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View Full Version : One sitch with several lights


downrange
Jan 28, 2009, 07:14 AM
What the best way to wire in several lights from one switch? With the power coming to the switch first? I have one switch and 6 lights.

Do you just connect the black wire to black wire and white wire to white wire at each fixture. And connecting ground to each fixture? Or is there a better or easier way?

EPMiller
Jan 28, 2009, 08:29 PM
Power always goes to the switch first. The switch interrupts only the hot line. At the lights, all black wires get connected to each other and all whites get connected the same. All grounds get connected to each other and the lamp housing. There is no other way in residential electrical.

donf
Jan 29, 2009, 02:52 PM
First, can you tell me where your power source is with respect to the switch you want to install?

Second, At the switch, connect the constant "Hot" (Black) to the lower screw of the switch. DO NOT CONNECT THE WHITE CONDUCTOR YET.

Next, connect the cable going to the first light. Black (Switched Hot) goes to the top screw on the switch. White gets connected to the supply white.

Bare (EGC) from each cable gets connected together and also to the green ground screw on the switch.

At the first fixture, Black will go to Black on the fixture, White will go to White. Bare (EGC) will connect to Bare and then to the fixtures ground.

You pig tail all the connections so you would have Black from the switch to Black for the Fixture to Black for the next fixture. The same for the Whites and Bare. Make sure you attach the Bare (EGC) to each fixture, no exceptions.