How do you wire a series of recessed lights to a single switch when the power goes to the lights first?

Answer 1

If you already know how to put one fixture on a 3-way, just connect white-to-white and black-to-black from one light to the next. If you're changing from a single switch to the 3-way, the exact wiring will depend on whether the power comes from the breaker box to the switch or the existing fixture. I'll assume you're starting from scratch or have the power going to the fixture.

You need #15 two-wire with ground and #15 three-wire with ground romex. Run two-wire from the breaker box to the first light fixture. Pull a another two-wire from this box to switch A and a three-wire between the switches. String two-wire from the first light to the second, second to third, etc. In the first box, connect white from source to the white fixture wire and the white going to the second box; black from source to the black to switch A; and the black fixture wire to both the white to switch A and the black to the next fixture. At each of the other 5 fixtures, connect all white to white and black to black (three pair in each box except the last one). At switch A, connect the white from the fixture to the common (center) connector and the black directly to the black going to switch B. The red and white wires going to switch B are connected to the two outside connectors of switch A. At switch B, the black goes to the common connector and the red and white to the outside connectors. At each box, connect all the bare wires (second ground) to each other and to the fixture or box. Now turn the power back on. If all the connectors are tight, power should follow the black wires from source past the fixture and switch A to switch B. From there it will go through one or the other of the travellers and, if switch A is in the same position as B, up the white switch leg to the fixtures, turn on all the lights and go back to ground.

Answer 2

The switch goes between the supply and the string of lights. If the supply is in a ceiling box you need to run a 3-wire cable from the switch to the ceiling box. Since your normal Romex cable for residential use has a black, white and bare wire you would use them as follows:

At the switch connect black to one side of switch and white to other side..

Wrap black electric tape around white cable for 3 inches or so to identify it as a hot wire. Do the same at the ceiling end. In the ceiling connect one switch black wire to the supply black and the other pseudo black wire (White wire with tape) to the black wire on light fixture. Connect the supply white wire to the light white wire. Connect all bare wires together (ground). Connect bare wire at switch to green screw on switch.

Answer 3

To wire a series of recessed lights to a single switch when power goes to the lights first, connect the black wire from the power source to the black wire of the first light, then connect a jumper wire from the white wire of the first light to the white wire of the next light, and so on for each additional light in the series. Finally, connect all of the grounds together and connect the switch to the black wire of the first light.

Answer 4

Wire them in parallel with each other, being careful not to exceed the amp ratings of the switch and circuit breaker.