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PROJECT: Installing Electric wall sconces in my daughter's apartment.

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
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Landlord says NO HARDWIRING changes to the apartment.

Melen + Lovely Mrs_Bob have an idea ... their idea is DAD CAN FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION

So with a landlord that won't let me knock holes in his drywall and run wires behind his walls. And with a determined wife & daughter that somehow I would "fix" this and get her the desired lights on her walls this is my solution.

2 extension cords -- Receptical end cut off and wires exposed.
2 remote controlled light switches
2 wall sconces (of my daughter's choosing)
2 pieces of MDF, 3/4" nominal thickness, cut into 8" by 8" squares, painted white
12 large 3m Command Strips (6 for each fixture)

I drilled a hole in the center of each of the MDF square panels
I cut a channel in the back of the MDF square panels to run the extension cord behind the light fixture allowing the MDF panels to sit flush against the wall

Using the mounting bracket for the light fixture as a template I drilled 2 more, small holes, into the square mounting plates. Wired the fixtures to the end of the extension cord that I cut off. and mounted them to the light fixtures to the mounting plate with the extension cords running through the wire channel.

6 of those non-damaging but darn sticky 3M double sided COMMAND STRIPS will be used to "stick" the sconces to the wall. Not much can be done to hide the white cords but they will be running down a white wall, and partially obscured by furniture, so I think it will be pretty good.

FWIW, the outer case on the extension cords were hard to cut through. I used a "Chestnut" knife, which is used for scoring chestnuts before roasting them. It is like a mini-linoleum knife. Worked great at cutting the outer insulation layer off the extension cords without damaging the actual insulation on each of the 3 wires inside.
 

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Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
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Next step will be to get them up to my daughter. With a semi sick baby and crappy roads it may be a few more days before I can deliver & “install” her light fixtures.

Obviously the bulbs and globes have to be attached. But the photos should give a good idea. I thought it a rather clever solution to the problem.

if I was to do it again I’d match the paint on the MDF plates to the wall but I didn’t have a way to do that. If she has some wall paint it will be easy enough to do.
 

bczoom

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Not much can be done to hide the white cords but they will be running down a white wall, and partially obscured by furniture, so I think it will be pretty good.
Bob - to hide the wires, you could get some PVC Trunking Conduit at most box stores. It'll look a bit cleaner than just the cords hanging.
 
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Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Bob - to hide the wires, you could get some PVC Trunking Conduit at most box stores. It'll look a bit cleaner than just the cords hanging.
I thought of that. I have some of it here, but not quite enough for this job.

If she wants it I'll send her a link so she can buy it :ROFLMAO:
 

jpr62902

Jeanclaude Spam Banhammer
SUPER Site Supporter
Plug in wall sconces are in style right now, so I just bought some cloth-wrapped lamp cord and wired mine with that. The sconces are attached with wall anchors.

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