How to Wire 2 Lights With 2 Switches
If you want to control two lights (or more) with two separate switches, it's easiest to wire everything properly by using a three-way switch. Three-way switches work in concert with one another--one terminal connects to the lights, and the other two connect to the other switch. The steps below explain one of the ways to wire your lights correctly if the power from the service panel comes in at the first switch. You can easily adapt the steps to include more than two lights if you wish. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Voltage tester Three-way switches 14 gauge three-connector cable 14 gauge two-connector cable Pliers Screwdriver Wire stripper/cutter Insulated wire nuts
Instructions
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1
Disconnect power to the circuit and run the three-connector cable from first switch to the first light, and from the last switch to the last light. Run 2 two-connector cables between the lights.
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2
Connect the black wire from the service panel to the dark-colored hot terminal on the first switch. Splice the white wire from the service panel to the white wire of the three-connector cable.
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3
Cut a piece of copper ground wire and connect one end to the green screw on the switch and splice the other end with the ground wires from the panel and from the light. Connect the red and black wires from the light to the remaining terminals on the switch. Screw wire nuts over the neutral and ground splices.
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4
Go to the second switch and connect the black wire to the dark-colored hot terminal. Connect the red and white wires to the other two terminals--it doesn't matter which--and the ground wire to the green screw.
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5
Go to the first light and splice the black wire from the first switch to one of the black wires running between the lights. Splice the white wire that is next to that black wire to the red wire coming from the switch.
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6
Follow the two-connector cable connected to the first switch all the way to the last light and splice it to the cable coming from the second switch--white to white and black to red.
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7
Splice all three black wires together at the last light--from the second switch and both lights. Splice the white from the light with the white from the other light. Splice the grounds and screw wire nuts on all splices.
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8
Go back to the first light and splice the black wire from the light to the black wire from the second light. Splice all three white wires together--from the first switch and both lights. Splice the grounds and screw wire nuts on all splices.
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9
Ensure no bare wires are exposed and turn the power back on to test the connections.
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Tips & Warnings
See the wiring diagram referenced below for a clear visual guide.
Disconnect power to the circuit before beginning work.
