Wiring multiple lights off of an existing light??

n00b

Hey guys, I posted the total wattage a few posts up; 1060 on a 15a circuit. Not sure how much wattage to add for the outlet and exhaust fan on the same circuit.

Do I need to do aything different since one of the fluorescent lights is in the middle of the circuit? i.e. it has two sheathed cables running to the box.

Thanks for all of the help. I am actually learning a few things...

Scuba_Dave

Do you know how many watts/amps the fan takes?
Is it an over the stove exhaust fan, bathroom exhaust fan?
Is the 1060 the actual watts in use or do you use CFL's bulbs?

Does that include the existing 160w of lights?

1060
..300 new lights
...60 bulb
************
1420 out of 1800 so far (maybe)
That doesn't leave much extra wattage for items plugged into the outlet

Do you know how much your TV & other electronics (on that circuit) that are normally turned on draw?

Has the breaker ever kicked off?
I'd hate to see you add the 140w & then have the breaker kicking off

n00b

Not sure of the wattage on the fan...but it is a bathroom exhaust fan.

1060 is the actual watts in use. No CFL bulbs.

As of right now, I have a total of 1060 watts which includes everything except for the outlet, and exhaust fan.

I found that the tv draws 226 watts and I have a 60 watt lamp plugged into the outlet as well. Thats adds 286 watts bringing the total up to 1346 watts plus whatever wattage the fan is.

Sounds like I should be ok to add another couple hundred watts right? I never have all the lights on anyway and the breaker has never kicked off.

Scuba_Dave

I'd say you should be OK

1060 now
..140 increase
...60w lamp
..226w TV (inlcudes cable box?)
..100w fan (maybe) - newer use down to 15-45w
*************
That's 1586 with everything on

Some older fans (and some newer) can use over 100w
If the breaker kicks out I'd install some CFL bulbs to lower your use
About 90% of my lights are now CFL. Some of the bulbs were free after instant rebate at Home Depot. I installed (4) CFL fixtures in my kitchen that each use 13w.
If you have a 100w bulb installed a CFL equiv only uses 23w
60w equiv around 13w, 40w equiv = 9w
For most of my areas I buy the Daylight bulbs - much whiter light

Did you already purchase the recessed fixtures?

n00b

No, I have not purchased the fixtures yet.

One last question though. Your diagrams were very helpful but how do I wire the the three that I am installing in place of the fluorescent fixture that has the two sheathed cables running into the box (2 black, 2 white, and 2 ground wires)? Does this make sense?

Thanks for the info on the CFL bulbs, didnt realize they reduced the wattage by so much.

Scuba_Dave

So basically the 2 wire setup is the same as the 1st light on the left in this diagram? 1 wire coming in, 1 wire going out to the next light? Then the wires to the actual light?
In its simplest form, turn off the power, disconnect the black, white & ground of the existing light, then attach the black, white & ground of the new light. Do the fixtures have a recessed box where all the connections are made? Or are the wires connected together inside the fixture?
The new recessed fixtures will come with a small attached box where all the connections are made. You may need to buy clamps, I buy the ones that allow 2 wires under the clamp



Wire gauge on 15a circuit = 14 gauge - so you will be using 14g wire Example of wiring

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Scuba_Dave

Where you run the wiring (to the next fixture) depends upon the layout

n00b

I'm going to be running the wiring side-by-side inside the ceiling; they will be in a row like in your diagram above.

I don't have the fixtures picked out yet. I'll probably be attempting this next weekend. I appreciate all the help.