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How to wire pendant lights in tandem

Asked Sep 12, 2011, 01:11 PM — 7 Answers
I have three pendant lights that I am installing over a counter, these are low voltage lights I believe because they have two black wires and a groud wire. I alread have a wire coming from the light switch which has a black, white and ground wires. How do I connect these three pendant lights in tandem to this light switch.

Thanks

Mike
Ofc38@cox.net

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7 Answers
donf's Avatar
donf Posts: 4,791, Reputation: 2723
Printers & Electronics Expert
  
#2

Sep 12, 2011, 01:42 PM
First: Is the switch the power source for the existing lights?

Check the switch and see if both the White and Black are connected to the screws on the switch. If they are, then this is a switch loop and it will not supply you with the needed Neutral / Return for the circuit.

If the switch outlet has a continuous or spliced white that is not connected to the switch and Black connected to both the top and bottom screw of the switch, then the White would be a true Neutral and the Black would be the supply to the fixture.
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hkstroud's Avatar
hkstroud Posts: 8,483, Reputation: 3424
Home Improvement & Construction Expert
  
#3

Sep 12, 2011, 03:35 PM
Quote:
these are low voltage lights I believe
Believing isn't good enough. You have to know.
If they are low voltage there will be a transformer with them.
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mthomason's Avatar
mthomason Posts: 3, Reputation: 10
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#4

Sep 12, 2011, 03:41 PM
Donf;

I checked the switch in the kitchen, the one switch that controlled the trac lighting where I'm putting the pendant lights has a black, white and red wires going into the back of the switch. There is also a white wire that is connected to the ground wire and screw. Also there is a black wire attached to the right lower screw on the switch. There is another switch in the laundry room that controlled the trac lights so they could be turned on when coming in through the garage
As I stated this switch controlled the trac lighting that I just took down. I put up three pendant lights that have two black wires each, I'm wondering how do I connect the 12/2 wire coming from the switch to the three pendant lights to be able to turn them on with this single switch.

Thanks

Mike
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mthomason's Avatar
mthomason Posts: 3, Reputation: 10
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#5

Sep 12, 2011, 03:48 PM
Donf

The black wires coming from the pendant lights, one of them has the ridges on it and the other one is smooth....hope this helps more

Mike
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Tfc2008's Avatar
Tfc2008 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
New Member
  
#6

Sep 22, 2012, 09:02 AM
I put together the wires my light is on and ok but my switch in kitchen don't work I can't put the light out
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shuntripper's Avatar
shuntripper Posts: 180, Reputation: 39
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#7

Sep 22, 2012, 09:25 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mthomason View Post
Donf;

I checked the switch in the kitchen, the one switch that controlled the trac lighting where I'm putting the pendant lights has a black, white and red wires going into the back of the switch. There is also a white wire that is connected to the ground wire and screw. Also there is a black wire attached to the right lower screw on the switch. There is another switch in the laundry room that controlled the trac lights so they could be turned on when coming in through the garage
As I stated this switch controlled the trac lighting that I just took down. I put up three pendant lights that have two black wires each, I'm wondering how do I connect the 12/2 wire coming from the switch to the three pendant lights to be able to turn them on with this single switch.

Thanks

Mike
get a voltage tester,

Both switches controlled the track lights? you have two three way switches controlling the old track lights. each switch has a black screw on it, one of the switches' black screw will always be hot no matter what position either switch is in, leave that switch (call it A)alone and go to the other one (B) . Switch B's black screw is the switch leg, no matter what color wire was attached to it, this is the (hot)wire that goes up to the fixture.
The new (pendant) fixtures MUST be 120V fixtures to connect them directly to the wire from the switch, all fixtures have a sticker saying what wattage/volt is maximum recommended for the lamp what does it say? what lamp is in the pendants will tell you also, do they say MR16 on them? MR16 lamps come in both 12V and 120V, They are not interchangeable but they ARE usually marked on the lamp itself

note: lamp means the bulb,tube,etc. to electricians
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shuntripper's Avatar
shuntripper Posts: 180, Reputation: 39
Junior Member
  
#8

Sep 22, 2012, 09:29 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tfc2008 View Post
I put together the wires my light is on and ok but my switch in kitchen don't work I can't put the light out
did you change anything at either the switch in the kitchen or the switch by the garage?
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