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Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 3086
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 8:44 am: | 
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The bedroom already has a centrally positioned ceiling fan w/light. Kid would like a hanging light nearer to a corner. There's a "cord kit" thing involved from Pottery Barn Teen.
What might having such a thing installed cost? Am I correct in thinking it shouldn't be too bad given (1) preexisting ceiling fixture, and (2) 2 nearby wall outlets. The (1) was done by a good, local electrician firm.
Money is an issue, and I am trying to get an idea on this before I jump. Doing it myself is absolutely not an option. Appreciate any insight, and thanks. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12439
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:05 am: |
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Are you talking moving the box to the corner? Or taking the power off the exising box and using a swag to get the hanging light to where Little Ms. Cynical wants it (reference to cord kit)?
If the former a lot depends on if the room is on the first or second floor and if on the second (cape cod) if there is an accesible crawl space above. If the electrician can work from above it will be a lot easier and less messy since he can run the romex through the crawl space as opposed to having to open the ceiling to drill through joists.
If the latter there are three electrical connections (hot, neutral, ground) to make, a cap to put on the box and a couple of hooks to put up. This is something a handyman can do in an hour.
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J L Bryant
Citizen
Username: Jeffbryant
Post Number: 71
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:13 am: |
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Gee, since money is the issue, why not encourage the child to either pay directly for what he/she wants or earn the money needed? sounds like an opportunity to instill 'install' values, hmmm? win/win all around, right? he/she gets whats desired and you don't squander the all precious $....
btw, I can't see this project being much more than $150-$200 max..... |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 3087
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:27 am: |
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Bob K, we want to retain the current ceiling fan/light -- but have an additional hanging light near the desk etc. I'm not familiar with cord kits. I do know the goal is to not have a line/swag showing -- want to just have this cord kit thing hang straight down. Room is on the second floor. I wouldn't guess there's crawl space, though the small attic is off her room (if one needed to fish something.
J L B, the kid is not yet 12, and is trying to earn money within her capabilities for luxury items. Room and table top areas not large, so hanging light is actually a decent solution. Sorry I brought up who it was for as I'm not in the mood to justify. I appreciate your sense of cost as if it is that, the project is probably ruled out. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 3088
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:30 am: |
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Meant to say "not yet 13." In any case, I have a poor sense of what small projects cost, and so when I have a need or a want, I do post here for info so I can get an idea of whether to consider something or rule it out. I often find some things are less than I might've thought -- or way more. So, I do appreciate your sense of cost.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 9054
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:53 am: |
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Cyn - I'll ask TS if she will break her religious code of not doing wiring this one time. If may/may not be something she can do safely. Let me know if you have the directions, etc.
I know how these little things can add up. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 3090
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 11:49 am: |
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Hey, greenetree, thanks. Really, I was just wanting to understand so I could yay/nay an on sale item on the PBTeens site. As can happen, the silly cord kit and lamp shade are really cheap (like combined less than $30), and we have leftover account credit with them. My thing was that sometimes the parts are cheap, but the labor to make it so is costly.
Meanwhile, back to my dissection of the upstairs storm windows to understand how best to weatherproof/calk for coming winter/rain! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 9064
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 2:45 pm: |
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Cyn- I looked at that kit. It's nothing but a long lamp cord with the lightbulb socket at the end. It doesn't seem to be made to hardwire. You buy the lantern that fits it, right? I think that this is it:
http://ww2.pbteen.com/cat/pip.cfm?snav=1&pkey=clgthan&gids=p817&ctid=lgthan&area =shp
All you would appear to need is an outlet to plug it into. Think of it as a desk lamp that you would hang from the ceiling instead of putting on the desk. The cord is probably very lightweight as is the paper shade, so it's not going to be a matter of putting in anchors, etc. Those cup hooks and plastic thingies look like they are there to guide the cord and keep it in place.
If you really hate the idea of the cord hanging, there is self-stick, paintable conduit that you can get at HD (very cheap) to stick on the wall, run the cord thru and paint the wall color. I did that with a tv cord in the kitchen. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12448
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 3:06 pm: |
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Greentree has the solution. Looking at the cord kit it even has a plug on the end, so that is how it is designed to be used.
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Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 3093
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 3:18 pm: |
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You're right, greenetree. That is the thing she wants and the lampshades are on sale and so on. There is a nearby outlet. That was actually what I thought was going on, but the kid kept looking for a picture and thought not. Sez I, sometimes you can get such cords in "clear" or similar so it's not very obvious.
I'll show her tonight. That paintable conduit sounds possible (I may repaint her room anyway, this Fall). She suspects me of being willing to do ugly rigs (not guilty!!).
Appreciate the bearing with me on this, and the advice. Room arrangement/decor is awfully important to pre-teen/teen age girls!
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 9066
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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No problem. If you want to see what the paintable conduit looks like, come over.
You can probably find "clear" sheathing, but the inside wiring will show. Then, you'll have to worry about whether the shade will fit the sheathed cord properly. I say go for what's there.
In fact, if you can't get the paintable conduit for some reason, you can paint the cord itself. I have a primer that makes latex paint stick to anything that you can use so that you don't have to buy a whle expensive can. It was more than I needed for my little project. |
Diane Hughes
Citizen
Username: Dlh
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 5:28 pm: |
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Can anyone recommend a structural engineer who is willing to consult with us on a sructural issue? We removed a wall between two rooms on our second floor and need to know whether the replacement microlam beam needs to be 4 x 12 or 4 x 8. ANy recommendations would be appreciated. |
daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 921
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
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"ANy recommendations would be appreciated."
Recommend that you start a new thread to get a better response. Not everyone reads all the threads and this one is regarding electrical vs your engineering query. |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 460
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 6:28 pm: |
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two guys to hold the ladder..............oh wait. Sorry
oots |
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