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View Full Version : Power feeds for two switches?


kca1202
Nov 26, 2008, 07:27 AM
I am wiring my basement and I have two dimmer switches in one double receptical, do I need two power feeds to power the lights or is their away to do it with one? I am using 14/2 wire.

EPMiller
Nov 26, 2008, 07:55 PM
Your question is a bit vague, but I think you are saying that you want a double dimmer (1 box) to control 2 separate lights on one fixture or in one line of cable. To do that you would use 14-3 cable. White (neutral) common to both dimmer circuits, black from dimmer 1 to first light, red from dimmer 2 to second light.

donf
Nov 28, 2008, 04:01 PM
If I read your question correctly, you have two separate dimmer switches that you want to use from the same outlet box, correct?

You also want to know if you need two individual power supplies one for each switch or one supply to feed two switches?

Switches only use hot lines. You do not connect any neutral conductors to a switch.

There are two ways you can wire these switches.

Switch Loop - Feed power is brought to the fixture and then routed from the supply feed to the switch using the White conductor, re-identified with either a Black Sharpie or Black Electrical tape. This is to signify that this conductor is not a "Neutral" conductor, it has been re-classified as a "Hot" conductor.

The re-identified wire then feeds the switch. The output of the switch is a black conductor that connect, in turn, with the black wire from the fixture. The White from the supply cable would then connect directly to the white on the fixture. One switch loop per switch.

If you have one supply line and want to feed two independent switches, you would bring power to the switches via the re-identified white conductor. Create a small pigtail using the re-identified white and two black conductors. Each conductor will feed one switch. The output of each switch is then routed to the fixture it is serving.

If you bring power to the switches first, then you must re-arrange your wiring plan.

Bring the supply source to the outlet box. Make a pigtail between the black conductor and the "IN" on both switches. The feed from the switch to the fixture is made with black conductors. The white conductors are not connected to either switch in any manner. They are true Neutral conductors. Splice the three white conductors together at the outlet box. Connect each white conductor to the white conductor on the fixture and you are done.

Clear as mud?

Stratmando
Nov 28, 2008, 04:22 PM
All can be on one circuit, all neutrals together, a hot(2 pigtails/short pieces of wire)to each switch, and out of each switch to each set of light(s).
All grounds together.

donf
Nov 28, 2008, 04:28 PM
That's what I depicted in words, isn't it? :)