Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Recessed light wiring from fan switch
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octdev
10-22-09, 10:25 PM
Hi,
I currently have power to two switches that run to a box for a ceiling fan. I installed a fan that only utilizes one of the hot wires; the switch stays on and the fan/light is controlled via remote. Now I am looking to put in 4 recessed can lights controlled by the second switch in a diamond pattern in the room. Conventional recommendations seem to be to wire via:
Power -- Switch -- (Fan Box) -- L1 -- L2 -- L3 -- L4
Is there any reason / code keeping me from wiring it as:
L1 L2
\ /
Power -- Switch -- (Fan Box)
/ \
L3 L4
wire nutting the 4 lights to the wiring inside the box for the fan? I'd prefer to do this simply to avoid running wires back and forth, because based on the way the joists run I'll have to come back to the fan box after each light to avoid cutting excess access holes.
Thanks!
I currently have power to two switches that run to a box for a ceiling fan. I installed a fan that only utilizes one of the hot wires; the switch stays on and the fan/light is controlled via remote. Now I am looking to put in 4 recessed can lights controlled by the second switch in a diamond pattern in the room. Conventional recommendations seem to be to wire via:
Power -- Switch -- (Fan Box) -- L1 -- L2 -- L3 -- L4
Is there any reason / code keeping me from wiring it as:
L1 L2
\ /
Power -- Switch -- (Fan Box)
/ \
L3 L4
wire nutting the 4 lights to the wiring inside the box for the fan? I'd prefer to do this simply to avoid running wires back and forth, because based on the way the joists run I'll have to come back to the fan box after each light to avoid cutting excess access holes.
Thanks!
Wirepuller38
10-23-09, 06:56 AM
The code question will be concerning box fill requirements in the ceiling fan box. Looks like you will have several wires entering the box. Make sure the box has sufficient volume to meet code.
pcboss
10-23-09, 06:57 AM
The issue you will run into is with box fill. Boxes are rated in cubic inch capacity. Each #14 wire counts as 2 cu. in, each #12 counts as 2.25 cu. inches. Grounds only count once.
The largest fan rated box I have seen was 20 cubic inches. Using your example I get 8 new wires added to the 4 that are already there. You would need a 24 cubic inch box at a minimum.
The largest fan rated box I have seen was 20 cubic inches. Using your example I get 8 new wires added to the 4 that are already there. You would need a 24 cubic inch box at a minimum.