Ceiling wiring layout?

[AldeanFan]

I'm planning to add more lights to my ceiling. I'm not happy with the wiring that's up there now so I'm going to run new wires in the ceiling. The attic is open so I have easy access.

Right now I've got 4 lights wired like this in a H pattern.

Here's what I'm proposing:

Any suggestions or anything I'm missing?



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[timgr]

What's your reasoning? You'll need to break the wire at each light, so why not stay with the H pattern to 9 lights instead of 4? Count it up - you won't use any less wire with the S pattern.

 

[AldeanFan]

What's your reasoning? You'll need to break the wire at each light, so why not stay with the H pattern to 9 lights instead of 4? Count it up - you won't use any less wire with the S pattern.

I don't like the 4 wires coming together in one box and if I add a light hear there I'll have 5 wires.

Also moving the switch from the middle of the wall to the corner so the H makes less sense.


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[timgr]

Makes sense to me. Yeah, I thought about the number of wires to join with the H pattern, and the S is smart that way.

 

[CJ7VFR]

If you don't need to have all 9 lights on at once, you might want to consider putting in two or three switches. Three lights on each switch would work out perfect.

Having all 9 lights on at once is nice and all, if you need that. But if you don't, say for example you just want to run in, grab something and go, and you only need enough light to see your way around, then having only a few lights on would work. Also, to have control over the exact amount of light you require or any given task is better than having all 9 lights blazing at once. A lot of people realize this after they have set everything up, which makes it harder to do than if you did it from the start.

Just a thought. Switches are cheap, and it wouldn't cost you that much more in wire to have three switches instead of just one.

Jim

 

[AldeanFan]

If you don't need to have all 9 lights on at once, you might want to consider putting in two or three switches. Three lights on each switch would work out perfect.

Having all 9 lights on at once is nice and all, if you need that. But if you don't, say for example you just want to run in, grab something and go, and you only need enough light to see your way around, then having only a few lights on would work. Also, to have control over the exact amount of light you require or any given task is better than having all 9 lights blazing at once. A lot of people realize this after they have set everything up, which makes it harder to do than if you did it from the start.

Just a thought. Switches are cheap, and it wouldn't cost you that much more in wire to have three switches instead of just one.

Jim

I keep going back and forth on this.
My dads garage has two switches so the lights that are blocked when the doors are up can be switched separately from the rest of the lights.
I think that running out to the garage to grab a beer and flipping the light on and off is killing my fluorescents.

Maybe this


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[CJ7VFR]

I keep going back and forth on this.
My dads garage has two switches so the lights that are blocked when the doors are up can be switched separately from the rest of the lights.
I think that running out to the garage to grab a beer and flipping the light on and off is killing my fluorescents.

Maybe this


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That is exactly the same layout I have for my garage! Three switches with three lights on each switch!

I also keep beer in the garage, so what I did was install a motion sensor attached to a single screw in light bulb fixture with a bulb. I set the motion sensor for 1 minute so that I can go into the garage to get a beer, or to put something in the recycling buckets, or to take out the trash, and I don't have to switch on the entire 9 lights in the garage.

Having the lights on multiple switches has worked out great for me, and I can see a difference in my electric bill since I did it. I only have all 9 lights on when I am working on one of the cars. For just general work, like tuning up lawn mowers, or greasing up my snow blower, I normally will put on 3 of the lights and work right under them.

Jim