to make the light switchable. Is this an OK thing to do? If not, any other idea? Thanks in advance.
Ted Pierce

[Electric101]

From the information you provided, sounds like a bad idea. I'm assuming you would have the wireless controller and the romex connection in the attic. If so, then should the controller or connections malfunction, it would more than likely cause a fire in your home. (Very bad!) I take it the outside light has constant power and is not switched. (Not sure why it would be installed like that) There are probably several options you can utilize to switch this light, depending of course where you would want the switch located. It might take a bit of crawling around in the attic with a fish tape and pulling a switch loop circuit to your new switch. This would be simply a run of 2 conductor NM cable (Romex) from your light to your switch. You would "break" the hot connection at the light box, route the power via your new switch loop, then back to your light. In other words, (Connections in the light fixture box) disconnect the hot lead attached to your light, take the white wire from the new switch loop circuit and attach to the hot wire. Take the black wire from your new switch loop circuit and attach to the light fixture. Now, the connections to your new switch. Attach the white wire to one terminal of the switch, and of course, the black wire to the other terminal of the switch. Also, take some black tape and mark the white wire in the light fixture box and the switch box so that no one else confuses them with neutrals (since you are using a white wire as a hot) FYI: NEC Code allows this for switch loops as long as your mark or color the wire) And of course, turn of the power before you begin work and check your connections before turning power back on. Hope this helps. :-)

[ted pierce]

Thanks for the reply and detailed suggestions, especially the safety concern regarding my idea. If I implement your approach, is it OK to break the circuit at the other end of the romex, where it gets power from a box above a closet light? It would be easier to access there, rather than going to the end where the light is.

[Electric101]

It should be ok to make your connections there. Some cautions: Ensure that the box is capable of containing the additional wires. There are calculations that are made to ensure this. Not so much a rule of thumb, but if you have to stuff the wires into this box, its probably too full. The fix, add an extension ring designed for the type of box you will be using. The ring provides more room for the wires in the box. Also, ensure you use proper "box connections" to hold the cable to the box and ensure there is a cover for the box. Lastly, pay particular attention to the electrical wire connections. Loose or bad connections can overheat and of course, may cause a fire.