[zephed666]

Hello:

I am looking for a diagram to run power through a light. My set up is:
Power in at swtich - to light - on to receptacle
It is a 20 Amp cicuit. I assume you run a 12/3 wire from the switch to the light and then 12/2 on to receptacle but wanted the diagram to cinfirm.

thanks!

 

[Jim Port]

Your thought is correct. One of the hots will carry thru and the other will be switch controlled.

 

[zephed666]

Your thought is correct. One of the hots will carry thru and the other will be switch controlled.

Is there a diagram out there somewhere? How does the 12/3 wire get connected at the switch?

 

[rjniles]

At the switch, white supply is connected to white of the 3 wire, black of supply is connected (pig tailed) to the switch and to the red of the 3 wire. Black of the 3 wire is connected to the other side of the switch. Bare grounds are connected together and to the switch. At the light, tie the whites together and to the white of the light. Connect the black of the 3 wire to the black of light, connect the red of the 3 wire to the black to the receptacle.

 

[zephed666]

At the switch, white supply is connected to white of the 3 wire, black of supply is connected (pig tailed) to the switch and to the red of the 3 wire. Black of the 3 wire is connected to the other side of the switch. Bare grounds are connected together and to the switch. At the light, tie the whites together and to the white of the light. Connect the black of the 3 wire to the black of light, connect the red of the 3 wire to the black to the receptacle.

I assume the red and black can be reversed, i.e- carry the black through and connect the red at the light?

So like this diagram?

 

[rjniles]

That's the diagram. Use either the black or the red as the switched hot and the other as the constant hot.

 

[zephed666]

That's the diagram. Use either the black or the red as the switched hot and the other as the constant hot.

thanks!
This helps. I was orgianlly going to wire all the power at the switches but I would have had the power coming in to the 2 switch bank, then power going out to one receptacle, power going out to another receptacle and then the 2 lines going out to the 2 lights. I was worried about box fill since there would have been 5 - 12/2 wires coming in and going out...

 

[zephed666]

That's the diagram. Use either the black or the red as the switched hot and the other as the constant hot.

Hi:

I was just looking at what I need to do and have another question. I have the power coming in to 2 switches and each of these switches will get the 12/3 wire to each light so i can continue on from both. in this setup, there will be 5 #12 wires under one wire nut.

1st wire- black coming in
2nd wire - pigtail to 1st switch
3rd wire - red from 1st 12/3 wire
4th wire - pigtail to 2nd switch
5th wire - red from 2nd 12/3 wire

Is that allowed?

thanks!

 

[DangerMouse]

I'm sorry, I do not believe what you show in that diagram is legal.
I don't think you're supposed to have 12g and 14g wire in the same circuit.

DM

 

[zephed666]

I'm sorry, I do not believe what you show in that diagram is legal.
I don't think you're supposed to have 12g and 14g wire in the same circuit.

DM

Just a typo...
sorry

 

[DangerMouse]

Oh, and if it's a 20 amp circuit, I believe it needs to be ALL 12g.

DM

 

[DangerMouse]

Ok, I was surprised no-one caught that! :laughing:

Carry on, men.

DM

 

[rjniles]

I'm sorry, I do not believe what you show in that diagram is legal.
I don't think you're supposed to have 12g and 14g wire in the same circuit.

DM

Actually it is OK by code to have a mixture of 12 & 14 wire in the same circuit, but it must be fused(breakered) at 15 amps. That being said it is not good practice.

 

[rjniles]

Hi:

I was just looking at what I need to do and have another question. I have the power coming in to 2 switches and each of these switches will get the 12/3 wire to each light so i can continue on from both. in this setup, there will be 5 #12 wires under one wire nut.

1st wire- black coming in
2nd wire - pigtail to 1st switch
3rd wire - red from 1st 12/3 wire
4th wire - pigtail to 2nd switch
5th wire - red from 2nd 12/3 wire

Is that allowed?

thanks!

5 #12 conductors under one wire nut is fine, use a Red.

The 2 gang box you use is important, it must be 29.25cu. inches or larger for the number of conductors (one 12-2 and two 12-3 ) and 2 switches.

This box is not OK (25 cu in)

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

This is OK (34 cu in.):

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053