14-2 or 14-3 ??

[pauls340]

I have two ceiling lights, plain bulbs on threeway switches. I want to replace these lights with 6 potlights. I know the power romex is 14-2 and the wire over to the other switch is 14-3, but what wire goes up to the first potlight and to each of the other 5? Thanks

 

[DekeT]

Any basic electrical wiring book will give you all the details with pictures.

 

[hidollartoys]

14-2. But depends on how the circuit was originally wired.

 

[pauls340]

The circuit is setup with 3way switches at both doors going into the room and leaving the room (at opposite end). I think I use 14-2 wiring between the potlights.

 

[nkachur]

If the existing lights are using 14/2 you can rewire using 14/2 if the existing lights are running 14/3 then you require 14/3.

It all depends on how the wiring for the 3-way switch is run.

Here is a site documenting some of the different ways that it could have been run.

http://www.easy-do-it-yourself-home-improvements.com/3-way-switch-wiring-diagram.html

 

[eljefino]

Pull both lights down, 99% chance one will be master and one slave. Master will have way more wires in the box. Then refer to your book. Ultimately, though, you'll have a pigtail that actually goes to the light that you'll be expanding to the rest of your lights, presuming you leave the switches alone. Question: Will you keep the "master" box where it is or do you have a new lighting plan? (You can cheat and put a blank plate over the box if you want to move that light and don't conssider it unslightly-- just don't plaster over it.)

 

[pauls340]

A number of people who know electrical have said not to drywall over a junction box. Why? If I never have to do anything to a new set of potlights, why would I need to get into the junction.

 

[pattenp]

A number of people who know electrical have said not to drywall over a junction box. Why? If I never have to do anything to a new set of potlights, why would I need to get into the junction.

NEC requires boxes not to be buried in a wall. It needs to be visible to be located and to be accessible.

 

[RECox286]

It makes no scents to bury a j-box where you can't get to it if something

should go haywire, and it do, it do ! There is something in the code book

about doing that too, hmmm...

Uncle Bob

 

[rburke65]

Never, ever a good idea.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I have two ceiling lights, plain bulbs on threeway switches. I want to replace these lights with 6 potlights. I know the power romex is 14-2 and the wire over to the other switch is 14-3, but what wire goes up to the first potlight and to each of the other 5? Thanks

If the power feeding the circuit comes into one switch and then the line feeding the lights comes from the other switch, then 14-2 is all u need to the lights. 14-3 is needed between 3-way switches so that both switches will have power. The extra conductor acts as a traveler between the switches. Power comes in on one common screw and the power feed to the lights leaves on the other common screw on the other switch!