not sure if it's possible. i'm trying to arrange a 3-way switch configuration with multiple lights. the lights are in series (so one connection to switch/power). the switches are between power and load, but (yes, this is where i run into trouble) i don't want to (or can't without an extra run of wire and drilling extra holes) pass power through both switches.
periods (.) are place holders, still haven't figured out how to get non-breaking spaces to work and " " doesn't interpret correctly.
........ (14-2 wire).........................(14-2)...........(14-2)
power ------------ 3-way switch -------- light --------- light
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
..........................| (14-3 wire)
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
...................3-way switch
can this even be done with single wire runs?
or would it have to be something like
..........(14-2 wire)
power ------------ 3-way switch
..........................|
..........................| (14-3 wire)
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|..(14-2)............(14-2)...........(14-2)
..........................+--------- light --------- light -------- light
..........................|
..........................|
....................3-way switch
where
- power black goes to first switch common
- power white nuts to the white (first half) of the 14-3 wire then nuts to the white of the light run
- first switch black and red are travellers to second switch
- white wire (second half of 14-3 wire) is coded for hot and runs from the common terminal on the second switch to the black wire of the light run
i'm hoping for the first scenario as the second would require making an extra j-box for the 3-wire to meet the 2-wire of the lighting run as i would have to divert the 3-wire run to use the built-in j-box on the recessed light, and since i don't know where that will be (cans are being installed in a drop ceiling grid so i have no clue where the lights will ultimately be), i don't know how long to make the extra runs to the lights.
what i'm looking for is how to accomplish #1. but if #1 is impossible, confirm that #2 will work. if #2 is also off-base, let me know how i can accomplish power - switches - lights without the wire being a single linear path of power - switch - switch - light - light (the easiest of 3=ways)
Thanks for the help
BeekerC
periods (.) are place holders, still haven't figured out how to get non-breaking spaces to work and " " doesn't interpret correctly.
........ (14-2 wire).........................(14-2)...........(14-2)
power ------------ 3-way switch -------- light --------- light
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
..........................| (14-3 wire)
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|
...................3-way switch
can this even be done with single wire runs?
or would it have to be something like
..........(14-2 wire)
power ------------ 3-way switch
..........................|
..........................| (14-3 wire)
..........................|
..........................|
..........................|..(14-2)............(14-2)...........(14-2)
..........................+--------- light --------- light -------- light
..........................|
..........................|
....................3-way switch
where
- power black goes to first switch common
- power white nuts to the white (first half) of the 14-3 wire then nuts to the white of the light run
- first switch black and red are travellers to second switch
- white wire (second half of 14-3 wire) is coded for hot and runs from the common terminal on the second switch to the black wire of the light run
i'm hoping for the first scenario as the second would require making an extra j-box for the 3-wire to meet the 2-wire of the lighting run as i would have to divert the 3-wire run to use the built-in j-box on the recessed light, and since i don't know where that will be (cans are being installed in a drop ceiling grid so i have no clue where the lights will ultimately be), i don't know how long to make the extra runs to the lights.
what i'm looking for is how to accomplish #1. but if #1 is impossible, confirm that #2 will work. if #2 is also off-base, let me know how i can accomplish power - switches - lights without the wire being a single linear path of power - switch - switch - light - light (the easiest of 3=ways)
Thanks for the help
BeekerC