Adding lights in basement

Hey

I currently have 6 lights wired in the basement to one 15 amp breaker inthe box. The lights are 60 watts ea and on a single box each, mounted to the celing. I want to add two three light fixtures that use three each 65 watt flood lights to light two work areas. My questions is can I wire all these together so when you throw one switch the entire basement is lit up? Or, can I wire the existing lights to one switch and then wire each of the new fixtures to a seperate switch in the same box. I would like to take the power from the existing switch and then jump over to each of the new switches fo each of the new lights, that way, I can only light up the portion of the basement that I need. Finally, will the 15 amp. breaker be enough if I turn everything on at a time.?
Thankns in advance for yur help!
Take care,
Dan

 

Dan I see nothing that will keep you from doing this as planned. With everything on, your load is 750 watts well within the rating of the 15 amp circuit, assuming no other loads. I like the idea of having more than one switch more so than just one.

 

You can certainly put all of this on the same circuit.

You also can certainly grab power from the existing switch. However, you may not be able to grab a neutral from the existing switch. If you can't grab a neutral from the first switch you should be able to replace the wiring so you can do so.

Describe for us how the lights are wired and we can help you figure it out.

Does the cable from the panel go to the switch first, or to one of the lights? How many cables go into/out of the switch box?

 

Thanks guys!

Bob, the first set of wires runs from the box to the switch, then on to the first light, then on to the second and so on. I will take a look at all the lights in the morning and tell you how they are run, exactally. I do appreciate your help with this little project

Take care and have a great Sunday.

Dan

 

Since you have the power source at the witch box you can easily wire each light to be switched independantly. Bring a cable to each set of lights you want switched in the switch box.
Simply add pigtails to the power cable and connect one to each switch. Connect all the whites together and then then connect the black from the cables to the lights one to each switch.

 

joed's post is what I would have said next.

 

Hey Again:

I checked the lights and here is how they run:
From the box I have power to the switch and then a line runs to the first light and a seperate one upstairs to a wall outlet. From there, the line goes to another light, lets say to the left and two more to the right. They all get their power from the first line, so I get what you say about adding a pigtale and powering the new lights that way. Also in the first switch box, the three white(common) wires are wired together as are the thre green(ground) wires.

Thanks for all your help, now I am off to lowes to get the supplies and get these new lights hung!

Take care,

Dan

 

At the switch you want to grab power from the lines that go to an upstairs receptacle. Run the black hot wire through the switch that will control your new light.

Originally you stated that the basement lights were the only items on the breaker. Apparently you were wrong. Before proceeding, determine ALL the items on this breaker. You certainly don't want to add to a circuit that is at or near capacity.

 

You must have a 14/3 going to the first light or the upstairs receptacle is a switched one. In that case you may want or already have a red wire connected to the switch.

 

joed, you red his post wrong. He has a wire fom the switch to the upstairs receptacle. Since he has unswitched power at the switch, his upstairs receptacle can certainly be unswitched.

 

Hey guys:

Sorry for the confusion I caused.... There is one line that goes upstairs to a wall outlet, nothing is plugged into this outlet, so it is really not an issue.

A dumb question about wiring the switches...

I got new switches that have two screws for wiring plus a ground. Question, do I take my power from the box to each light switch, and connect it to the bottom screw and then the lind from the new light gets conected to the top screw correct?

Thakns
Dan

 

It does not make a difference which switch you use for the input to the switch and which for the output. Just don;t put anything except a ground wire on the ground screw.