I forgot to mention that you should check to make sure that you have room
for a four gang box before taking anything apart. Remove the switch plate
and with a thin screwdriver push along side the existing box. One side will
be solid wood. The other side should be hollow. Take a fish tape or coat
hangar wire and probe into the hollow side to see how wide the cavity is.
If it is not wide enough for a four gang box, then you might want to
consider the two gang box above or below option.
"John Grabowski" wrote in message
news
"Brian_SouthJersey" wrote in message
s.com...
You didn't say what the existing wiring
consisted of or how old the house is. If the existing switch box is
plastic
you may be able to pry it off the stud without damaging the wall.
The 2 bedroom condo is 16 years old. All wiring is copper, current/up
to date and the boxes are plastic.
Good. Plastic boxes are usually easier to remove without having to damage
the walls. This will avoid a patch job later.
Push the fish tape down the wall to the
switch location. Then go drill some holes in the joists between
lights.
Now
go back down and attach two 14/2 cables to the fish tape or have a
helper do
this. Pull them up to the attic and run each one to the first light
on
each
row being sure to pull them through the joists. You will also need to
staple them along the joists.
Do I really need to drill through the joists? I have attic access and
the attic is not finished. Would it be ok/smart to just allow the
cables to lay loose across the joists or maybe stapled over the tops
of the joists?
For an accessible attic space the wire must be protected. Sometimes
people
put cartons for storage on top of the joists. Sometimes they lay sheets
of
plywood down. I have found attics that way with plywood sitting on top of
wires. The alternative to drilling the joists is to install running
boards
such as a 2" x 4" across the joists and staple the cables to the side of
them.
If this project goes well, I will be installing these same lights in
my kitchen. No access at all. If I should or have to drill through the
joists for the bedroom or kitchen, where on the joist should I drill?
I assume in the middle and no more than a 1 1/4" hole?
As close to the middle as possible, but you really only need to keep the
cable a minimum of 1 1/4" from the face of the joist.
Go the switch box location and bring the old and new wires into the
four
gang box. The whites for the new lights go to the existing neutral.
The
blacks will be the switch leg. You will need to make some pigtails
off
of
the existing hot wire to feed the new single pole switches or dimmers.
Can I pigtail all four (I think my count is correct) of the black
wires to/from the one black/hot wire with one wire nut or is there a
better best practice I should use?
You can do four pigtails from the one. Just use a proper size wire
connector approved for five #14's.
If you wanted to control these lights from multiple locations you
would
need
to run one 14/3 cable for each switch to another switch location. The
red
and white would be the travelers. The black at the remote location
would go
on the black screw of the 3-way switch. The black of the 14/3 at the
four
gang box would get connected to the hot wire and the black from the
14/2
switch leg would go to the black screw on the 3-way switch or dimmer.
I was not going to do this. The distance is not far but I was thinking
of finding a remote to control/dim the lights with.
I don't have any suggestions for a remote unless you went with an X-10
type
system. I think there are remote controls for use with certain modules.
The wiring shouldn't be too much different. Instead of a switch you
install
a module. It may however require a neutral conductor. Look up smart
homes.
There are a lot of wiring diagrams on various web sites already. I
don't
know exactly where they are, but perhaps another person will post
those
links.
If anyone can find these it would be great. I have not found diagrams
that went beyond a switch and an outlet.
I hope this helps.
John Grabowskihttp://www.mrelectrician.tv
You were amazingly clear John with such a complicated question! Well
done sir!
Thank you and you're welcome.
Also, if anyone else is reading this just know that I am calling my
township today to see if I need a permit, etc for this. My condo
association has no rules for the inside unless it is a structural
alteration issue like removing, changing walls, closets, etc. MAKE IT
LEGAL and INSURABLE my friends!!!! I have been a licensed and full
time REALTOR real estate agent in southern NJ for years now and I
cannot begin to tell you the complicated and EXPENSIVE legal problems
that arise from DIYers that don't get permits!!!
Excellent advice. I have seen that situation arise several times. The
best
ones are from work that was done two or three owners ago.