Making a Light to an outlet

[Lifetimer]

Has anyone ever removed a light fixture and created an outlet? I have a bunk bed that has no outlets, the closes outlet you have to run a extension cord across the bathroom doorway. Anyone have any ideas? Lights we can add a battery operated. We need an outlet at the bunks. HELP!!

[Flybob]

Keep in mind that the lights are 12VDC and the wiring is based on 12VDC. Outlets are 120VAC and you can not use the existing wiring for an outlet. You are probable better off just adding a new outlet.

[Oaklevel]

Never done this but the lights are 12V, I Assume that you want an 120v outlet ??

[ray98]

That won't work.

[jeff64]

like they all said, "nope"

[rlh1957]

Only outlet you can get from the 12V light wires are an 12V lighter socket or one of the USB outlets which are stepped down in voltage. A 12 Volt outlet would allow you to plug in your 12V light, 12V fan, 12v TV.
You can run an 120v line back to the area and install a 15amp receptacle.
As mentioned above line gauge used in 12v lighting is not compatible with required 120v lines.

[KyleStout]

what do you need to use it for? would a USB outlet do the job?

[PenJoe]

Do you have 120V in your outdoor kitchen? If so, you might be able to route a circuit to the bunk.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by Lifetimer

Has anyone ever removed a light fixture and created an outlet? I have a bunk bed that has no outlets, the closes outlet you have to run a extension cord across the bathroom doorway. Anyone have any ideas? Lights we can add a battery operated. We need an outlet at the bunks. HELP!!

The only value in removing the light would be the hole. You may try using the existing wire to drag a 110v wire pair through to the breaker panel. This probably won't work because the 12v will most likely go to a junction point buried somewhere behind the walls or under the floor. If mains wiring is not your thing I would suggest you don't go any further but take it to a ticketed electrician, either RV specialist or domestic, it shouldn't matter provided the non-RV guy is wary of extra thin walls.

[LannyCox]

As rlh1957 suggested, you could wire in a 12 volt cigarette lighter/power port into which you could plug a portable inverter to power the 120 volt light/appliance. Such an inverter is available many places, including WalMart. I have a 300 watt inverter that we used in the car years ago when the children were young to power a DVD player and a PlayStation.

[pmsherman]

Originally Posted by LannyCox

As rlh1957 suggested, you could wire in a 12 volt cigarette lighter/power port into which you could plug a portable inverter to power the 120 volt light/appliance. Such an inverter is available many places, including WalMart. I have a 300 watt inverter that we used in the car years ago when the children were young to power a DVD player and a PlayStation.

I'd be very careful about adding a 300W inverter to a lighting circuit. The lighting circuits in my 2011 Georgetown are all fused with 15A fuses, much less than the 25+ amps that inverter could draw. This also does not include any load from other bulbs on that fuse.

I don't know what changes FR has made to wire sizes and fuses in rigs that come with LED lighting.

Phil

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by LannyCox

As rlh1957 suggested, you could wire in a 12 volt cigarette lighter/power port into which you could plug a portable inverter to power the 120 volt light/appliance. Such an inverter is available many places, including WalMart. I have a 300 watt inverter that we used in the car years ago when the children were young to power a DVD player and a PlayStation.

This is not a very safe thing to do. You would need to go no bigger than a typical mains powered lamp in power rating because that is all the wiring will be rated at and the fuse/breaker will be no bigger than 15 amp AND that should not be upgraded to compensate. Head in that that direction: Danger Will Robinson.

[Lifetimer]

Thanks everyone, we decided to patch into the outlet that is directly under the bunks for the outdoor kitchen. We never use the outdoor fridge for anything. We are removing it and putting in a slide out in place for our water jug which we use continuously.

[LannyCox]

Good advice from everyone more experienced than I.