How to Wire Two Separate Switches Lights Using the Same Power Source Home Guides.Most circuits can easily handle more than one light and switch combination.It isnt unusual to wire two or more light and switch combinations from the same power source in fact, its common practice.Typically, the source is a circuit breaker in the main electrical panel that has a rating large enough to handle the lights.Its possible to mount the switches in the same or in different electrical boxes, but the latter case involves the extra task of running a circuit cable between the boxes.You maintain the continuity of the hot wire in the circuit cable by forming pigtails at the points where it connects to the switches.Install appropriate electrical boxes for the lights and switches.Install Light Fixture With Two Switches From One Feeder' title='Install Light Fixture With Two Switches From One Feeder' />Installing and replacing a light switch in your home can be one of the easier DIY projects.Well give you all the steps and tips you need to finish the job.I wrote this back in 1997.It isnt unusual to wire two or more light and switch combinations from the same power source in fact, its common practice.Typically, the source is a circuit.You can mount the switches side by side in a double gang electrical box or in different locations, each in a single gang box.For each fixture and switch you have the choice of nailing a rough in box to a stud or rafter or mounting a remodeling box on the drywall.Run 1. 2 gauge electrical cable between each switch and the light it controls.Pull one end of each cable through the back of one of the light fixture electrical boxes.Strip both ends of each cable with a knife, separate the wires and remove 12 inch of insulation from the end of each.Connect the light fixtures by wiring their black wires to the black cable wire, their white wires to the white cable wire and their ground wires to the bare cable wire.Twist wires that youre joining together with pliers and screw a wire cap onto each set.Pull the other end of each cable through the back of the electrical box for the switch that controls it, then strip the end of the cable with a knife and separate the wires.Remove 12 inch of insulation from the black wire and connect it to the bottom brass terminal of the switch with a screwdriver.Pull a 1. 2 gauge cable from the power source, making sure that the power is off and the cable is dead.Feed it through the back of one of the switch boxes and strip the wires.Run a second 1. 2 gauge cable from the first switch to the second one and strip the wires on both ends.If youve mounted the switches in the same electrical box, you can omit this step.Slice open a spare length of cable that is 6 inches long with a utility knife and remove the black and bare wires.Remove 12 inch of insulation from both ends of the black wire.If youve mounted two switches in the same electrical box, prepare two black wires.Connect one end of the 6 inch wire to the top terminal of the first switch.Twist the other end together with the black wire from the incoming circuit cable and the black wire from the cable going to the second switch to form a pigtail.Install Light Fixture With Two Switches From One Feed MouseTwist a wire cap onto the end of the pigtail.Use the other 6 inch wire to connect to the top terminal of the second switch if it is mounted in the same electrical box.In this case, there will be three black wires forming the pigtail two 6 inch wires coming from the switches and one circuit wire.Form a similar pigtail with the ground wires.Connect the 6 inch length of wire to the green ground terminal.Twist the other end together with the ends of the three bare wires in the box.If the switches are in the same box, connect the ground terminals with one 6 inch wire and twist that wire together with the other two.Twist all the white wires in each electrical box together and cap them.Things You Will Need.Light fixture boxes.Switch boxes. 12 gauge electrical cable.Utility knife. Pliers.Wire caps. Screwdriver.Tip. Although you dont need to cap ground wires, screwing on a cap will hold them together more securely.Warning. If the circuit cable that powers the lights is already connected, make sure that the power is off.If you arent sure, test the cable wires with a voltage tester.You can get a fatal electrical shock by working with live wires.About the Author.A love of fundamental mysteries led Chris Deziel to obtain a bachelors degree in physics and a masters degree in humanities.A prolific carpenter, home renovator and furniture restorer, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1.As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. Characteristics Of A Good Mental Mathematics Activity Sheet . Photo Credits. JupiterimagesPhotos.How to Run Two Lights From One Switch Electrical Online.This article addresses how to run two lights from one switch.This common question comes from a do it yourselfer working on his garage wiring who required some assistance wiring a circuit in his garage so that he could control two lights with one switch.Q I am going to build a new garage and am planning my electrical wiring.What my plan will be is to wire a circuit to include the following Run a 1.What I want to do is have both lights work off the same switch.I know that if I was to run a light switch to only one light I would connect the black wire from the switch via the light box octagon box directly onto the light fixture gold terminal and the white wire from the supply cable i.The white wire that is connected to the switch will then connect with the black wire coming from the supply cable from the plug receptacle.I realize now that the white wire at the switch is now hot.I would also connect my ground wires to the switch box, octagon box, and device box.My question is I want to run both lights off the same switch, so from this first light box that I just wired what wire cable do I use to go to the next light box, octagon box and then to the next two device boxes for the plug receptacles Do I use a three wire cable between the two lights Or do I have to run a three wire cable from the switch instead of a two wire cable From the second light to the next two plug boxes would I use 1.This is where I am lost.I would appreciate your assistance in helping me out, Thanks.Roger C. A The quick answer here is this.To wire this circuit in this manner, you will need to run a 1.This will allow you to connect the first light as you described above, and to run this additional light from the same switch by utilizing the red conductor in the 3 wire as the switched conductor, and the black wire as the continuous hot wire.Confused yet A picture is always worth a thousand words.Refer to the following diagram for a visual.NOTE The picture is a thumbnail.To view it in full size click on the diagram.
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