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I want to install outdoor string lights and need a receptacle to plug them in. I have removed an existing outdoor wall light, which reveals the following shallow box (see picture).

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The box is 3" in diameter and 3/4" deep. It's set in stucco and screwed into a stud. It can't be made deeper because of the stud. I'm willing to expand the diameter though if needed.

What sort of box do I need to put in its place so I can convert this to an outdoor GFCI receptacle?

UPDATE:

So I chipped out more of the stucco and installed a weatherproof box and weatherproof in-use cover. I'll patch up the stucco, of course. But it looks terrible. Sticks out way too far.

enter image description here

I may end up installing an LB connector similar to what's described in the following post and running conduit to elsewhere: Is a splice permitted in a PVC conduit body?

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confusedGFCI
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2 Answers2

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As mentioned in your follow-up question, Jimmy Fix-it's solution didn't work.

As you are just adding string lighting, the best option is to keep your outdoor wall light and it's protective sconce, and remove your light-bulb and insert at light socket to outlet adapter (no GFCI needed).

enter image description here

If you feel you need a GFCI, you can use this 2 prong GFCI adapter:

enter image description here

If you want a ground and a GFCI you can use a 2 to 3 prong adapter with wire and an inline GFCI: enter image description here enter image description here

virtualxtc
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Surface mount a weatherproof 4/O box extension over the top of your existing box and feed the wires through the back. Seal around the box where it meets the wall so water cannot get behind it.

Then install a weatherproof conversion cover, they are fairly new and I have only seen them on the internet. Then install a weatherproof receptacle cover and you are done!

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Jimmy Fix-it
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  • I'm not sure if a 4" extension will fit against a 3" round box.... – ThreePhaseEel Aug 08 '16 at 00:24
  • They have surface mount tabs, screw it to the stucco with anchors. Basically his old 3/O pancake box with NM cable clamp gets extended into a 4/O WP surface mount box. – Jimmy Fix-it Aug 08 '16 at 01:38
  • I don't believe that leaving a discontinuity in the box wall like that's within the spirit of Article 314 (although strangely enough, it seems to be legal for sub-1kV, unless 314.19 applies to forbid that?) – ThreePhaseEel Aug 08 '16 at 03:56
  • As long as the material between the two boxes is noncombustible (like stucco) I think its ok. I know, "I think" has sunk ships, but minimal actual hazard IMO. Same as an interior box that's not quite flush with the finished wall surface, no? – Jimmy Fix-it Aug 08 '16 at 04:44
  • Even for a wall box in a non-combustible wall material, 314.20 limits you to ¼" of exposed wall material due to the box not being flush. – ThreePhaseEel Aug 08 '16 at 05:01
  • @ThreePhaseEel -- Are you saying the problem is with the depth of the extension -- i.e., that it would be more than 1/4" away from the exterior of the stucco and therefore not flush? Or is the problem that the diameter of the extension is more than 1/4" wider than the existing box?

    If it's the latter, would it be better to remove the existing box, widen the stucco opening, and install a 4/0 box (even if the depth means it does not sit flush with the stucco)?

     – confusedGFCI Aug 08 '16 at 06:07
  • @confusedGFCI -- more or less the latter, yes -- removing the existing box, widening the opening, and installing a 4" pancake box is a better bet as parts for 4" boxes are far more common than for 3 or 3.5" boxes. – ThreePhaseEel Aug 08 '16 at 11:36
  • I am skeptical that a GFI receptacle will fit in a pancake box, in fact I am sure it won't. He needs a full size box. What about legality of sinking a 4/0 W/P box partially into the wall, with caulking around the enlarged rough stucco hole? Only drawback would be the knock-outs would prolly get blocked, but who needs 'em? – Jimmy Fix-it Aug 09 '16 at 01:33
  • @JimmyFix-it -- a 4" round pancake can mount a 4" octagon extension, which will fit a GFCI. (3.5" boxes are most annoying as standard device yokes simply don't fit in them.) A 4" full-depth box (likely an octagon as rounds aren't a thing outside of pancake boxes) is A-OK to partially sink into the wall, though -- Code doesn't care about boxes that stick out. – ThreePhaseEel Aug 10 '16 at 00:40
  • Have looked everywhere for the "weatherproof conversion cover" depicted in the picture above but to no avail. Can anybody tell me who manufacturers this part and/or where I can find it on the web? – Steve Nov 14 '16 at 22:16
  • @Steve Try searching for "Weatherproof Round Box Adapter" – virtualxtc Nov 20 '18 at 16:45
  • This solution doesn't work according to: https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/97109/can-a-mud-ring-be-used-in-reverse – virtualxtc Nov 20 '18 at 16:53
  • noting issues discussed above seem more available now. https://smile.amazon.com/Hubbell-Bell-5363-0-Weatherproof-Extension-Adapter/dp/B002HG4AZQ?sa-no-redirect=1 https://smile.amazon.com/Taymac-PRBA400G-Plastic-Round-Adapter/dp/B00JU532E2?sa-no-redirect=1 – Joe Sep 24 '21 at 04:13