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	Subject - Need to turn a light socket into an outlet? How? Ben_Jolted I have your standard light socket in my basement. It has a lightbulb screwed into it and turns on with a pull chain. Can this be changed into an outlet so I can plug a series of shop lights into it? Where do I start? David Hyatt This is a simple task, but you may want to consult an electrician to do it. If not, make sure power to the outlet is off. Hopefully there is only one cable coming to the light. Replace this box with a standard nail up plastic box. Run a 12/2 romex to each location and loop the cables between each new receptacle. Run one piece of 12/2 romex to the new switch location. Now make connections at first box. The old black wire will tap to the white going to the switch, the white in the first box and the white going to the next light will go on the recept.The black coming from the switch and the black going to the next light will go on the recept. Make up other recept. black on dark screw, white on white screw and bare on ground screw. Hint using green wire nuts will be useful in making ground connections. Twist grounds together leaving one about six inches longer than the other, the green wire nut will has a hole in it and will allow the longer wire to be wraped around the ground screw. Once again this information is at your own risk, I strongly recomend an electrician for this job! Scott probably has a neet diagram for this job. karlwayne Hey Ben, As you can see the answer is yes. Although very good advice from Mr. Hyatt, I perceive you want a simplier answer. 1. Turn off the power to the light 2. The old "octagon box" should be changed to a regular "switch box" to accept a receptacle. 3. The black wire on the porcelon fixture goes to the dark colored screw on the side of the receptacle. 4. The white wire on the fixture goes to the light colored screw on the other side of the receptacle. 5. The bare ground wire should ground the box (if it is metal) and goes to the green screw on the receptacle. 6. put on the receptacle cover 7. Plug in the lights 8. Turn on the power.