Switch to recess lighting - help with Romex
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Switch to recess lighting - help with Romex
Hello all, I need some help. I want to switch from two down lights to four recessed lights. I took the main light down (L1 in image below) and was meet with the wiring you see on the right. The second down light is turned on by the same two switches (S2) as the primary light. However, I'm not sure where the wiring is coming from (I'm assuming L1). Can anyone tell me what they make of this wiring?:
#2
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The cable with only black and white wires is probably what runs to 2nd light. That is only cable connected in parallel with main light.
This is basically how your light is wired except that black and white wires coming from right switch is reversed.
To make things simple, you just have to connect wires exactly as is and connect new lights to black and white wires going to existing lights.
Unless you install recessed light in the exact place as old lights, you will either have to put blank cover and run wires from existing junction box or run new cable all the way to the switches.
This is basically how your light is wired except that black and white wires coming from right switch is reversed.
To make things simple, you just have to connect wires exactly as is and connect new lights to black and white wires going to existing lights.
Unless you install recessed light in the exact place as old lights, you will either have to put blank cover and run wires from existing junction box or run new cable all the way to the switches.
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Thanks for the reply Lambition. I failed to mention, I'm doing away with the two current drop lights and replacing them with the recessed lighting in different locations. My plan was to drywall over the current boxes. I'll have to get in the attic to check, but I believe the light on the left (L2) just has wiring going in to it, not out of it. Can I just pull that wire out of the box and use it in the recessed lighting? I know I remove the pigtails coming down to the current light, but for the travelers in L1 do I just shove them up in the box and drywall over it? What's the best practices/codes to do drywall over a box (if there are any)?
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My plan was to drywall over the current boxes.
Can I just pull that wire out of the box and use it in the recessed lighting?
Yes you can. But, since you have attic above, might as well as just run new cable from L1 and daisy chain from there.
What's the best practices/codes to do drywall over a box (if there are any)?
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Okay, was able to get in the attic and take a peek. So the 12/3 and 12/2 from light 1 (L1) goes to light 2 (L2). I didn't have the time to track the 12/3 coming out of light 2. Here's a schematic of what it appears like from the top:
Here's what the lights look like from the top:
So can I just remove the current lights, pull the Romex out of the boxes, make up the Romex again in boxes facing up in the attic (boxes that have covers) and use the 12/2 from L1 and run it to power the four new recessed lights?
Here's what the lights look like from the top:
So can I just remove the current lights, pull the Romex out of the boxes, make up the Romex again in boxes facing up in the attic (boxes that have covers) and use the 12/2 from L1 and run it to power the four new recessed lights?