Switch Placement for 4 new Garage Lights

[khoofard]

I recently installed a new 120V/20A breaker at my service panel in order to install an additional outlet or two in my finished garage. So I ran new 12/2 romex from the panel at the west wall (near the northwest corner) up into the attic and over to the east wall (near the northeast corner) to my new outlet. Now I want to wire in four flourescent ceiling mounted shop lights (each has two 32W T8 bulbs) in the garage (one centered in each quadrant), and power them from my new terminal outlet. However, I want the switch to be located in the southwest corner of the garage near my side door, diagonal from the new outlet and as far away as you can get in the 20' x 27' garage. Do I have to now run wire from the new outlet all the way to the switch location and then back to my new lights? Or can I somehow wire up the lights starting at the one closest to the new outlet, zig zagging in a Z pattern across the ceiling to each light, and ending at the switch?

Keith Hoofard

[handyandy]

What is the closest source of constant power to the switch location? You can branch off their, powering your switch. Then you can run romex from the switch to the lights, probably in the most convenient way.

Make sense?

Welcome to the forum!

[khoofard]

[quote]Originally posted by handyandy

What is the closest source of constant power to the switch location? You can branch off their, powering your switch. Then you can run romex from the switch to the lights, probably in the most convenient way.

Make sense?

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks. The new outlet is really the closest source of power to the proposed switch location. It seems like a waste of wire to run all the way to the switch location and then back track to the lights. But if that's how it's done, then I will go with it. Romex isn't expensive, but I thought I'd try and cut down on my back and forth time on my stomach in the attic.

Keith Hoofard

[handyandy]

Perhaps somewhere along the line to the new outlet is closer to the proposed location for the switch? Then you can tap the power at that point. Otherwise you have to get power to the switch from somewhere, just pick the easiest.

As far as running the romex between the lights, you have several options. You can run from the switch to the closest light, then to the next closest, and so on. You can also run power from the switch to a central location, and then run romex from that location to the lights.

Is that what you mean? Could you draw a diagram of the layout, maybe we could be of more help.

Does that help at all?

[irregularjoe]

"but I thought I'd try and cut down on my back and forth time on my stomach in the attic."

welcome to the wonderful world of attic wiring.



Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!

[Jimmer]

Keith,

Your original idea would work. Add a covered juction box along your cable to the new outlet. Wire the new fixtures in series with the blacks connected only to the black in the next length of cable then attach the whites (switched hots, put black tape on the white ends) to the fixture, ending at the light switch.



Good luck, Jim

'Just a handyman trying to help'

[khoofard]

I was hoping I could do that. Thanks for everyone's help.

quote:Originally posted by Jimmer

Keith,

Your original idea would work. Add a covered juction box along your cable to the new outlet. Wire the new fixtures in series with the blacks connected only to the black in the next length of cable then attach the whites (switched hots, put black tape on the white ends) to the fixture, ending at the light switch.



Good luck, Jim

'Just a handyman trying to help'

Keith Hoofard

[khoofard]

Jim,

Just finished up wiring my new T8 fluorescent fixtures in my garage as indicated on the diagram. Each fixture has two 32W T8 bulbs. I put in three fixtures instead of four. All went smooth, except when I flip the switch. Only half of one tube in the middle fixture flickers in an attempt to light. Not a flicker from the two fixtures at either end. I

I tied into the source wire of my new outlet using a junction box in the attic. I then ran a short length of Romex between the junction box to the first fixture, and then between each fixture in series, ending at the switch. I wired the Romex black wires together at each fixture, and wired the white ballast wire to one Romex neutral (white) and the black ballast wire to the other Romex neutral. I wired the Romex grounds together at each fixture, leaving the ground capped at the switch box. I placed the switch between the white and black wires of the incoming Romex to the switch box.

I can't figure what would be causing this problem. It seems like it should work. Or maybe I'm just lame. Could there be some kind of limitation with electronic ballasts and this type of wiring method? I have a jpg drawing showing my setup, but I can't figure out how to insert it into this message. The "insert" image button doesn't do anything, or prompt me to browse for the path to the file.

Friday night - Well, I just went ahead wired it up the old fashioned way. A little more Romex, but it works.