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(LIFE SAFETY WARNING! [disclaimer]

=== === Electricity is dangerous!

You can be injured or killed!

Improper installations can cause fire, injury and death!

Should you be doing this yourself?)

This is one of those questions - if you know this little, you shouldn't be doing what you are planning...

No disrespect intended, but this is SO basic that it suggests you have not studied the subject at all!

There are many good reference books and course books to study from.

<><><> It is allowed to have more than two sets of conductors [cables] in an enclosure or box.

There are very precisely defined limitations on exactly how many individual conductors are allowed in a box. These depend on conductor gauge, box volume and number of devices installed.

The proper practice is to select the box based on circuit requirements.

If you are using 14 gauge wire, it is required to allow 2 cubic inches per conductor entering the box, with the exception of the grounds, which together count as one conductor. For 12 gauge, allow 2.25 cubic inches per conductor.

Cables clamps each count as 1 conductor, as do devices, measured at 1 conductor per device yoke.

Support fittings, as in some ceiling boxes, count as an additional conductor.

In a switch box with 14 gauge wire, assuming 2 cable clamps, when you have three cables and a switch, there will be 2 conductors for the clamps, one conductor for the switch, three whites, three blacks [unless you use three wire, then you have to add the reds!] and 1 conductors for the grounds. That makes a total of ten conductors.

This makes a volume requirement of 20 cubic inches for the box this switch is to be installed in.

Also, remember that it is not allowed to put two wires under a screw, so it will be necessary to pig-tail the conductors.

It is also required that the wires be left at least six inches long where they enter the box. I always find some hero who tried to save space by cutting the wire 3 inches long. Try and fix THAT when it burns up!

<><><>

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

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Q: Would it be okay to have 3 hot wires on the back of a switch to complete the light and run power to the rest of the circuit?
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Related questions

What is the function of the switch in circuit?

A switch simply opens a circuit, stopping the flow of electricity. For example: a simple circuit would be two wires from a battery, one of which goes to a switch, and the other goes to a light bulb. A third wire goes from the other side of the switch to the other conductor of the light bulb. With the switch closed the circuit is complete and the light goes on. Open the switch and the circuit is broken and the light goes off.


What is the function of switch in the circuit?

A switch simply opens a circuit, stopping the flow of electricity. For example: a simple circuit would be two wires from a battery, one of which goes to a switch, and the other goes to a light bulb. A third wire goes from the other side of the switch to the other conductor of the light bulb. With the switch closed the circuit is complete and the light goes on. Open the switch and the circuit is broken and the light goes off.


What happens to an electric current at a light switch?

When an electrical switch is in the off position, the circuit is interrupted. When the switch is on, the circuit is open and complete.


When you flip a switch to turn on a light you?

Complete the conducting circuit


When you flip a switch to turn on a light?

Complete the conducting circuit


When the switch is closed it means that?

There is a complete path for the electricity to flow. The opposite of an open circuit. If a light switch is on and the light comes on, the circuit is closed. If the switch is turned off, the light goes off because the circuit is open.


Why does a light switch turn on your lights?

A light switch turns on lights because when flipped, it completes a complete circuit.


What happened when you turned on the switch of the light?

A switch is placed in an electrical circuit in order to place a gap when the switch is off, so the circuit is broken. When the switch is on, the circuit is complete and the electricity can flow round the circuit.


Where does the cuurent go when you switch the light switch off?

Nowhere. That's why the light goes out. Switching a light switch off breaks the circuit, and without a complete circuit, no electricity flows through the lamp.


When you flip a switch to turn on the light you?

Either close the circuit, or complete the circuit, should work here.


How does circuit stop flowing when light bulb switch is off?

The simplist answers is that electricity needs to complete a circuit fully. It stops flowing because there is no complete circuit. The switch is a device for opening and closing the circuit. When the switch is in the off position the circuit is said to be open and electricity cannot flow.


How a light bulb works in a complete circuit?

A Light bulb lights in a complete circuit because then the electricity from the battery can travel round the wire that has no breaks. BUT the switch has to be close. Z