circuit help question for the pros

[banjopete]

Thanks everyone, I had a great fast and correct solution to my mistake in my wiring. No more help required!!





I have finished wiring in a whole bunch of recessed lights in my basement. I have them working almost perfectly. I'm not an electrician.

My challenge is (and forgive my terminology flaws):

I have wired two separate areas of lighting using the same power source(line in/same 15A breaker), with the intention of being able to turn on back and front light circuits separately. They are 3 way switches, with a dimmer, and a simple on/off paired for each of the light circuits.

I tested the first circuit, all was right, running as expected, dimmers, two switches etc.

Then I just finished wiring the second of the two circuits, only to realize that each switch controls all the lights I (think I) know it's because I've got my two neutrals from the circuits pigtailed together with the line in so once one switches on the other is bypassing it's own switched line.

My question is, is what I'm attempting to do with these two separate light areas impossible with my single line in or do I require two different lines in, in order to separate the neutral returns from one another? Or is there something more obvious?

Hopefully it's a clear enough description, and lots of thanks for the help everyone. I can attempt a wiring diagram, or can probably label a photo if it's helpful.

 

[Shiftless]

Remember that 3 way switches have to be installed in pairs.
Simple on-off switches don't belong there.
You wired it up with 3 conductor plus ground cable, right?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

unfortunately your description doesnt help.

The neutrals should have nothing to do with it. they should all be spliced together

Can u snap some pics and post em.

 

[MikeF2316]

I'm going to assume you're running a cable from the breaker panel to the first switch for one set of lights. From there you need to run 2 cables, one fed by the switch for the lights, and one fed by the first cable (unswitched) going to first switch on the second set of lights.

Please be careful. It sounds like you're really new to house wiring.

 

[banjopete]

Remember that 3 way switches have to be installed in pairs.
Simple on-off switches don't belong there.
You wired it up with 3 conductor plus ground cable, right?

Yep, paired 3 way switches, on side is a dimmer, the other is on/off. Both 3 way switches, and both wired with 14/3, grounded.

 

[banjopete]

I'm going to assume you're running a cable from the breaker panel to the first switch for one set of lights. From there you need to run 2 cables, one fed by the switch for the lights, and one fed by the first cable (unswitched) going to first switch on the second set of lights.

Please be careful. It sounds like you're really new to house wiring.

Absolutely, safety first, and electrical work is dangerous but not rocket science so I am trying to learn as I do. Just as a side note, I did all the wiring, lighting, outlets etc for my big garage project previously, so not brand new.

 

[banjopete]

unfortunately your description doesnt help.

The neutrals should have nothing to do with it. they should all be spliced together

Can u snap some pics and post em.

Here are some pictures to hopefully show the setup.

Here's the main switch area, showing most everything. I have my incoming line in, two lines out to the separate light area, then two 14/3 wires heading off to the other switches at the other entryway.



Here is the hot line in pigtailed to the constant hots on the 3 ways: 1 hot, 2 jumpers(short wires?) to switches



Here are the neutrals pigtailed together (line in,light area 1, light area 2), 3 wires


Here are all my remaining hots (from the other switches + light area 1, light area 2) that come back from the 14/3's and pigtailed all together with my hots to my lights. 4 wires total:

 

[Bert_]

I think the last picture illustrates the issue. You have return, common, from both switches tied together with the wires going back out to both sets of lights.

You need to wire nut the return from each switch to it's own group of lights. Where your last photo shows you holding one wirenut, you need to have two separate ones

Clear as mud?

 

[banjopete]

I think the last picture illustrates the issue. You have return, common, from both switches tied together with the wires going back out to both sets of lights.

You need to wire nut the return from each switch to it's own group of lights. Where your last photo shows you holding one wirenut, you need to have two separate ones

Clear as mud?

You know, as I typed it up, and looked at the responses, this is what I thought too. So I just pigtail those returns separately and it should do it. I'll give it a whirl. Thanks for the response Bert.

 

[banjopete]

That simple fix was it! Cheers guys, I now have a happy wife and a free day to work on my car!!

 

[donpauli2]

" not rocket science " ? And your insulting the guys you need help from.


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[zmaxmotorsports]

I have finished wiring in a whole bunch of recessed lights in my basement. I have them working almost perfectly. I'm not an electrician.

My challenge is (and forgive my terminology flaws):

I have wired two separate areas of lighting using the same power source(line in/same 15A breaker), with the intention of being able to turn on back and front light circuits separately. They are 3 way switches, with a dimmer, and a simple on/off paired for each of the light circuits.

I tested the first circuit, all was right, running as expected, dimmers, two switches etc.

Then I just finished wiring the second of the two circuits, only to realize that each switch controls all the lights I (think I) know it's because I've got my two neutrals from the circuits pigtailed together with the line in so once one switches on the other is bypassing it's own switched line.

My question is, is what I'm attempting to do with these two separate light areas impossible with my single line in or do I require two different lines in, in order to separate the neutral returns from one another? Or is there something more obvious?

Hopefully it's a clear enough description, and lots of thanks for the help everyone. I can attempt a wiring diagram, or can probably label a photo if it's helpful.

Neutrals should have nothing to do with the switching.

 

[banjopete]

" not rocket science " ? And your insulting the guys you need help from.


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Come on now. No need to jump on a saying. My meaning was that for someone of my general skills and intelligence (a low standard) I should be able to accomplish this task. I wasn't insulting the great people of the electrical trades... in case that wasn't clear for everyone.

 

[banjopete]

Neutrals should have nothing to do with the switching.

Thanks, problem solved by the experts here. Cheers everyone.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You know, as I typed it up, and looked at the responses, this is what I thought too. So I just pigtail those returns separately and it should do it. I'll give it a whirl. Thanks for the response Bert.

The hot feeds to the lights need to individually go to the "common" black screws on the 3 way switches at the other end.

That is your fault.

Glad u got it though.

 

[donpauli2]

Come on now. No need to jump on a saying. My meaning was that for someone of my general skills and intelligence (a low standard) I should be able to accomplish this task. I wasn't insulting the great people of the electrical trades... in case that wasn't clear for everyone.

No problem buddy. Sometimes , oh heck much of the time, my mouth drops open and starts making sounds. No offense was intended but after I reread it did come out just a bit smart *** though.


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