[jsmeby]

Power into series of lights controlled by switch at end of run.
What wires do I need? 12-2 will handle all of this somehow?

Power ----> light fixture ----> light fixture ----> light fixture ---> switch

Do I need 12-3 wire between the light fixtures? Or ?

[ma0641]

You only need 14/2 for lighting unless you are taking your input power from a 12AWG circuit with 20 amp protection. Lighting wiring goes from power to lights, pigtail at each junction box and then a switch loop from the last light to the wall switch. Do you understand a switch loop circuit?

[jsmeby]

Switch loop?
Is that a single wire coming to the switch, the white (coded black) wire carrying the power?
Thank you!

[ma0641]

Switch loop?
Is that a single wire coming to the switch, the white (coded black) wire carrying the power?
thank you!

You got it! White neutral from the power side goes to white of last light. Black power ties to Coded white, goes to switch, black goes to black of last light. Suggest you connect everything except hot lead at first light or make sure all power is off. Let us know how it comes out. Hope my answer helped.

[jsmeby]

What's the deal about pigtail? I got a switched loop to work with ONE light, but not with more than ONE.

It seems like I need another wire in between the fixtures (like a 3-wire cable).

No? A diagram will help.

Thanks.

[ma0641]

I'm not good at diagrams. Cut lengths of wire to go between each light plus 1 1/2 foot. A pigtail is a short wire connecting the hots to the light. In the first box you should have 2 blacks, 2 whites and 2 grounds. Connect a short piece of wire(pigtail) to black, white and ground and then to the light fixture. Go to the next and repeat. At the end connect as I stated above. You do not need a 3 wire system unless you want 2 switches.

[hfcarson]

ma0641...
Are you saying the power, (14/2 RX), goes to the three lights first and then through the
Switch? Isn't that switching the neutral?
How about taking the power to the switch box first and then to each of the lights? That you can do totally with 14/2 RX...

[jsmeby]

ma0641....
Are you saying the power, (14/2 RX), goes to the three lights first and then through the
switch? Isn't that switching the neutral?
How about taking the power to the switch box first and then to each of the lights? That you can do totally with 14/2 RX...

So, otherwise the only option is 3 wire cable between the fixtures?

[ma0641]

ma0641....
Are you saying the power, (14/2 RX), goes to the three lights first and then through the
switch? Isn't that switching the neutral?
How about taking the power to the switch box first and then to each of the lights? That you can do totally with 14/2 RX...

Not switching neutral. But now that I think about it, all the lights will be on all the time except the last one. It would be better to do the layout as HF said. I was trying to save wire. Run hot all the way to the switch and then connect the lights as before only with power coming the other way. Sorry for the mislead.

[jsmeby]

Not switching neutral. But now that I think about it, all the lights will be on all the time except the last one. It would be better to do the layout as HF said. I was trying to save wire. Run hot all the way to the switch and then connect the lights as before only with power coming the other way. Sorry for the mislead.

No problem. I was trying to save wire as well and save having two wires go into a metal conduit which is already full, and wire I had already strung without knowing what I was doing. So I'll run power to the switch first (in and out going to the switch then). That will be white to white and black to black all the way down the series of lights, right?