Do it Yourself Recessed Eave Lighting for Mobile Homes

Prep

• 1

  Set the base of your recessed light on the bottom of the eaves panel, known as a soffit, and trace around it. Drill a hole with a 1/2-inch paddle bit in the center of the outline. Use a jigsaw to cut out the outline. Mark and cut a rounded notch, the same diameter as your conduit, on the edge of the hole nearest the porch light.

• 2

  Turn off the breaker powering the porch light, and remove the screws from the fixture to pull it away from the face of the junction box. Use the jigsaw to cut a notch in the soffit on the edge of the porch light hole nearest the proposed eaves light.

• 3

  Measure from the porch light to the hole you cut for the eaves light, taking into account the conduit, which must run in straight lines, and turn corners at 90 degrees. Measure to run the wire with the fewest number of turns possible. Add 15 percent to the measurement, and cut three conductor cables long enough to complete the circuit, using wire cutters.

• 4

  Use a screwdriver and pliers to knock out one of the side knock outs on the porch light junction box, on the side nearest the eaves light. Strip the wires of your cable back 1 inch from the ends, and thread it into the junction box. Use wirenuts to attach the cable into the porch light circuit, matching the wires to the corresponding colored wires from the porch light and house wire.

Installation

• 5

  Thread conduit fittings onto the wire and attach to the porch junction box to bring the conduit up and level with the soffit face. This varies, depending on the type of conduit. Typically, it requires a 90-degree elbow on the box, a short piece of conduit, and a second elbow to turn the wire toward the eaves. Use a screwdriver to tighten the fitting screws.

• 6

  Measure and cut your conduit to fit, threading each piece on in turn. Add fittings as needed, to cover the distance to the eaves light. Mount the conduit against the soffit with conduit mounting brackets, using the screws that come with them. Drive screws with a cordless drill.

• 7

  Fit the conduit up into the hole for the recessed light, and into the notch on the side of it. Strip the wire ends and thread them into the can on the back of the recessed light. Fit each pair of wires with a wirenut and twist them tight. Fit the light up into the hole, and attach with screws through the back of the fixture, or in the trim rings, depending on the light.