The Roof Outlet

So the last couple weeks I have been working on all my projects. I also started school again. The end table is coming along nicely, all it needs now is a lot of sanding, some planing, stain and clear. I did manage to get an outlet hooked up on my roof.

***WARNING do not play with work on or mess with electrical wiring unless you know what you are doing***

This should have been a one day project. It was not.

I found out awhile ago that the middle switch in my master bedroom that did nothing used to be a ceiling fan. The wire for which had been cut at the light box and left there. So I decided that I could hook up an outlet on my roof using that switch for my X-mas lights.

I started by taking my bedroom light apart and climbing into the attic. I fed the offending ceiling fan wire (it had been cut twice here above the light) and a new wire I had bought into the light box. Routed the new wire to the edge of the roof. Then I climbed out and spliced them in the box, like one should. I put the light back together. Then I went up on the roof top... to take off my lights and hook up my new outlet. I had my wife bring me a coat hanger, since I could not reach the new wire but I could see it. Hooked it up and poof. It did not work.


Poop.


So the next day I climbed back in the attic to see what was the matter. It turns out that the wire had also been cut above the wall where the switch was. About six inches remained, and it would not reach itself again. So to Lowes I go to buy more wire and some junction boxes. Splices must be made in junction boxes. Super.

So the next day I go back into the attic to do some splicing, while I am up there I lay some planks down for easier walking. All spliced together I go up on the roof top... it does not work. Again.


^$#!$^^%@^%^%^@^%@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So the next day I take apart the switch. Now, I don't know if you have wired a three switch box before but I will tell you they work by magic. I know from experience there should be four wires,each with four wires inside. One that brings the power, one for each light, and one for the ceiling fan. There are only three wires. The middle switch is hooked up, it operates, power goes in and only comes out when it is switched. Yet it controls nothing. Not a thing. Magic.

So I take apart the whole box, managing to not disconnect any wires in doing so. I use a mirror to look into the wall. There it is, about half way up capped off and taped with duct tape, not electrical, but duct. Sigh. I reach into the wall pull it down and now I have my four wires with four wires inside apiece.

I then stare at the wiring trying to figure it out for about half an hour and I have an Epiphany out of no where. I disconnect some wires, reconnect in other places, splice others, and hook up the ceiling fan wire. A long lost Latin chant springs from my mouth, I apologize to the ancient gods that I don't have a goat to sacrifice, lightning strikes, I'm pretty sure there were monks chanting far off.... and..... It works! IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Crap now I have to sacrifice a goat.

OK, some of that didn't happen. However it works. I put it all back together, only half way cause I know better. Go to flip the breaker and it breaks. %((!( **^ W%. I tear it back apart and a wire had come loose and was touching ground. Easy enough I re-connect and this time I electrical tape everything. That is not required but is smart anyway. Then I repeat and this time it works for good. Put it all back together and start searching the internet on how to buy a goat....





P.S. Future me had better be thankful to present me. Next year when I do the Christmas lights I wont have to carry an extension cord on the roof, and I have a whole new breaker to run lights on now. An extra breaker means more lights.