Trying to rewire attic lights to use a switch.
My garage attic has two lights in it, one is controlled by a switch near the ladder into the attic, the other is controlled by a pull string on the fixture. I'd like to put them both on the switch which normally I wouldn't have much trouble with but it's current configured with the power coming from the light with the string. That feeds to the light that the switch controls and then there are two lines coming out of that fixture, one for the switch and one line that runs somewhere else entirely. So not sure how to keep that continuous line while also setting up both lights on the switch.
Here is a diagram of how it's setup that should go better than my explanation.
If it's not clear, the power comes into the light with the pull string, it is not coming in from near the switch.
Not sure if the best option is to just wire together one continuous line in the boxes for the power out and then branch off a second line for the lights?
Posted Mar 19, 2022, 12:36 PM UTC
The middle "power" line in your diagram needs two ungrounded conductors, but there is only one right now. Add appropriately sized cable in that section, and use it for the light.
So I need to run another 14/2 between them? Not sure how to wire it if the switch is at the end and the power is coming from the first light.
I was able to wire it as a series but then one light is very dim. Would I need 14/3 to wire them in parallel?
14/2 (15A circuit) is fine. In the "light controlled by switch box" there should be a black wire going to the light, which connects to the center post, if it's an Edison base. The back wire that goes to the "light with pull string" is attached to that same wire. Then there is also a white and bare. Same concept.
Now some fixtures have multiple terminals, and others have loose wires, and so on. What you need to make sure is that you only put one wire under a terminal screw, so your connections might involved adding a short piece of wire to connect it all together in the "light controlled by switch box."