Help with a circuit

954 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by joed, Apr 15, 2016

Runner81

Discussion Starter · Apr 4, 2016

Hello everyone, I am rewiring a shelter and need some help with a circuit. I am trying to figure out how to continue a circuit from a light switch that powers two lights. What I want to know is can I continue the circuit from the light switch box that controls the 2 lights or do I have to continue it from the last fixture that switch controls? The switch is in line with the rest of the circuit I want to run down the wall but the fixtures are split out along the truss and I don't want to have to run more cable than needed. I'm sure I'm making this harder than it needs to be but I want it to work. Thanks

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jlhaslip

· #2 · Apr 4, 2016

The answer depends on where the power is supplied to for those lights.
If the power is to the light fixtures and a switch wire is run to the switch box, continue the power from the light fixture.
If the power is brought in to the switch box and then to the fixture, run power from the switch is possible.

But I am a Carpenter. An Electrician should be along shortly.

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jlhaslip

· #3 · Apr 4, 2016

http://www.easy-do-it-yourself-home-improvements.com/light-switch-wiring-diagram.html

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dmxtothemax

· #4 · Apr 4, 2016

Post number two is quite right !
It all comes down to where the neutral is available ?
Is it at the switch ?
Or at the fixture ?
Only you can tell us that !

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Runner81

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 4, 2016

There will be a neutral coming into the switch yes

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joed

· #6 · Apr 4, 2016

If you only have two wires in the switch box, you can't do it from the switch.
If you have at least four wires, two whites nutted together in the back of the box and two black or reds connected to the switch, then you should be able to do it.

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Runner81

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 5, 2016

Here's what I'm working with. I'm gonna have a recep before the switch so coming into the switch will be the continued circuit cable, then I will have the cable from the switch running to the lights. Then I want to have another Cable from the switch box continuing downstream. What wires do I need to connect in the switch box to do this? Where will I need a 3 conductor cable?

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joed

· #8 · Apr 5, 2016

In the switch box
Connect all the black wires, except the one to the light, together with a 6 inch black pigtail.
Connect all the white wires together.
Connect the pigtail black and the light black wires to the switch.
Connect all the grounds together.

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Runner81

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 5, 2016

Thank you!

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Runner81

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 15, 2016

joed said:
In the switch box
Connect all the black wires, except the one to the light, together with a 6 inch black pigtail.
Connect all the white wires together.
Connect the pigtail black and the light black wires to the switch.
Connect all the grounds together.

Do you connect the grounds together with a pigtail from the switch ground terminal?

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brric

· #11 · Apr 15, 2016

Runner81 said:
Do you connect the grounds together with a pigtail from the switch ground terminal?

Yes..

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joed

· #12 · Apr 15, 2016

Always connect all the grounds. I sometimes forget to add that, as it does not affect the function of the circuit and is just always done.

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