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    ivan1114's Avatar
    ivan1114 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Apr 27, 2010, 03:57 AM
    Wiring fluorescent lights in a series
    I want to wire 5 fluorescent lights in a series with the switch at the end--power coming from panel box or should put switch at the beginning
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    Apr 27, 2010, 05:16 AM

    You can't wire them in series... what you mean to say is you are wiring them in parallel.

    In series, the path of power would flow flow from one into the next, and the next with any interuption breaking the chain... beisdes the voltage drops would prevent it from working (each of the 5 fixtures would see only 1/5 of the line voltage). Think of Christmas tree lights as a good example of series wired lights.
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    ivan1114 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Apr 27, 2010, 07:09 AM
    How do I wire 5 fluorescent lights in parallel wth the switch at the end
    How do I wire 5 fluorescent lights in parallel with the switch at the end
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    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
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    #4

    Apr 27, 2010, 08:24 AM

    Ivan,

    Good morning. A couple of questions, please.

    1) Is this for a residential installation or a commercial installation?

    2) What are the voltage and amperage requirements for these lights?

    3) What is the source power for this installation, single phase or three phase?

    4) Will this be on a dedicated circuit or is this to be added to one of the existing general lighting circuits?

    5) What is the distance from the panel to the room for this connection?

    6) Are you planning to do this work yourself? Are you qualified to do this work?
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
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    #5

    Apr 27, 2010, 11:47 AM

    It would be FAR easier to have the feed at the switch.

    To do it your way you would need to run 3-wire cable to every light and then a switch loop from the last light to the switch.

    The black of the 3-wire would be your constant feed and the red would be your switched wire to the lights.

    To keep it simple for you you could run the 3-wire as the switch loop, keeping the colors constant, and just capping off the white in the switch box.
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    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
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    #6

    Apr 27, 2010, 11:47 AM

    Duplicate thread: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/electr...nd-467408.html
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #7

    Apr 27, 2010, 12:07 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by stanfortyman View Post
    Look at the time stamp... this thread was actually several hours before that one... and there was a third I had a mod pull as a duplicate before that linked thread was even posted which would have been three identical posts over several hours.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
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    #8

    Apr 27, 2010, 01:00 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by smoothy View Post
    Look at the time stamp....this thread was actually several hours before that one....and there was a third I had a mod pull as a duplicate before that linked thread was even posted which would have been three identical posts over several hours.
    Oops. Sorry, I didn't even check the time stamp. :o
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #9

    Apr 27, 2010, 01:19 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by stanfortyman View Post
    Oops. Sorry, I didn't even check the time stamp. :o
    Easy to miss... I want to know why he couldn't sit back and wait for an answer rather than post over and over.

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