Ok I got 9 8foot long t8 fixtures I am wiring up. I am wanting to be able to switch on 5 of them with one switch and 4 with another switch. I thought about wiring them with one 12/3 wire instead of separate 12/2 wires to save on the expense and labor of pulling two sets of wires. Will this work to use the black on one set and the red on the other set? Thanks
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
2 sets of lights using 12/3 wire Controled seperatly?
- Thread starter hevnbnd
- Start date
matt151617
Well-known member
That should be fine. Red wire brings power in, black wire takes power from the switch from one set of lights and white wire from the switch to the other set.
FreddiFiche
Well-known member
That should be fine. Red wire brings power in, black wire takes power from the switch from one set of lights and white wire from the switch to the other set.
Or, just skip the switch-loop mentality, and wire like a farmer. Black is switched hot for one half, Red is switched hot for the other half, an and white is neutral....
w1im
Well-known member
Is the 12/3 just going between the switches and the lights? 12/2 from the breaker panel to the switches?
If this is the case, you should be fine. I don't know what the electric code says, but it will work. Just realize that the neutral in the 12/3 line will be carrying the amperage of the two hot legs combined. As long as the circuit is supplied through a 20A breaker, you won't be able to exceed the ratings of the neutral.
If you ran 12/3 from the panel, being fed from 2 different 20A breakers on the same 120V leg, then you could have 40A running in the neutral which would be a problem. In most places, code actually allows you to do this with different 120V legs, because in that case the neutral carries the difference in current between the two hot wires, not the sum.
If this is the case, you should be fine. I don't know what the electric code says, but it will work. Just realize that the neutral in the 12/3 line will be carrying the amperage of the two hot legs combined. As long as the circuit is supplied through a 20A breaker, you won't be able to exceed the ratings of the neutral.
If you ran 12/3 from the panel, being fed from 2 different 20A breakers on the same 120V leg, then you could have 40A running in the neutral which would be a problem. In most places, code actually allows you to do this with different 120V legs, because in that case the neutral carries the difference in current between the two hot wires, not the sum.