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I replaced a porch wall light fixture for a motion sensing one, but the old fixture had an interesting feature: the mounting box was extended so it had an electrical outlet mounted in the side of it.

Is there an extension box that has a mounting for an outlet on it, so that I can add back an outdoor outlet? If so, what is such a device called?

update: I don’t have a picture of the fixture (it was done for a friend), but here’s one on Amazon with a similar box: https://smile.amazon.com/Outdoor-Industrial-Exterior-Waterproof-Farmhouse/dp/B09BD36C7G/

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  • Please post a pic. It will help get you the best answer.
    – HoneyDo
    Jun 27, 2022 at 17:29
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    Google also shows it(or similar unit) being sold at Home Depot, which should care about UL units. Do think it is a handy feature if safe, probably better than those screw in outlets.
    – crip659
    Jun 27, 2022 at 20:36
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    @KyleB I would consider NEC 210.52 Where it says "This section provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets. The receptacles required by this section shall be in addition to any receptacle that is as follows: (1) Part of a luminaire or appliance*, so it seems they aren't prohibited, but they don't satisfy required locations
    – NoSparksPlease
    Jun 27, 2022 at 22:04
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    I'm curious why it's useful to have an outlet in the middle of a porch ceiling? Is it for permanent string lights or some other permanent, plugged-in ceiling fixture? If so it might be more practical and useful to install a standard outdoor outlet somewhere else on the ceiling, with power originating from the existing ceiling box or from the switch box controlling it. As long as you're already up on a ladder installing stuff in the ceiling!
    – jay613
    Jun 28, 2022 at 8:09
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    @jay613 : not a ceiling, it’s wall mounted. (see the link). And you’re now required to have an outlet on the front and back of residences, so I suspect that this would be a way for people rehabbing old houses to do it without needing to pull a new circuit.
    – Joe
    Jun 28, 2022 at 9:11

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There is no prohibition on receptacles in light fixtures in a bathroom or outside.

there is a requirement for both to have GFCI protection and this is why they have largely disappeared.

the Amazon fixture in the above question appears to have GFCI , and if you scroll down it looks like it is ETL listed (ETL is equivalent to UL)

As far as a light fixture box that has a receptacle I have never used one or seen one.

we would normally put a single gang box and outlet in or purchase that expensive fixture.

specialty parts become very expensive so installing a light box and single gang will end up being standard parts less expensive in the long run.

Could there be a listed box made for a WR-GFCI that you mount a lamp on sure but as I said I haven’t seen one and the use would be limited to a damp location unless a extra duty cover was added for wet locations making the box uglier (I don’t think that combo exists for just a box,

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  • I’ve been thinking about it, and I suspect that the issue isn’t simply if it can deal with the extra forces, but you would add an opening further from the wall and less protected by the roof overhang if it’s not an covered porch. The all-in-one units are probably much safer from an electrical fire risk standpoint
    – Joe
    Jun 28, 2022 at 13:04
  • Joe I would agree that part of the problem is the distance away from the vertical surface. But it’s not a fire issue at all more that the fixture would not look as nice.
    – Ed Beal
    Jun 29, 2022 at 4:53

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