Wiring multiple lights off of an existing light??

Do you know what else is on the circuit?
Are the existing lights turned off & on by a switch?
Do you have access from above to run the wires?
Or will you be fishing them thru the ceiling?
It can be done, depends upon exisiting wiring

But basically you just run wire from one to the next

Basically all the lighting on the middle level of my townhouse are on this same circuit.

There is one switch that that controls the two existing lights.

I will have to fish the wires through the ceiling but I don't see this as being a problem because the new lights will only be separated by a few feet.

Thanks for the quick response scuba_dave...

Do you know if the power feed is to the light 1st or the switch?
This will determine wiring method
What colored wires at the lights?

You need to calculate the load on the circuit
If it is all lighting then you can exceed the breaker limit for all lights on that circuit
IE if a bulb fixture indicates 100w bulb Max that is what you use
If the recessed cans indicate 75w max then you are adding 6*75 = 450w to that circuit
15a circuit = 1800w Mac
20a circuit = 2400w Max

If the existing fluorescent fixtures are surface mounted, recessed lights can be installed using remodel cans which are installed from below. Please supply more info.

Besides Commercial we can help with DIY tips on Installing Recessed Lighting

I don't know if the power is fed to the light or the switch first.

One of the fixtures has a white, black, & ground wire.
The other fixture has the same setup only times two; i.e. 2 black, 2 white, & 2 ground wires.

How do I know if I have a 15a or 20a circuit?

Also, the fluorescent lights are surface mounted.

Thanks again...appreciate the diagrams.

Just add up the wattage of the new fixtures. Watts divided by volts gives you the total current. Use the maximum allowed for the fixture for calculating. Let us know the total wattage. Yes, It's that simple.

Do not concern yourself with how the switches are wired, unless you want to change how the switches work. Connect the new fixtures just like the old fixtures. Just run the cable from the existing to the new.
Make a drawing so you can put it back like it is now. The connections.

Check the breaker that turns the lights on and off for circuit size.

I have no idea how switches got into this thread. The OP only asked if he could add lights to an existing circuit. Please, lets not confuse him. Stay on topic and just answer the damn question.

If he needs a new home run than we can address that after he tells us the total wattage. And what size breaker he has. :whistling2:

The new fixtures are 50 watts max each. Total is 300 watts.

Right now the four current fluorescent bulbs are 40 watts each for a total of 160 watts. So I'd already be over by about 140 watts once the new fixtures are installed.

Thanks...

EDIT: It's a 15a circuit

It will work on a 15 or 20 amp circuit with plenty room to spare. Just install the fixtures and connect them to the same wires the old ones are on. The total current draw is 2.5 amps. However, this is just for the lights. What else is on the same circuit?

Switches matter because he needs to be aware of how things are wired. Many people take it apart & thenhave no clue how to put it back together. Its also important to know where the power is coming from

And if the circuit is already maxed out with the existing lights then even adding "only" another 140w is against code. It's that simple

One the points of DIY is learning & learning how to do it right

Don't be such a damn ass

I just added everything up. Currently there are 1060 watts on the circuit plus one outlet and one exhaust fan. The outlet has a 60 watt lamp hooked up to it and various entertainment media (i.e. tv, dvd player, cable box, ps3, wii). How many watts do the outlet and exhaust fan draw?

Like I said, adding the new lights will add an additional 140 watts to the circuit. Will I overload the circuit?

Also, it looks like one of the current fluorescent fixtures is in the middle of the circuit because two sheathed cables are entering the box. Howdoes this change my wiring scenario?

Thanks.

Scuba_Dave said:

Switches matter because he needs to be aware of how things are wired. Many people take it apart & thenhave no clue how to put it back together. Its also important to know where the power is coming from

And if the circuit is already maxed out with the existing lights then even adding "only" another 140w is against code. It's that simple

One the points of DIY is learning & learning how to do it right

Don't be such a damn ass

Click to expand...

Dave, I will not get into a pissing match with you. He does not need to be aware of how things are wired. He's not an electrician. Are you?
All he needs to know is if and how he can accomplish his project. If you want to get complicated try one of the professional boards where they will eat you alive. This is a DIY forum.

I'm not an electrician & I do need to know how things are wired
I've seen too many people who are told to simply replace it/wire same as it is & then come back & say it isn't working
Then its 2x as hard to figure out what they did wrong

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...

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.

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.