How Do They Wire Up Multiple Switches With Just 1 Hot Wire!? What Many Don't Know!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Did you know this is how multiple switches are wired and installed? Also, if you need any of the tools or materials in the video, you can easily find them in the video's description!

[@mej23]

Even though I’m trying to troubleshoot a box with 3-way switches, this is one of the most helpful videos I’ve found to understand the shared load. THANK YOU!

[@aaronblackford981]

I used to work a lighting industry manufacturing company back when wagu pushin devices were new. They worked great for us with zero known complaints. I can’t wait to use the Ideal or Wagu lever devices.

[@robertshorthill6836]

Back in '03, I had the pleasure of wiring up my shop by myself. I made a couple mistakes my inspector pointed out to me. When he approved my wiring project he mentioned I had done a first class job-- neater than many professional electricians he had dealt with.

[@chuckz28]

I just had to do this last week for my basement finish on a 2 switch box. I used wire nuts. After I got done I found my Wago connectors I bought specifically for that box and frowned because it was already done and the wires were already twisted together. Such a pain with 12-2 Romex to twist it all and smash in the box too.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Haha never fails does it. Yeah it can definitely make it more difficult. Especially in an already crammed box. Thanks a lot for the feedback Chuck!

[@juansuave8131]

Great video! Straight forward and didn't take 20 plus minutes of explanations that are not needed. Thank you!

[@StevenS-g3p]

The fact that he takes the time to align all his faceplate screws the same direction is a sure sign of someone who takes pride in their work and wants it to look neat.

[@alihopital8466]

Special thanks for simplifying this, watched lots of videos and nobody helped this way easy and simple. After I finished, I was searching this video to say thanks and show my gratitude to you for this helpful video.

[@jesusm1089]

Just did exactly what you did and it came out perfect. Can’t thank you enough for sharing this valuable information. The way you explain is simple and clear. You just got another subscriber.

[@achardjc]

Thank you for this clear and concise explanation. It really makes sense the way you showed the process.

[@lcee6592]

Nice straight forward explanation of some basic wiring. 👍

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@wdeoliveira100]

Thanks!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You’re very welcome! Glad you found it helpful. Thanks a lot for the feedback and the Super Thanks! It is very much appreciated!

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Thanks. This really helped me out and saved me some money. Good health and God bless

[@alanfrakes306]

Very well explained... I now have the confidence to attempt my 2-fixture project

[@Eddy63]

Perfectly illustrated as usual ...Thx

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Eddy!

[@demontekdigital]

Man, that's really cool! I haven't purchased either the Wago, or the Ideal lever nuts, but I'm really starting to see the necessity of having them. Thank you for the useful info, I appreciate it.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. I am liking them more and more but still really only using them for lower amperage applications like this one. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@robertshorthill6836]

The wagu connectors take up less space in any box. I used a few for a project and was satisfied with the ease of use.

[@demontekdigital]

@@HowToHomeDIY Yeah, I'm not sure I'd be willing to use them on a 20 amp outlet, but for 15 amp light switches they'd be "Ideal" LOL. One thing I've learned is you NEVER piss Thor off.

[@demontekdigital]

@@robertshorthill6836 Less space taken is always welcome. Especially in my house where there always seems to be at least 3 Romex wires in most of the boxes. As I mentioned to HTHDIY I would only ever use these in things like light switches, and maybe ceiling fans. Putting them in 20 amp outlets would make me lose sleep, lol.

[@Painfullink]

Just a quick thank you this video helped me a lot thanx for the help

[@raymond3722]

Very clear and informative.Thank you

[@heroknaderi]

Very detailed information. I appreciate it 💪

[@JorgePerez-sg9di]

Thank you very good information

[@kurobisukou123]

Thank you for the videos. Your videos are clean and easy to understand for even newbie like me. Def one of the best I have seen so far.

[@Epicness619]

Real easy, simple explanation. Thanks for the knowledge!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@professionalinspectionserv9468]

Great, I kind of knew this but seeing it and your method clarifies. Only caution would be when using one line, is that it is not overloaded from other upstream/downstream requirements. If it is only a lighting branch you should be more then fine especially with led bulbs. If it is coming from a receptacle branch that has heavy loads... Keep that mind. Keeping lighting branches with lighting branches is the best method.

[@MRJSWORKSHOP]

Would this be the same wiring for two switches and one outlet?

[@faultyplans]

If I have a light fixture/switch already in place with a switch loop and want to add a switch to another separate light, can I do this?

[@JoseAmaya-nt2gu]

I've been wanting to go to school for electrical and was wondering if you can point me in the best direction as far as a good trade school.

[@willcwong]

very easy to follow, thanks

[@KNS_Racing]

What about for smart switches that have no screws on the side of them to pigtail to? Each smart switch only has a neutral, ground, line and load

[@MyGuyKirby]

Any tips for dealing with dual boxes and the deeper dimmer switches or fan controls? Glad you showed the various ways to connect the wires.

[@RussellWaldrop]

If you have room and can rip it out, they make deeper boxes that can give you a lot more room.

[@MyGuyKirby]

@@RussellWaldrop Thanks, did not know they make deeper boxes. Just decided to use lower lumen lights and skip needing to dim the brighter lights.

[@AdamS-lh2ug]

They have shallow mount and deep mount boxes.

[@petem6291]

One little detail that may help out in future repairs or troubleshooting is to wrap black or red tape around the black wire that power the whole box ( just a band of tape to indicate the incoming power wire)

[@LiqdPT]

Why do the wago and ideal level nuts not come in 4 port? It seems like the most common one I need (other than 2) and so I end up using 5.

[@SaltMinerOU812]

Agree same here

[@JCWren]

This.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Great question!

[@enriqueballejo4823]

Great video ❤

[@AZA_578]

I’ll be honest I’m a plumber and I understand now bravo. It makes so much science I can’t believe my brain comprehends

[@What1zTyme]

Good lesson! Thanks!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave the feedback!

[@raydeese8859]

Thank you for the video. It really helped me.

[@clarencewiles963]

Thumbs up 👍 thanks for sharing.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! As always, glad to hear you liked it. Hope you are doing well. Thanks a lot for the feedback Clarence!

[@SignorLuigi]

Good job! 👏👏👏

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad you liked it. Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave the feedback MrLuigi!

[@russlytton2424]

Great video! Thank you for sharing!

[@FFenty-of5xv]

Great screwdriver

[@DodgeSystems]

Can I daisy-chain off an outlet to connect another outlet? I don't expect the 2nd outlet to use more than 20-30w.. just powering a TV. I expect to be able to cut the outlet wire in the attic with 2 junction boxes, and run the 2nd outlet off the 2nd junction box.

[@zekenzy6486]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. Have a nice weekend. May I ask, for 1 line supply power or ( 1 circuit breaker ) how many load light switch or receptacles outlet I can connect to ?

[@paulattanasio3061]

perfect, easy explanation. Thanks again!

[@austinjones1318]

Hey brotha just asking a question for ya.If I have one main line coming into my first switch box in one room and I wanna run on the same circuit to 2 other rooms and have the switches all work on different lights how would I wire switch box to switch box ?

[@stephanl9216]

If i have my power line coming into a 4 gang box to power my 4 switches 1 of them being a 3 way switch. Can i continue power out of this same box to another set of switches in another 2 gang box?

[@dunckeroo1987]

It can be done. Two 14/2 cables one 14/3 depending what you want to do.

[@DoubleDoubleWithOnions]

Very helpful

[@phobos_miner4288]

Very helpful.

[@martinmercerjr8615]

Hello, can you do a video on a three way switch. Someone wire one of my three switches and I cannot find the wire that controls the three way. I cannot control the light from one switch. If I turned on the switch by one switch, it will not work.

[@pana19561]

You should explain to keep Trac of switch assigned to each fixture on box and wire switch accordingly.

[@partsdave8943]

I noticed that you fed the Hot line into the middle of the connector. Was that done intentionally, to split the load evenly on the bus bar?

[@larsfrieser9792]

Yes

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Very good eye. Yes. Some will say it doesn't matter but to me it just makes sense.

[@partsdave8943]

@@HowToHomeDIY I agree. Would also do the same.

[@mariogonzalez4129]

Great video

[@justduitman]

Can a pigtail be used to relocate a ceiling light fixture 3 feet?

[@carlpayne8008]

Thank you for the info it was awesome 👏💯percent 👍

[@scarce911]

I just upgraded 2 of my 3 gang boxes with new switches, they use the singlewire snaked between each switch trick (fixed that)... I'm replacing every switch and outlet in the house i just bought.. have ran into a couple "nightmares" so far, and repaired them.. my next nightmare i know of, but haven't messed with...is a light switch (pretty sure its a 3 wa because of the red wire) ..theres power flowing to bith wires when the switch is off and when its on...at this point it seems like they were using it as a junction box, and bypassed the switch function...BECAUSE it doesn't operate anything that i have found yet.. I'll hopefully get a better view of the wiring when i do the drywall on the opposite side of the wall

[@GarySchiltz]

What do you call the box? Is it a "junction box"?

[@ziggyperez2372]

Looking for a video and how to connect single pole switch 2 light fixtures and at the end electric outlet

[@habbadabbado5765]

Why not run one long ground wire pigtail to each switch, from one ground screw to the second and then the third?

[@chuckz28]

Can you do a video on how to install a pvc cleanout on a main stack that doesnt have one?

[@handyandy8671]

what gauge wire and circuit breaker is required for all the lights your connecting?

[@surferdude642]

14/2 and 15 amp circuit breaker.

[@handyandy8671]

thanks!

[@tushargaur2007]

Why backstabbing is bad but wago and the other connectors are ok? Arent they based on the same mechanism?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Not at all. Completely different.

[@BIGW20]

Thanks bro

[@JustMe-yf2cg]

Can you make a video about when there are too many wires in a connector box and they are melted and causing a power outage. and how to fix it. Thank you.

[@lindalawler3024]

I would love to see this same video but add a remote box for powering ceiling fans that have remote controls. I tried replacing my remote control in the ceiling fan but I'm brand new to electrical and the number of wires and colors not matching left me intimidated.

[@TheObsesedAnimeFreaks]

What about daisy chaining the line wires?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

How would you do that without double stacking the wires or backstabbing?

[@TheObsesedAnimeFreaks]

@@HowToHomeDIY depends on the device? Can you Explain double stacking? I know some devices have places for 2 wires per terminal, my Kasa smart switches do. But I don't know how effective that is or if there is a better way. Space becomes a concern with more wire nuts.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Yeah double stacking is putting two wires on top of each other on one terminal screw. Most single pole switch won’t have the plates where you can put two wires. Obviously if you have that with a certain brand or commercial grade switch it’s an option. I’m not a fan of it personally. I like my switches and receptacles to work independently of each other. I’ve not had issues with space in a box unless the box is above its box fill calculations. Outside of that the wire nuts haven’t been much of an issue. But that’s my opinion.

[@TheObsesedAnimeFreaks]

@@HowToHomeDIY TY, I have heard that the biggest complaint about using the terminals that can take 2 wires is that if that terminal fails, that other devices can go down in the daisy chain. I've not experienced this issue myself, but i do know that's a concern. As a novice I do enjoy the challenge of working with simple electrical wiring, but i would like to do so safely. In addition, I've had issues trying to figure out how to get involved int he electricians guild/union, for training, and would like to know if there have/could make a video on that? there's not an easy way that I've found to just apply online.

[@YaBoyAzi]

So what if one of the switches is a 3 way?

[@PureSwank]

I got a shit show with ONE flip switch. I got 2 black wires on the bottom screw. 1 black on the top screw (provides power to the ceiling light) another black inserted behind the switch (assuming its my main power source) and 1 ground on the other screw/other side of switch. (3 total screws). The 2 black wires connected to the bottom screw have CONSTANT power, they provide electricity to an entire hallway and the other wire to another room REGARDLESS of whether the switch is in the on or off position for the ceiling light. IS THIS EVEN SAFE? WHATS GOING ON? If I loosen the bottom screw with the two blacks, the hallway and room lose all power to them. I'm trying to install a 1-way smart switch, (for the ceiling light) and it only has 3 inserts. The line, load, and neutral. How do I install this switch when I have a total of 4 black wires? I obviously have to use the other 2 blacks if I want to keep power to the hallway nad room. The hallway light you can control from 3 different light switches depending what side of the home you're at.

[@ekaybeane]

Sounds like a double wide, I've got same issue in a bathroom. One of my wires on the two on same screw if it is loose i lose power in my living room and a bedroom. Also the light is backstabbed in. My main hot wire it one long wire with insulation removed and wrapped around screw then leads to the other switch same thing.

[@eduardojerezano3233]

Add j box Land the line /power that’s powering all those devices In said j box then splice accordingly to that power then you should have one wire load going to your switch box then a switch leg going to that light only two sets of wires in that switch box then the rest are spliced in the j box above or wherever you put it giving power to the rest of the devices

[@gregmckinley5178]

They do make bigger wire nuts. Grey and blue.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Yes they do. More so for larger gauge wires. Not really designed to accommodate 7 wires.

[@MikeeB28]

Why would I see 2 bundles of neutrals in a light switch?

[@rickzwolinski]

Who writes your reviews/comments- relatives?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Your mom.

[@highvoltage1979]

That’s your mom Rick , are you going to stand for that

[@fauxque5057]

I hate triple gang boxes. I wished the made them larger in order to stuff the wires in there. It really gets to be a mess when you install smart switches and need a common wire for each switch. They could make a pocket on the top and bottom so you can stuff all of the wires in there

[@sin3369]

Now how to make it to one switch

[@artglasswindows]

Wars the links

[@HowToHomeDIY]

In the description portion of the video.

[@rickzwolinski]

You dont want to do that. Feed the the switches from a continuous single wire. End up with two wires under the connector. That is just inexperience showing thru. Never mind your ridiculous wago, dont need them. You are really stretching to create topics.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Always great to see you and your positive attitude Rick! Take care of yourself!

[@gregmize01]

SLICK!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad you liked it! Thanks a lot for the feedback Greg!

[@tedbush1870]

This is your way of doing it, doesn’t mean there isn’t a different way, I have wired 1000’s of homes and don’t do it that way, people who don’t know what they are doing shouldn’t be doing electrical work

[@lindalawler3024]

So if I call an electrician instead of a handyman, they won't think I'm wasting their time? I'm not kidding, I'm a new homeowner, no husband, and I wasn't sure which is more appropriate to fix ceiling fans. They have remote controls and even with the switches off I can turn the bedroom light on when I use the remote for the living room.

[@Anthony-bz1vt]

garbage. no way a licensed electrician does this. first off you use green wire nuts for ground that have a hole in the end. holy crap. lol. god bless KZbin.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

That is so odd. My home was wired by a licensed electrician and not one single green wire nut in the boxes. In fact, I have yet to find much work at all done by an electrician using the green wire nuts on the grounds. Weird.

[@ajwilk]

Anyone who needs to recognize a ground by the color of the wire nut just might not be a licensed electrician.