Need help wiring fluorescent lights in garage

[Waggoner72]

I kept getting an error posting in garage related section so I tried here..
So here's what I'm trying to do.
I bought some 8 foot lights cheap and I want more light in my garage.
I already have 3 fluorescent light fixtures in the garage and I want to ADD approx 2 more. Not replace the fixtures themselves.
What I have currently

I'd like to add a light to each side of this existing light

These are the fixtures I got cheap. As in, $5 a piece new with bulbs...

Connector on the new fixtures


I've found videos of people installing lights but not adding on.
Can I just run a wire from my existing light to the new ones on each side?
Do I just get a bigger wire nut for the wires on the existing light?
Will this be too much power for the breaker?
On the light mounting, I'd imagine just find the studs and mount them. Somehow cut a hole in the ceiling and fish some wires.
I am a complete newby when it comes to wiring in a house. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. You may laugh at how easy a task this may be for you but i gotta start somewhere! Thank you

 

[signcrafter]

First thing first, what voltage are the new lights?

 

[Waggoner72]

First thing first, what voltage are the new lights?

They are 120v. They say 120v-277v. So I should be able to hook them straight up to my existing ones, as far as I know.....

 

[RonB001]

If you open up your existing fixtures, you should find wires coming in and connecting to the fixture wires with wire nuts. The new fixtures can connect the same way.

There has to be some sort of cable clamp where the wires enter the fixture. This is so that the wire doesn't move, and so that the wires don't get cut by the edge of the metal. The existing cable clamps may, or may not, be big enough for the new, extra wire. If they are not big enough, you will need to either replace them with bigger ones (requiring a new, bigger hole) or add another.

You will also need a cable clamp at each of the new fixtures, for the same purpose.

The connectors on the new fixtures can be simply cut off, strip the wires, and use wire nuts to connect the new wires to each wire.

Always make sure you have the ground wires connected to the chassis of the fixtures, as well as to each other. They make special ground wire nuts that have a hole in the top, so that one conductor can extend through the wire nut for fastening to the fixture chassis.

Regards,
RonB

 

[JoeFin]

Since the light's transformer/electronic ballast is possibly Multi-voltage you probably want to check and make sure the wire coming from the ballast to the "BLACK" wire says 120v and not 277v

 

[Rookie2]

I would just go to the big box store and buy a stick of 1/2" emt conduit and male connectors & use the knock outs in the ends of the fixtures . some #14 solid thhn wire or strip some wire out of romex or just feed the romex thru the conduit . USE the push connectors supplied ! As long as the fixtures are new they will work on 120, but if they were used and on 277v that may be fubar.

 

[Waggoner72]

If you open up your existing fixtures, you should find wires coming in and connecting to the fixture wires with wire nuts. The new fixtures can connect the same way.



There has to be some sort of cable clamp where the wires enter the fixture. This is so that the wire doesn't move, and so that the wires don't get cut by the edge of the metal. The existing cable clamps may, or may not, be big enough for the new, extra wire. If they are not big enough, you will need to either replace them with bigger ones (requiring a new, bigger hole) or add another.



You will also need a cable clamp at each of the new fixtures, for the same purpose.



The connectors on the new fixtures can be simply cut off, strip the wires, and use wire nuts to connect the new wires to each wire.



Always make sure you have the ground wires connected to the chassis of the fixtures, as well as to each other. They make special ground wire nuts that have a hole in the top, so that one conductor can extend through the wire nut for fastening to the fixture chassis.



Regards,

RonB

Why is this still so confusing to me...

So on my existing fixture, it's going to have two extra sets of wires that I have to splice together. Do they make wire nuts big enough to handle 4 wires at once? Also why would I cut off the connector? Wouldn't it just be best to use it?

 

[Mustang51js]

Either use pipe or bx wire unless you go and run wire from in the attic. Then your just connecting black to black ,white to white. You don't need to cut off connector since you will only have one wire in it, and yes they make bigger wire nuts, either get tans or reds and that size will be fine. It's a pretty simple thing your doing. As far as connecting to the side of existing light you should have a knockout stamped on side in the middle like the new lights you have, if not then just use a step bit and drill holes yourself