how to wire 3 switches from one power source

Andrew Hoper
3 min readFeb 23, 2022

--

Your gang box looks like an octopus with wires coming out of it like the tentacles of a creek that sank the Black Pearl. It seems a bit difficult to see how to put three switches in a distribution box. You only have one power cord and three different accessories to connect to this power source. Master the tents and provide the power that will allow each device to operate with a dedicated switch.

Preparation

Step 1

Disconnect the power from the circuit on the breaker panel.

Step 2

Make pigtails You will need three black wire pigtails and five green wire pigtails. Cut three to six inches of 14 THHN solid black wire. Use a wire stripper/cutter to remove 3 inches of insulation from each end of the black pigtails.

Step 3

14 THHN Cut solid green wire five to six inches long. Use a wire stripper/cutter to remove 3 inches of insulation from each end of the green pigtails.

Read more Related

3 Way Switch Wiring
Electrical Splices Guide

Wiring of Neutral wire

Step 1

Connect the white or neutral wires to the power box. You currently have a total of four white wires. You have a white wire from the power supply that goes back to the breaker panel and you have three white wires that connect to all three fixtures. Use the yellow wire and twist all four wires together.

Step 2

Tap the wire nut on the wires with electrical tape. Wrap the tape around the wire nut and over the wires. It is not necessary but it will give you extra protection.

Step 3

Push the four white wires into the back of the electrical box.

Wiring of Hot Wire

Step 1

Connect one black or hot wire from each of the three fixtures to the top screw on the right side of each switch. Tighten each screw.

Step 2

Connect the black wire to the power supply with three black pigtails. Twist the four black wires with a yellow wire nut. A power cable is a cable that connects directly to a breaker panel. Tap the wire nut on the wires with electrical tape. Wrap the tape around the wire nut and over the wires.

Step 3

Connect each black pigtail to the screw under each of the three switches.

Wiring of ground wires

Step 1

Connect the two green pigtails to the copper ground wire. Twist the wires with the orange wire nut. Tap the wire nut on the wires with electrical tape. Wrap the tape around the wire nut and over the wires.

Step 2

Connect one of the green copper ground wires to the orange wire nut that is attached to all three fixtures. Twist the wires with a yellow wire nut. Push the wires to the back of the outlet box. Tap the wire nut on the wires with electrical tape. Wrap the tape around the wire nut and over the wires.

Step 3

Connect the remaining green pigtails in the orange wire nut with the other three green pigtails. Twist these four wires with a yellow wire nut. Tap the wire nut on the wires with electrical tape. Wrap the tape around the wire nut and over the wires.

Step 4

Connect each of the three green pigtails to the green ground screw on each of the three switches. Green ground patches are located on the bottom left of each switch. Tighten the green patch.

Installing the switches

Step 1

Connect all three switches to the electrical box. Each switch will be connected to the electrical box using a screw, one above each switch and one below.

Step 2

Cover all three switches with a triple switch cover plate. The cover plate will be attached with screws, three top, and three bottoms.

Step 3

Turn on the circuit on the breaker panel.

More Details

Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world.

--

--

Andrew Hoper
Andrew Hoper

No responses yet

Write a response