[BaDowntown]

A question from a novice trying to learn more about electrical. As a beginning project, I want to improve my attic lighting by installing a run of lights along ridge beam. I have my power source coming up somewhere in the middle of the run, and id like to put my switch further down (by attic hatch) but also in the middle of the run of lights. My question is there an easy way to wire this going through the boxes i will be installing for the lights and then have a leg for the switch? I know that i can reroute the power source to the switch and then continue on to the light run, which is what i will probably do, but was curious if there was another way with wiring because the conduit already goes up to the ridge beam for the existing light and it just got me thinking. And would like to minimize running conduit.
(Yes, im in chicagloland and conduit is code from what i know.). Picture should help explain it better.

 

[dcwired]

Run a hot in the conduit from source to switch, then another switched hot to all lights.

 

[MTVhike]

You will probably need 5 boxes along your ridge beam, 4 for the lights and one additional one for the switch line. Your conduit may be able to serve as the ground for the entire system. Run a white (neutral) wire from the source to all the boxes, including the switch box. Run a black (power) line to the switch and run a red wire from the switch to all the lights. You could use black instead of red, but red makes it easier to trace things out in the future. The neutral line to the switch is now required by code and could be useful if you want to use a smart switch but wouldn't be used for simpler switches.

 

[Jim Port]

The neutral to the switch is not needed since it could be added later since you have conduit.

 

[FrodoOne]

While

The neutral to the switch is not needed since it could be added later since you have conduit.

since you DO need to use conduit, you may find it easier to include it, in the first place
"Cap" it off
and
not use it, initially.

 

[afjes2015]

A question from a novice trying to learn more about electrical...

Although we have no problem helping you with projects it would really help if you would get a book on the basics of wiring. Something like the book below. Black and Decker has excellent books explaining the basics and more in home electrical wiring. Understanding the basics will really help you down the line with terminology and application. Some you can buy online in pdf format. They are a great help!! Remember though, the books may only give NEC codes and not your local codes of which you need to find from the local permit office or electrical inspector's office.

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Wiring Updated 8th Edition: Current with 2020-2023 Electrical Codes (Volume 8) (Black & Decker Complete Guide, 8) Paperback – February 8, 2022

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Wiring Updated 8th Edition: Current with 2020-2023 Electrical Codes (Volume 8) (Black & Decker Complete Guide, 8): Editors of Cool Springs Press: 9780760371510: Amazon.com: Books

 

[GrayHair]

I suggest you start with DC. You will learn basic concepts there and apply those concepts when you move to AC. There are many on-line tutorials.

 

[A Little Short]

Provided you have boxes large enough for splicing to mount the lights on, all you need do is run a conduit from power source up to a light box that is closest and run wires (hot, neutral, and ground) from power source to this box. Identify the hot wire in this box. Run wires to each light box, starting from this box, identify what colored wire (black, blue, red, any color but white or green) that goes to the lights. Mount your switch, preferably directly under one of the light boxes to keep from having to bend the conduit. But if you have to bend it, run to the closest light box. From the switch box, run 3 wires (2 colored and ground, which would be green) to the box that contains the power. Tie one of the wires to the power (that was identified) and the other to the lights. Tie all neutral and ground wires together, along with the wires for the light to that box.

This is not the only way to do this but keeps you from having to run an extra conduit from power source to switch. Just make sure you connect/splice wires correctly and to the correct wires.