How to Wire Four Lights Controlled by Two Switches

Multiple lights daisy-chained together

• 1

  Run the power-leg cable from the breaker box to the bottom of the double-switch box. Run a switch-leg cable to each of the first fixtures to the top of the double-switch box. Generally, each switch-leg wire is routed through the hole in the top of the switch box that lines up with the switch to which it will be attached.

• 2

  Run a connecting cable between each of the first fixtures to each of the second fixtures. At the each end-of-line fixture, connect the black, neutral and ground wires using approved electrical connections. Mount the fixture using the correct mounting hardware.

• 3

  At the middle-of-the-line fixtures, strip the insulation and combine together the black, white and ground wires. Twist together the ground wires, attach a ground crimp, and cut off the tails except one.

  Twist together the black wires with short piece of wire and install a wire nut. Do the same for the white wires. Connect the black, neutral, and ground wires to the fixture using approved electrical connections. Mount the fixture using the correct mounting hardware.

• 4

  Strip the outer sheathing off all the main cable wires with the utility knife. Twist all the ground wires together with the lineman's pliers and leave about 4- to 5-inch tails. Slip on and tightly crimp a ground-crimp. Cut off all the tails but two. Tuck the twisted portion of the ground wires into the box and leave the two tails sticking out at the top. Make a wire loop on the end of each ground wire.Cut the white neutral wires to about 4- to 5-inch tails and strip off about 3/4-inch insulation with the wire strippers. Grab all the stripped ends with the lineman's pliers and twist them tightly together. Install a yellow- or red-wire nut. Neatly tuck the white wires into the back of the box.

• 5

  Cut the black wire to about 4 to 5 inches and strip off 1/2-inch insulation from the ends. On the two switch legs, make wire loops with the needle-nose pliers. Take two, 6-inch black, 14-gauge pieces of wire and strip 1/2-inch insulation and make a wire loop. Strip 3/4-inch insulation from the other end and twist the two pieces of wire together with the power leg. Install a red- or yellow-wire nut on the wires. Leave the tails sticking out at the bottom of the switch box.

• 6

  Install the grounds on the ground screw at the top of each switch. Install the switch leg's top screw of each switch and the power leg tails to the bottom switch screw of each switch. Neatly tuck the wires into the switch box. Install the switch-mounting screws and the double-switch cover plate.

Multiple lights with home run cable wire from each fixture

• 7

  Run the power leg cable from the breaker box to the bottom of the double-switch box. Run a switch leg cable from each fixture to the top of the double electrical box.

• 8

  Complete the wiring of each fixture as in step 2 above.

• 9

  Wire the double-switch box as outlined above with the change that two of the black, switch legs need to be pig-tailed together with one loose tail to connect to the switch. Install the switch-mounting screws and the double-switch cover plate.

Multiple lights with three conductor cable to one light

• 10

  Run the power-leg cable from the breaker box to the bottom of the double-switch box. Run a switch leg cable each of three fixtures to the four fixtures. Run a three-conductor cable from the fixture box with the other switch legs to the top of the double-switch box.

• 11

  Wire each end-of-line fixture as outlined above. In the other fixture box, strip the sheathing and individual wires. Connect all ground wires together and crimp. Leave one tail out. Connect all the white wires together with a short tail, twist and install a appropriate wire nut. Pig-tail two black switch legs and the black from the three-conductor cable together with a wire nut. Pig-tail the other black switch leg with the red conductor from the three-conductor cable together with a short tail wire. Twist together and install wire nut. Connect the fixture and install.

• 12

  The double switch box is wired as outlined above. The red conductor from the three-conductor cable is one switch leg and will connect to one switch, and the black conductor from the three-conductor cable is the other switch leg and will connect to the other switch.