How to Wire a 4-Square Electrical Box
With ceiling fans, lights, dimmers and many other electrical devices now connected to light switches, single switch boxes are often unable to cleanly and safely secure all of the switches for a room. Four-square electrical boxes allow you to wire up to two light switches per box and help you to keep all of your wires safely organized. You can wire your own 4-square electrical box and relocate your light switches to one central location. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Voltage detector
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
- Wiring nut
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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1
Turn off the power to the room you are going to be working on at the main breaker. Touch the voltage detector to the room's hot wire to make sure the electricity is off.
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2
Punch out the appropriate holes in the back of the 4-square electrical box and run the room's electrical wires (hot, neutral and ground) into it. Run the electrical wires from the light fixture (hot and neutral) into the electrical box as well.
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3
Cut the ends of the hot and neutral electrical wires and strip 1/2 inch of the insulation off of their ends.
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4
Hold the two neutral wires together and place a single wiring nut over them. Twist the nut down onto the wires to secure them together.
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5
Bend the exposed ends of the two hot wires into a hook shape. Hook each hot wire around one of the screws on the side of the light switch that is being installed. Only one wire should go to each screw. Tighten the screws down on top of the wires to hold them in place.
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6
Bend the copper ground wire into a hook shape and hook it around the green ground terminal screw on the side of the light switch. Tighten the ground screw to hold the wire in place.
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7
Repeat these steps for the second light switch being installed in the 4-square electrical box.
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Tips & Warnings
Exercise extreme caution when working with electrical wiring. All electricity to the room being worked on must be shut off to avoid electric shock.
