Can I...
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: in
Posts: 120
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Can I...
I have a single switched light in the center of a room. I want to run two branches off of this single light fixture to each side of this light. Another words making three light fixtures from the existing one. I know I can make it work but my main question is can I make the connections all in the center fixture. Its a standard fixture with 3 wire 14 gauge wire. So, I would have 9 total wires if I ran two additional branches. (all run off the same orginal swithch) Seems to me this would be too many wires on a connection.? So the next question would be..how do i do it the right way?
Thanks in advance for reading thru my gibberish.
Thanks in advance for reading thru my gibberish.
#2
It is very probably that you can do this. You need to know two things: how many (and what gauge) wires total are in the existing light fixture box and what is the volume of the box in cubic inches. Assuming #14 wire, and that your assessment of nine wires is correct, the box needs to be at least 14 cu. in; most boxes meet this requirement.
Your name has Chicago in it; do you live in Chicagoland? If so, local codes may require you to use THHN conductors in EMT conduit instead of the Romex cable that would be acceptable in other regions.
Your name has Chicago in it; do you live in Chicagoland? If so, local codes may require you to use THHN conductors in EMT conduit instead of the Romex cable that would be acceptable in other regions.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: in
Posts: 120
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ibpooks
It is very probably that you can do this. You need to know two things: how many (and what gauge) wires total are in the existing light fixture box and what is the volume of the box in cubic inches. Assuming #14 wire, and that your assessment of nine wires is correct, the box needs to be at least 14 cu. in; most boxes meet this requirement.
Your name has Chicago in it; do you live in Chicagoland? If so, local codes may require you to use THHN conductors in EMT conduit instead of the Romex cable that would be acceptable in other regions.
Your name has Chicago in it; do you live in Chicagoland? If so, local codes may require you to use THHN conductors in EMT conduit instead of the Romex cable that would be acceptable in other regions.
Thanks for the reply. I live near chicago and romex is to code in my county. The wire is indeed 14 gauge and will be a total of 9 wires. I'll have to check the present "box" to see if it is big enough.
How about the connections? How do I connect 3 wires to one "lug"? Do I connected the wires and then run one wire to the lug on the fixture? I asume thats how you do it. Using the right connectors of course.
Thanks again!
#4
If the box is big enough, you can find wire nuts large enough to handle that many wires.
To reduce box overcrowding at box "A" (the existing fixture), see if you can run the cable from A to B to C, rather than from A to B and A to C. It just takes a bit more cable this way, but that's no big deal.
Not sure what you mean by a "lug". Most fixtures have wires to connect to rather than screws. Even if yours does have screws, just attach a single wire to it and use that to connect to the other wires with a wire nut.
To reduce box overcrowding at box "A" (the existing fixture), see if you can run the cable from A to B to C, rather than from A to B and A to C. It just takes a bit more cable this way, but that's no big deal.
Not sure what you mean by a "lug". Most fixtures have wires to connect to rather than screws. Even if yours does have screws, just attach a single wire to it and use that to connect to the other wires with a wire nut.
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: in
Posts: 120
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by John Nelson
If the box is big enough, you can find wire nuts large enough to handle that many wires.
To reduce box overcrowding at box "A" (the existing fixture), see if you can run the cable from A to B to C, rather than from A to B and A to C. It just takes a bit more cable this way, but that's no big deal.
Not sure what you mean by a "lug". Most fixtures have wires to connect to rather than screws. Even if yours does have screws, just attach a single wire to it and use that to connect to the other wires with a wire nut.
To reduce box overcrowding at box "A" (the existing fixture), see if you can run the cable from A to B to C, rather than from A to B and A to C. It just takes a bit more cable this way, but that's no big deal.
Not sure what you mean by a "lug". Most fixtures have wires to connect to rather than screws. Even if yours does have screws, just attach a single wire to it and use that to connect to the other wires with a wire nut.
Thanks for the replies!