How to Wire Multiple Ceiling Lights
Wiring multiple ceiling lights to an existing light fixture or adding multiple lights to an existing power source requires you to provide each light fixture with its own electrical cable connected to a single source of power. You may install several light fixtures to an existing circuit as long as you do not exceed the circuit’s maximum wattage. A 20-amp single pole electrical circuit provides 2400 watts, enough to power 32 75-watt light bulbs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips or slotted screwdriver
- Two-prong electrical tester
- Remodel ceiling junction boxes
- Keyhole saw
- 14/2 nonmetallic (NM) electrical cable
- Dual NM wire cutter/stripper
- Orange wire connectors
- Red wire connectors
Instructions
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1
Turn the lighting circuit breaker to the “On” position in the main service panel.
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2
Remove the light switch cover plate that powers the light and test to confirm that the power is disconnected by touching one prong of a two-prong electrical tester to one screw on the right side of the switch and the other prong to any metal on the switch or electrical box. Repeat this test for the remaining screw on the right side of the light switch. If the power has been disconnected correctly, the tester will not register any wattage.
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3
Remove the existing light fixture from the ceiling by taking the glass shade off the fixture and removing the light bulbs, exposing the screws holding the fixture to the ceiling junction box. Remove the screws releasing the fixture from the junction box and untwist the wire connectors holding the black, white and bare copper wires together.
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4
Cut holes in the ceiling for the installation of two additional light fixtures. Trace around the template provided with the remodel ceiling junction box and carefully cut along the trace line using a keyhole saw to remove the drywall.
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5
Pull a length of 14/2 nonmetallic (NM) electrical cable from the original light fixture location to each of the additional light fixture locations.
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6
Strip the 14/2 NM electrical cable at the original light fixture location and the two additional light fixture locations. Use a dual NM wire cutter/stripper to remove the exterior insulation from the electrical cable and expose the interior black, white and bare copper wires. Remove 3/4-inch of insulation off each black and white wire at all three locations.
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7
Install the remodel ceiling junction boxes by pulling the electrical cables into the back of the boxes through the knockouts. Slip the boxes into the holes in the ceiling and turn the screws on the remodel boxes clockwise to flip the wings up behind the drywall. Continued turning of the screws causes the junction boxes to clamp to the ceiling.
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8
Assemble your new light fixtures following the directions of the manufacturer.
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9
Install the new light fixtures by twisting an orange wire connector onto the black wires from the light fixtures and the black wires from the ceiling junction boxes connecting them together. Repeat this connection for the white wires from the light fixtures, connecting them to the white wires from the ceiling junction boxes.
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10
Finish wiring the light fixtures by twisting an orange wire connector onto the bare copper wires from the ceiling junction boxes and the green ground wires from the light fixtures, connecting them together. Push all the wires into the ceiling junction box and attach the light fixtures with the screws provided with the light’s mounting hardware. Install the light bulbs and the light shades.
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11
Reinstall the original light fixture by twisting a red wire connector onto the black wire from the light fixture and the three black wires from the ceiling junction box, connecting all four black wires together. Repeat this connection for the white wire from the light fixture to the three white wires inside the junction box. Complete the installation of the light fixture by connecting the three bare copper wires inside the ceiling box to the green ground wire on the light fixture using an additional wire connector.
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12
Push all the wiring back into the junction box and reinstall the light fixture to the ceiling box with the screws you removed in Step 3. Turn the lighting circuit breaker to the “On” position inside the main service panel.
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Tips & Warnings
Test to verify that you have disconnected the electricity in the area you are working to avoid electrical shock.
