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Wiring a switch for a light fixture Dom 04-23-2007
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Posted by Dom on April 23, 2007, 11:35 am


I have discovered that there are two ways to wire a switch for a light
fixture.
1) pull two NM wires to the switch - one power the other goes to light
fixture
2) pull one NM wire to the switch - two wires to the fixture , one
from the switch (mark the white lead with black marker at the ends)
and one from power source.

My question would be which one is more preferable? I would like to
avoid fishing two wires to the switch box. Any advice is welcomed. I'm
in Ontario.

Thanks

Dom


Posted by Doug Miller on April 23, 2007, 11:53 am


>I have discovered that there are two ways to wire a switch for a light fixture.
>1) pull two NM wires to the switch - one power the other goes to light fixture
>2) pull one NM wire to the switch - two wires to the fixture , one
>from the switch (mark the white lead with black marker at the ends)
>and one from power source.
>
>My question would be which one is more preferable? I would like to
>avoid fishing two wires to the switch box.

Then clearly the second option is the more preferable. :-)

It really doesn't make much of a difference, unless you might at some time
want to install a device, such as a timer switch or combination switch/outlet,
which needs a neutral, in which case you need at least three conductors
(constant hot, switched hot, and neutral). That could be achieved either with
two 2-wire cables or one 3-wire cable.


--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Posted by Mark Lloyd on April 23, 2007, 1:40 pm



>I have discovered that there are two ways to wire a switch for a light
>fixture.
>1) pull two NM wires to the switch - one power the other goes to light
>fixture
>2) pull one NM wire to the switch - two wires to the fixture , one
>from the switch (mark the white lead with black marker at the ends)
>and one from power source.
>
>My question would be which one is more preferable? I would like to
>avoid fishing two wires to the switch box. Any advice is welcomed. I'm
>in Ontario.
>

I would find 1) to be preferable. It allows for any future devices
that require a neutral.

>Thanks
>
>Dom
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

Posted by peter on April 25, 2007, 1:49 pm



>> I have discovered that there are two ways to wire a switch for a light
>> fixture.
>> 1) pull two NM wires to the switch - one power the other goes to light
>> fixture
>> 2) pull one NM wire to the switch - two wires to the fixture , one
>> from the switch (mark the white lead with black marker at the ends)
>> and one from power source.
>
> 1) is preferred for future flexibility. The main advantage to (2) is
> that it sometimes makes whole house electrical jobs a bit cheaper, or
> it can take advantage of existing wiring on a reno.

Are both methods allowed by electrical code?
All switches I have seen are wires using method 1.



Posted by Mark Lloyd on April 25, 2007, 3:23 pm



>
>>> I have discovered that there are two ways to wire a switch for a light
>>> fixture.
>>> 1) pull two NM wires to the switch - one power the other goes to light
>>> fixture
>>> 2) pull one NM wire to the switch - two wires to the fixture , one
>>> from the switch (mark the white lead with black marker at the ends)
>>> and one from power source.
>>
>> 1) is preferred for future flexibility. The main advantage to (2) is
>> that it sometimes makes whole house electrical jobs a bit cheaper, or
>> it can take advantage of existing wiring on a reno.
>
>Are both methods allowed by electrical code?
>All switches I have seen are wires using method 1.
>

I've seen a lot that used #2, but almost never marked as they should
be. I still prefer #1, which is more flexible.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

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