Question: 14-3 lights to a 14-2 outlet
#1
03-08-14, 08:16 PM
Question: 14-3 lights to a 14-2 outlet
Hi All,
I'm remodeling my basement and am changing out a standard ceiling light with a can light. Coming into the light there are 2 14-3 lines (ceiling lights) and 1 14-2 line (going to the sump pump outlet). I pulled the one of the other lights down to review the wiring to match it, but there's some blacks and whites tied together and I want to be careful.
How do I wire in 2 14-3 lines with a 14-2 outlet line into a can light fixture? Below is a picture of what I've got.
Other (untouched) ceiling light
Thanks!
Justin
I'm remodeling my basement and am changing out a standard ceiling light with a can light. Coming into the light there are 2 14-3 lines (ceiling lights) and 1 14-2 line (going to the sump pump outlet). I pulled the one of the other lights down to review the wiring to match it, but there's some blacks and whites tied together and I want to be careful.
How do I wire in 2 14-3 lines with a 14-2 outlet line into a can light fixture? Below is a picture of what I've got.
Other (untouched) ceiling light
Thanks!
Justin
#2
03-08-14, 08:44 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Actually.... that is a lot of wiring to stuff in a recessed fixture junction box.
Was all that wiring in a round junction box and you opened all the splices and didn't ID any of the wiring ?
Actually.... that is a lot of wiring to stuff in a recessed fixture junction box.
Was all that wiring in a round junction box and you opened all the splices and didn't ID any of the wiring ?
#3
03-08-14, 09:27 PM
Thanks.
I did ID it, I just made the mistake of not taking a photo of the "before". I can trace them properly to where they go. One 14-3 comes from the switch side, the other goes out to another few lights throughout the basement.
I did ID it, I just made the mistake of not taking a photo of the "before". I can trace them properly to where they go. One 14-3 comes from the switch side, the other goes out to another few lights throughout the basement.
#4
03-08-14, 10:11 PM
Group Moderator
It would probably be best to make all your splices in a 4" square junction box. Then you would just bring a piece of two wire cable out to your new can.
As far as your wiring.... common sense wiring would say that all the white wires would be connected together. Connect the two blacks from the three wire cable together with the black to the receptacle. Connect the two red wires together. This red connection is where you'll attach your can light's black wire. The white from the can goes to the white connection.
As far as your wiring.... common sense wiring would say that all the white wires would be connected together. Connect the two blacks from the three wire cable together with the black to the receptacle. Connect the two red wires together. This red connection is where you'll attach your can light's black wire. The white from the can goes to the white connection.
#5
03-09-14, 01:07 AM
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Do you have a multimeter? Can you use it to find out where the power is coming from? If may be coming into the light on the two-wire cable, or it may be coming from one of the switches. Also, are these two lights controlled by the same two, three-way switches? Photos showing the wiring at the switches, and any other lights they control would be helpful.
#6
03-09-14, 11:14 AM
The top 14-3 is coming from the switch with power from the panel. The bottom 14-3 is going to a few other basement lights and I believe a receptacle. The 14-2 is going to a receptacle for the sump pump.
#8
03-10-14, 03:48 AM
Member
Since you're going through all this work you might want to eliminate that sump pit outlet and put it on it's own circuit. Every time that pump starts up those lights are going to dim for a second. And if and when the pump gets hung up in an on position that wiring is going to get hot and hopefully trip the breaker.
