I am currently remodelling my kitchen. My wife has seen at several home décor centers kitchens with multiple lights on the ceiling controlled by one switch. I have read several of your articles but I am more confussed. I looked for professional help but at a charge to connect two lights for $225.00 I am willing to DIY. Let me explain the scenario .
I have a single switch on the wall with one cable leading to a single light on the ceiling. My plans are to put 6 lights (recessed lights 35 watts each) on this same ceiling and have them all connected to the same switch. In other words when I turn this switch on it will light up all 6 lights. I am new to these projects, but I am willing to learn. Please provide materials needed for the multiple connections and if possible a wirring diagram. Thank you for all your help.

Joe

Hi Digit, Welcome.

There is some information we need:

1) Do you have any experience working with electricity?
2) Do you mean "Roof" instead of ceiling?
3) Does you kitchen have a Cathedral ceiling or standard flat ceiling?
4) Please describe the lights you want to install. Are they recessed? Are they low voltage or 120 VAC lights.
5) Do you know how to pull a permit from your city electrical department?
6) Are the lights going to be installed in a straight line, arc or circle?
7) Is there room above the lights for the installation of the conductors for the lights?

I believe $225 is pretty cheap for the install!

Wash,

I believe the quoted price $225 per pair of lights. Since Digit wants 6 lights, he's looking at $675. Probably enough for a tank of gas to get back and forth to the site.

Digit, Did the electrician's quote include the lighting fixtures as well as a guarantee to install them under the direction of your wife's suggestions?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donf

Wash,

I believe the quoted price $225 per pair of lights. Since Digit wants 6 lights, he's looking at $675. Probably enough for a tank of gas to get back and forth to the site.

Digit, Did the electrician's quote include the lighting fixtures as well as a guarantee to install them under the direction of your wife's suggestions?

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I see! Hummm!

Hi guys
Thanks for all your help.

The connection I am trying to do is 6 recessed lights on the flat ceiling to a single switch located
On the wall.

At 675.00 for the install by a professional, I am wiling to try and do it myself.
The gentleman did not include the lights with the price. And when I say install
His idea was take two wires from the outlet and leave them hanging in the attic
For me to do the connection, he did not include the actual connection to the lights.
I believe in free enterprise, but I think he must be behind on his mortgage or something
He explained no permit was need for the job, because he was just exending the wires.

I have some experience doing a single connection to a single switch, but I am not to
Possitive on how to complete this project.

The ceiling is standard flat, there is an attic that allows 4 feet of breathing room.
The lights were purchased at home depot they say R22 on the outside, they are recessed
Low voltage lights
According to the supervisor on the job (my wife) they are to be placed in a straight line
In front of the cabinets, easy for her to say, yeah that's just the way she is, after 20 yrs of
Marriage, why argue

Hey guys I really thank you for any input you can provide, I have this weekend to complete
The job before I'm fired, thanks again.

Joe

Hold on Joe!

Do you know whether the outlet of his choice was part of the two mandated 20 small appliance circuits that are required by code or is the outlet part of a 15 amp circuit.

Just about anyone can fish the necessary conductors to bring power to the fixture. Knowing whether it is the correct outlet in the circuit is different.

What I don't understand is why you can't use the existing wiring and switch arrangement and just replace the fixture and daisy chain the new lights together.

By the way, what is the amperage for each of the 6 fixtures?

By the way, make sure you tell the Supervisor to stick to her guns, she's doing just fine.

I think your wise to not deal with your professional contractor, for a couple of reasons. $675.00 to extend a cable, and then leave the wires for you to connect to? Better be a heck of a run.

Plus he is also incorrect about permits.Any new installation, I am sure in every state, needs a permit. I am going out on a limb here, but my guess is that your professional is a member of a franchise. They typically offer ridiculous prices for simple jobs. Did you call a toll free phone number that stated they would send their local electrician out?

I followed up one of these firms at a customer, charged $600.00 for something I could have done for $200.00, and I still would have made a reasonable profit. Keep in mind, even any reputable contractor needs to make a profit. But it is guys like this that make us contractors that are reputable and fair look like crooks.

But don't be misled, electrical work is not as easy as it appears. There are so many details a professional will know and handle with ease, that a homeowner can only learn a small portion of by asking questions here and reading those "How To" books.

And I reiterate, this work will need a permit, no matter who does the work, either a contractor or the homeowner.