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-   -   How to run multiple lights on one switch? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=57966)

  • Jan 27, 2007, 08:01 PM
    vada591
    How to run multiple lights on one switch?
    Can anyone tell me how to bring power into a light, run to 3 other lights and then down to a switch? What I have done allows me to turn the lights on, but they are very dim so something is not right.

    Thanks,
  • Jan 27, 2007, 09:51 PM
    HVAC888
    You need to connect the one light and the 3 other lights in parallel.

    Power has to go to the switch first. If you bring power into a light, then the 3 other lights, then the first light will always be on, is this how you intend to wire it up?

    To wire in parallel, run a standard 14/2 cable with ground between the 3 lights. On the first light, connect the black wire from the switch to the first terminal. Connect the black wire from the 14/2 cable this terminal also.

    Connect the white wire from the incoming power to the other terminal of the first light. Connect the white wire from the 14/2 cable to this terminal also.

    Repeat this for the other 2 lights. Now you should have the blacks from each terminal connected to the black from the switch, and the whites from each terminal are all connected to the white from the incoming power, and of course the ground to each light fixture.

    b----sw----+----+----+
    ... L... L... L
    w----------+----+----+

    Where b is the black wire, w is the white wire, L is the light and sw is the switch.
  • Jan 28, 2007, 06:08 AM
    tkrussell
    Try this diagram, this allows bringing a two feed cable into a light first, then use two wire cable to the switch and each light.
  • Jan 28, 2007, 05:07 PM
    vada591
    Thanks guys
  • Sep 5, 2009, 09:39 AM
    jamie0278
    How can I wire 2 lights to one swich
  • Sep 5, 2009, 10:40 AM
    hkstroud
    1 Attachment(s)

    ..
  • Sep 5, 2009, 10:43 AM
    donf

    Harold,

    What application do you use for your wiring diagrams?
  • Sep 5, 2009, 10:49 AM
    hkstroud

    Paint
  • Sep 5, 2009, 10:52 AM
    donf

    Thanks. Do you use any electrical templates? If so where can I get them or is it all freehand?
  • Sep 5, 2009, 10:53 AM
    hkstroud

    All free hand
  • Sep 5, 2009, 01:19 PM
    donf

    You do really great work!
  • Sep 5, 2009, 01:31 PM
    hkstroud

    Thanks.
  • Apr 26, 2012, 08:36 PM
    busterr
    Adding 3 pot lights with one dimmer switch power to the switch dimmer has 2 black one green >>>all black together all white together black/white to each light ? If I remember corectly
  • Jun 29, 2012, 01:44 AM
    peni
    How to split 16 lamps to 2 switch?
    Please kindly to give me solution with this one...
    Thank you
  • Jun 29, 2012, 06:21 AM
    hkstroud
    2 Attachment(s)
    I guess you will have to download images and expand so you can read them.
  • Jun 29, 2012, 07:03 AM
    hkstroud
    1 Attachment(s)
    Pp
  • Jun 30, 2012, 02:50 AM
    tkrussell
    Nice job HK, you should do illustrated books.
  • Dec 15, 2012, 09:49 AM
    Mohasa
    I would like to install a second light bulb in the crawl space of my home. The switch to the existing light bulb is integrated with the light bulb fixture - pull on/off type. The existing wiring is 14/2 gauge (NMD-7) which has no ground wire. I have 14/2 gauge (NMD90) which has the ground wire. What do I do with the ground wire?
    Also, can the existing switch be used to switch both lights on/off?
    Thank you for your time and expertise.
  • Dec 15, 2012, 01:21 PM
    Mohasa
    Oops! I did not do a good inspection job! The existing 14/2 gauge wire does have the ground wire. Sorry about that.

    That leaves the other question - can I wire the pull switch for both lights or should I install a separate switch for them?
    Thank you.
  • Dec 15, 2012, 09:24 PM
    hkstroud
    No, the switch (pull chain) in the bulb holder will only control the bulb in that bulb holder. You must install a separate switch if you want to control both bulbs with one switch.

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