Multiple Fixtures
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Adding additional light fixtures to an existing switch /
light circuit?
DO NOT WIRE IN SERIES...
This is an absolute no no, never wire light
fixtures in this manner.
Some Christmas tree light sets may be wired in this fashion, but
never use this style of wiring for home light fixtures. First you
would have dim lighting as voltage drops would occur across each
lighting fixture, 2nd as in the old style Christmas tree lighting
one light that burns out all go will go out, 3rd it would be a
major code violation as well as a safety issue.
The correct way to wire multiple fixtures controlled by
the same switch circuit...
Starting with
the actual wires connected to the 1st fixture, join the onward cable by
insulated wire nuts to the next fixture as depicted in the picture
above. The black wire is the switched ungrounded conductor (hot) and
gets connected to the ungrounded conductor [hot] of the fixture itself (if
screw connectors it would connect to the brass color screw); the white
wire is the grounded conductor (neutral) and connects at each fixture to the
grounded conductor [neutral] (if screw connectors it would connect to the silver
color screw).
There is also an
equipment grounding conductor not shown in the picture, that would be
the bare wire in the wire cable (green wires are also equipment
grounding conductors), all equipment grounding conductors are joined
together at each fixture box as well as any grounding screw or grounding
wire at the fixture itself, and to the electrical box itself if metallic
or has a metal strip within the box with grounding screws.
If you are using a dimmer make certain that the max current / wattage
rating of the dimmer exceeds the combine current / wattage requirements of all
fixtures on that same switch circuit. Also regular dimmers are only to
be used with incandescent lighting.
Written: Jan.
15, 2012
Revised: June 29, 2013
Proof Read / Released: July 10, 2013
By: Donald Kerr
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