What is the best way to route / plan a lighting circuit only coming from the panel box?
Components:
- attic light on pull chain
- bathroom light w single pole switch
- 3Way Switch ---- SSLL config
Do I come from the panel box
-- to the attic light then go down
-- to the Single Pole Switch & assoc Light
-- then go from the Single Pole Switch
-- to the 1st 3 Way Switch (I'm ok from there on) its just everything before.
Does the HomeRun - black hot leg going thru the attic light stay hot even if the light is not turned on as the black hot leg goes down the path into the Single Pole Switch and again stay hot as it travels to the 3Way Switch?
Do Home Runs stay hot as they travel through switches from switch to switch even when the switches are turned off?
Also in a typical 1 gang Switch Box are 3 cables 12/2Wground & wirenuts too many to connect?
I ask because my elect inspect said he prefers separate lighting circuits verus mixed lighting and outlet circuits.
I've said it a few different ways to see if I can make my question clearer. Thanks.
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For switches (either pull chain or box ones), they are normally wired with the switch after the connection to the hot wire, so the wire remains hot going on to other devices regardless of the on-off position of the switch.
About your wiring plan, any of these should work. So normally this is decided based on the details of the construction -- what is easiest to work with depending on the walls, floors, etc.
Personally, I tend to prefer a hot cable from the panel to a junction box in a location that's convenient to all the devices (an accessible attic often works well). Then I run individual cables from that junction box to each of the 3 devices. This makes the wiring simpler at each device location, and gives you a big empty box for the junction of all those cables. Also, I think this is easier if you ever do additions in the future.
A single gang box will hold all those wires plus a device, and meet code, but it will be crowded. You can get 'deep' boxes which give you more room. You can also use a double box, with the switch on one side and the wires on the other. There are face plates with one side blank. This is visible in the finished room, but generally not a problem.
About your wiring plan, any of these should work. So normally this is decided based on the details of the construction -- what is easiest to work with depending on the walls, floors, etc.
Personally, I tend to prefer a hot cable from the panel to a junction box in a location that's convenient to all the devices (an accessible attic often works well). Then I run individual cables from that junction box to each of the 3 devices. This makes the wiring simpler at each device location, and gives you a big empty box for the junction of all those cables. Also, I think this is easier if you ever do additions in the future.
A single gang box will hold all those wires plus a device, and meet code, but it will be crowded. You can get 'deep' boxes which give you more room. You can also use a double box, with the switch on one side and the wires on the other. There are face plates with one side blank. This is visible in the finished room, but generally not a problem.
