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    Bsauceda's Avatar
    Bsauceda Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    May 29, 2014, 08:01 PM
    How to wire 3 switches that will operate 3 separate rows of lights starting from pane
    I'm building a shop but are unsure of wiring
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #2

    May 30, 2014, 03:12 AM
    So what are you asking?
    Bsauceda's Avatar
    Bsauceda Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    May 30, 2014, 03:50 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by stanfortyman View Post
    So what are you asking?
    I know how to bring power from the panel but I'm not sure if I wire nut all whites together and piggy tail blacks from each switch to the wire coming from my first light in each row.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #4

    May 30, 2014, 05:16 AM
    How many light total? How much load? If you will be running a lot of load on a circuit, might be smarter to use 3 breakers and then 3 separate switches. If only a couple of lights, power into 1 switch, pigtail a jumper to the others and run blacks out. Whites are not switched.
    Missouri Bound's Avatar
    Missouri Bound Posts: 1,532, Reputation: 94
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #5

    May 30, 2014, 05:20 AM
    Where is the power coming from, are you using conduit or cable? Switch legs must now hae a neutral in the box, so you won't be using the white for any part of the switch leg. If all the power is coming from the switch location that will not be an issue. Can you post picture (drawing) showing your switch location, your lights and where the power is coming from? If all ights are being powered from the switch location, all the switches will be wired together at that location by jumpering from one to the next. Each switch will then have a wire going to the fixture from the switch plus a neutral. All your neutrals can be tied together. If you have multiple lights, pigtailing at each light is the best way to wire. Parellel wiring is straight forward if you use pigtails at each fixture location. Does that answer your question?
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #6

    May 30, 2014, 05:33 AM
    It is just not as simple as you may think to plan the service size needed for a shop. You need to give us significant more information.

    For example, is this shop in a separate building or part of your main residence?

    How are you getting power from your main service panel to the shop?

    Have you had or done a "Calculated Load" to determine if your main service can support the additional load of the shop?

    How did you determine the load needed by the shop? Did you account for lighting? Have you calculated the load, overload and branch circuit protection for motors used within the shop?

    Is this a woodshop? And if so did you include the load to keep the shop properly ventilated and clean?

    If this is a wood shop, then you must use different receptacle protection (dustproof) to prevent explosion and fire.

    Also, if this shop is a stand alone building, you must set up a proper grounding system.
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