I am about to install new wiring in a house I am renovating. To reduce costs, I am running the wire myself. I have had an electrician lay out the circuits for me and he will be connecting everything after I have run the wire. My question is what wire to use for the home run to the fixture and then from switch to switch. I want to wire the lights with three way switches. Does it make sense to run 12/2 to light and then 12/3 between light and switches or to run 12/2 to switch and 12/3 between light and other switch....
Hi, I'm Mike and I'll be glad to assist you. I would suggest that you use 14 wire for the lighting circuits. You need 1 circuit for every 500 square feet. Run from fixture to fixture and drop your switch leg to the wall boxes. On your receptacle circuits don't have more than one cable in and one out on the boxes. It keeps the conductor fill to a manageable level.
ok. but for a three way switch should i use 14/2 or 14/3 between fixtures and switches. and should i wire directly to the first fixture or to the first switch
3 ways can be wired several ways. I'll give you a sketch showing the possibilities. The hash marks indicate the number of wires .
The sketch helps. Simple and to the point. Thanks
one more question. one of the circuits will have two light fixtures. i am assuming i would use either 14/2 or 14/3 between the individual fixtures depending on which sketch i use.
The first light will feed the second and the switching is as shown in the sketch with the addition of the 2 wire to the second fixture. I always try to have at least 2 circuits to all rooms. Wire to a common wall between rooms and feed boxes in each room from that circuit and do the same on walls between other rooms. It's a good practice that will never leave any room without power if there is a problem with any one circuit.Mike G.41122.1306149653