Wiring 4 lights on one switch..?
Question:I have 4 lights i want to install in my basement and im having trouble figuring out the wiring, i want all 4 lights to be operated by one switch, can anyone provide me with a diagram on how to do that or a link to s site that will show me, thank you very much
Answers:
http://www.electrical-online.com/lightsa...
http://www.electrical-online.com/wiringa...
Pictures and everything
wire them in parallel,they all need a separate box.
Simply string 15-2 NM, this is the White cable sometimes called Romex between the light fixtures and the switch. Connect the black wire in the fixture with both the black wire coming in and the black wire going out to the next fixture with a wire nut. Same with the white and ground. At the end, just connect the incoming wire with the same colored wire in the fixture with a wire nut.
This is a simple parallel circuit. Using romex wire (for indoor use only, if you are doing this outside use uf cable or the like) at least a 14-2 with ground find where you are going to get power. If you are using an existing switch that already has power, you are good to go, but if not, you need to run a "hot" wire (from the panel, or a nearby plug, etc.) to the switch. From the switch to your first light, then second, and on to the fourth. You will need junction boxes at each light, and the switch. Leave a bit of wire at each j-box for connections. Usually 6 inches is plenty. Start at the last light. Hook the black wires together with a wire nut, then the whites, then the green/bare wires. Tuck all the wires up into the box, and attach the fixture. Go to the 3rd light, and do the same, you will have two black wires to hook together, one from the 2nd light, and one to the 4th, plus the wires going to the light. Do the same for the whites, then the green/bare wires. Do this to the last 2 as well. Then at the switch, hook the whites together, then the green/bares, and tuck them into the switch box. Then, you need to hook the wire that is "hot" to the bottom screw of a single pole single throw switch. Then hook the black wire going to the first light to the top screw. Tuck the wires in, and put on the switch followed by the cover, and call yourself an electrician, cuz you done did it!
Feed to the switch, out of the switch to the first light, to the second, to the third, to the fourth.
At the switch, splice the neutrals, splice and pigtail the grounds, blacks and ground go to the switch.
At the fixtures. Color to color.
simple from your wall switch run a 14/2 romax to fixture and than to the remaining fixtures connect black to black and white to white ground to ground
This is long, but too easy to need a web link.
When a single switch is used to turn one, or more than one, light "on" and "off", its function in the "on" position is to allow electricity to "flow" to the lights, or in the "off" position, not to flow to the lights. When there is flow, the lights are "on", when there is no flow; the lights are "off."
Think of one water valve connected to one hose that provides water to four water sprinklers in four different locations. One end of the hose will connect to the valve, and the other end will run to and connect to the first sprinkler.
Since you have more than one sprinkler, you need to continue the water flow to run to and connect to the second sprinkler, so you run another hose from the first sprinkler to the second, and same for the third and fourth. For water, you will need a plumbing fitting to accomplish this double connection at each sprinkler, until you get to the last sprinkler, which will end the hose run.
This connection, running to and connecting one, then continuing to run to and connect to another is a "parallel" connection. All sprinklers are being fed by the same one water source all coming from the one valve, and the one hose that left the valve.
When you turn the one valve "on", water will flow to all four sprinklers, and all four will spout water. All will stop when you turn the valve "off."
Using a single switch to provide electricity to four light fixtures is done with the same principle.
The switch will allow electrical current to flow in the "on" position, and stop electrical current flow in the "off" position.
Connect the "hot wire" to one of the two screws of the switch. The other screw is where you will connect a black wire to run to the first light fixture.
At the first fixture, connect the black wire to the first light fixture, and with it, connect a new black wire to run to the second light fixture. This "parallel connection" will allow the electrical current to light the first light and also continue to light the second, and so on, and so on, until you connect the last black wire to the last light fixture.
That will complete the power wire circuit to make the one switch operate four lights. Now, since this is electricity and not water, you also need a neutral (white) wire, and a ground (green or bare) wire to travel with the "switched" black wire and terminate to each light fixture.
The white wire and ground wire will simply connect to the white and ground in the box where the switch is, then travel with the black to each light. A white connection to each light is necessary to complete the circuit so the lights will work. Connect it to each fixture in parallel, just as you do with the black.
The ground wire is for safety. Just connect it in parallel, either to each fixture, if there is a ground connection screw, or to each light's junction box if it is metal. If there is no ground connection on the light fixture, of if the boxes are plastic, just connect the ground to the next ground so that it will travel along "for the ride" with the black and white.
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