# Porch light help needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219 "2012-02-08T19:08:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gumpy3885](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gumpy3885](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gumpy3885)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/1 "2012-02-08T19:08:59Z")
I have a 2-story house with a front porch which extends all the way to the 2nd story roof. I currently have a ceiling mounted light which really doesn’t put out that much light. I’d like to install a hanging light but I need some help. In order to match the style and size of the house, I need a medium sized light. Most of the lights you see on display at Home Depot or Lowe’s are a little smaller than I’d like (I’m guessing they’re sized for a one-story house). I’m worried about sway and wind. I’m in Texas so severe weather is a threat so I need to minimize movement. My idea was to replace some/all of the chain with a steel extension, similar to how you’d hang a ceiling fan. I’m thinking about a 10 foot drop would put the light where I’d like it. I’m having a problem trying to figure out what to search for. There doesn’t seem to be a common term I can use. I thought “pendant” lights might be it but it seems pendant lights don’t mean anything different than regular hanging lights that use chain. Can anyone point me in the right direction of where I could find hanging lights that use an extension rather than chain? I’m already aware that I will probably need to add structural support for the weight although I haven’t yet calculated the weight difference of chain vs pole would be. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/2 "2012-02-08T19:20:56Z")
Here’s an example of an outdoor [hanging lantern](http://www.lampsplus.com/products/circa-collection-41-inch-high-outdoor-hanging-light__49889.html). It only goes up to 41" but hey, it’s a start. Maybe you can purchase extensions? ETA: [59 3/4" maximum hang height.](http://www.lampsplus.com/products/bristol-bay-collection-10-and-one-half-inch-high-outdoor-pendant-light__j4595.html) ---
**Author:** ![gumpy3885](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gumpy3885](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gumpy3885)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/3 "2012-02-08T19:28:09Z")
I guess I should clarify on the style I’d like. I’m thinking more along this style: [link](http://www.amazon.com/Three-Light-Black-Hanging-Lantern/dp/B0035R3TPI) ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/4 "2012-02-09T01:05:47Z")
For ceiling fans they are called “downrods”. I am not sure if you could rig up a ceiling fan one to work with a light fixture, though it seems possible. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/5 "2012-02-09T16:32:37Z")
Wouldn’t it make more sense to extend the electric line down the front of the house and attach a hanger at normal ceiling height? Ceiling fan downrods are unlikely to be rated for exterior use, and wind would be a serious problem. But you can easily find outdoor conduit to run the line down to a reasonable height for a hanging lamp. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/6 "2012-02-10T15:00:44Z")
Could you hang it from a chain and use stabilizing chains to keep it from swinging too much? Here is an example of what I’m talking about on the [White House North Portico](http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor1/north-portico.htm). ---
**Author:** ![gumpy3885](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gumpy3885](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gumpy3885)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/7 "2012-02-10T21:34:30Z")
It looks like I’m going to have to use the stabilizing chains. I’ll have to see if I can make them small enough where they will blend in with the brick. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porch-light-help-needed/612219/8 "2012-02-20T05:44:30Z")
> [@gumpy3885](#): > > It looks like I’m going to have to use the stabilizing chains. I’ll have to see if I can make them small enough where they will blend in with the brick. Before you do, consider going with a single chain that has a bit larger links. Then weld the links together. This is quite easy to do, and it would stabilize it, without having all of those other hanging wires or chains coming down from it either. I think it cleans it up nicely, and looks way better. Home Depot or Lowes will have various chain link sizes that you can generally order by the foot. If you went this way, don’t get the plated links, that way you could paint the links to match your lattern color.