I have 26 recessed lights in a vaulted ceiling. They want every other light to be controlled by a separate switch. Can I just use 14-3 and make the fist one black, splice the red through, then make the second one red and splice the black through? These fixtures look so small, I’m not sure if I’ll be over on my conductor fill if I have (2) 3 wires at each light. They are the Lowe’s brand utilitech 6” fixtures. Should I just set a junction box at each light and use a separate 14- 2 wire-whip for each light?
3 wire for cables recessed lights
- Thread starter Rig84
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
If you use a JB will it be accessible? I would use a separate 14/2 for each switch and just alternate them.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
14-3 would have the advantage of allowing to reconfigure switching later
VirutalElectrician
Senior Member
- Location
- Mpls, MN
- Occupation
- Sparky - Trying to be retired
Or use smart bulbs and setup groups in their smart home app.
I would do that, but I’m already maxed out on the switch box the wire is coming out of. (2) 2- wires would put me 1 over conductor fill.
These don’t have anything written on them. They are tiny though. Even if they were allowed, I’m thinking I’d have a hell of a time getting (2) 3 wires in each box.
That’s where I’m not sure. Is the 5-6” hole for the light considered to be accessible? I could put them right above where the fixture would go. The fixture only takes up 3” or so and it’s a 12” rafter. It is a vaulted ceiling, so not accessible from an attic
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
You cannot put a junction box above the ceiling adjacent to the fixture. We used to do that if necessary but there was a code change that now prohibits it.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Agreed, and I've done it with standard recessed lights.
James L
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician
Use 14/3 and alternate red/black
You'll thank yourself when you're done in half the time
You'll thank yourself when you're done in half the time
Or, crazy thought, they probably don't really want to control every other light but rather dim the lights by at least 50% in a reasonably uniform manner. Provide a dimming switch in stead of standard switches and the whole issue with how to wire the lights might go away.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Are they planning on using dimmers on these lights? Many don't play well with a shared neutral between two dimmers so you're back to using separate 2-wire switch legs. If the switch box is too small then change it.
They said no dimmers for now, possibly down the road. Very difficult customers lol. So I have a 4 gang box with these switches, it’s the biggest 4-gang I could find at local supply house. There’s also a different switch for pendant lights, and one for a ceiling fan. My question is only about the 2 for the recessed lights. My dilemma is being able to get (2) 3 wire cables in each light. I thought about setting j-boxes at each light so I could drop a 2- wire to each light, but someone here said that is now prohibited. Anyone know the code section? The hole would be 6” and the box would be above it
James L
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician
Are these new constructuon cans, remodel cans, wafer lights, or......?
Every new construction can I've seen will accept up to (8) #12 which would amount to (9) #14
Remodel cans typically have considerably smaller j-boxes, though.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Difficult to do through a single KO. (I'm guessing NM cable.)
These are the flat wafer style lights. The j-box on them is tiny
With that said, would a j-box installed at each light be considered integral if it’s there for no purpose other than the lights?
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