You can do this light switch wiring in one of two ways. The most common is to daisy-chain the light fixtures by connecting them to each other and hooking the first one up to the switch. The other way to wire multiple lights to one switch is to connect all of them directly to the switch in a “home run” configuration.
Can I change a double light switch to a single?
To replace two switches with one, simply eliminate one switch from the “power” circuit, and connect both outgoing wires (one is red, one is black in your photo) to the same switch. Beware: some switches are “3-way”, and so while they may appear to have separate terminals, the reality is they don’t.
How do I separate multiple lights on one switch?
3 Answers
- Get a 2-gang box to replace your existing 1-gang box.
- Get a new switch.
- Remove your existing box and install the 2-gang box in its place.
- Run your supply hot wire to both switches.
- Connect the light/fan hot wire to one switch and the exterior light to the other.
- Join all neutrals and ground wires.
Can you separate light switch?
If the fixtures are wired in a series – meaning the switch connects only to one cable and the fixtures are wired to each other inside the wall – an electrician will have to be called to separate the cables and run them individually to the switch.
Can I use a 2 way light switch as a 1 way?
A two way switch can be used as a one way switch or a two way switch. They are often used as both. In fact many electrical retailers (including Socket Store) don’t sell one way switches as the price difference is insignificant and the two way will do the job for both.
Can I run power from an outlet to a light switch?
Adding an electrical outlet next to an existing light switch is easy, as long as there is a neutral wire in the box. Step 1: Turn the power supply off to the light switch at the main electrical panel. Step 2: Remove the switch plate and unscrew the switch from the outlet box. Step 3: Pull the switch out from the box.
Can I replace a double pole switch with a single pole?
It is easy to wire a double pole switch to work as a single pole switch because only one side is used instead of both. Single pole switch is referred as a single pole, single throw switch. It is a switch that provides a secure connection or disconnection over two terminals.
Can you split a light circuit?
If you can make a run of romex NM from the single light circuit to one of the lamps of the 2 light circuit, you’ll be ok. Disconnect and cap off the feed to that other circuit as well as the wires to the unused switch. Then you can add the light to the desired circuit.
How many lights can I put on one switch?
The basics of light switch wiring
There is no limit to the number of lights on a circuit. The load of the fixtures is what determines how many lights a circuit can accommodate. A conventional 15A circuit can have up to 1400W of lighting loads connected to it.
How do you wire a switch to two control lights?
Run your cable from the first light to the second light. Connect the black wire from the switch to the black wire from the first light and the black wire coming from the second light. Attach the white from the second light to the white from the power supply.
Is L2 live or neutral?
L1 is live and L2 is neutral.
Can an intermediate switch be used as a 1 way switch?
An Intermediate Switch can indeed be used as a One Way or Two Way switch however is far more expensive due to being a more complicated circuit, this means they are only used when necessary for circuits with three or more switches.
What wire goes to L1 and L2?
The incoming circuit wires that provide the power are referred to as the line wires. L1 (line 1) is a red wire and L2 (line 2) is a black wire. Together, they show the motor voltage. Having both an L1 and L2 indicate that the motor voltage may be 240 volts.
Does it matter which wire goes where on a light switch?
It doesn’t matter as long as you do it the same on both switches. So, if you connect it to the upper right terminal on one switch, connect it to the upper right terminal on the other switch. Connect the second traveler wire to the terminal opposite the red wire terminal.
Does live wire go to common or L1?
Wiring a One Way Switch
A one way light switch has two terminals which is a common marked as COM or C. The common is for the live wire that supplies the input voltage to the switch. The other terminal is marked as L1 and is the output to the light fixture.
How do you wire a single light switch?
Steps for Wiring a Single-Pole Switch
- Turn Off the Power First. …
- Remove the Existing Switch (If Necessary) …
- Strip the Electrical Insulation From the Wires. …
- Connecting the New Switch. …
- Wrap With Electrical Tape for Added Safety. …
- Turn on The Power and Test Switch.
What happens if you wire a switch wrong?
If you damage the wires during installation, you could break the switch, or the wires could come loose. Loose wires present a danger when changing the light switch. Thirdly, you could create a short circuit in the switch. A short circuit can cause the breaker or fuse to pop.
What happens if a light switch doesn’t have a ground wire?
The plug without a ground cable is dangerous because there is no alternative path for the charge to escape from the circuit. As a result, the conducting area is under the voltage. You then run the risk of coming into contact with the deadly excess charges that emit from power outlets.
Does my light switch have a neutral wire?
Remove the wall plate of the existing switch by either snapping it off or unscrewing it. Unscrew the existing switch from the electrical box and slowly pull it out just enough to reveal the wires connected to it. If you see a white wire, or a group of them, then you have neutral wiring.
Can I use the neutral wire from another circuit?
No, you can’t steal a neutral wire from another circuit. Each neutral wire is the return for the corresponding hot. If you “steal” a neutral from another circuit you run the risk of overloading that neutral wire (overheat, fire risk). Another issue might arise if the circuit later becomes a GFCI.
What happens if neutral wire is not connected?
If the neutral wire is broken or disconnected, the out of balanced current cannot return to the supply through the star point, but it must return. So, this current takes the path back to the supply through the lines.
