One Gang Switch For Multiple Lights

Previously I have written about how we go about doing the electrical layout for multiple light points using individual switches to control each light separately. However there are many instances where we want the convenience of switching on all the lights in certain part of our premises all at once. This is especially so when we are using down lights or flush-lights in our dining hall or living room. Most of the time we have at least 4 lights switched on together. This can be achieved by using one single gang switch for multiple lights.

In cases like these we can lay the wires accordingly to have one single gang switch to control all the lights. Refer to the diagram above. If you have noticed, all my diagrams here are very crude and nothing you will see in professional schematic drawings. The main aim is to show you how exactly it is done and even novices or housewives will be able understand, which is the main aim of this site.

Referring to the diagram, you will see that the first light point is like any normal light point, with the live wire (L) from the Mains going down to the switch and the switch wire (S) going up to the lights. In case you have not been following this blog, check out my previous post about lighting points.

Now to have multiple lights lighting up with only a single one gang switch, all you have to do is to keep looping the wires from the first light (L1) During termination of the lights, the red wires are twisted together. So are the black neutral wires. Doing it this way, L2 will get the electricity supply from L1, L3 will get it’s supply from L2 and so on until you come to the last light.

I will have to remind you that it is NOT advisable to loop too many lights together as it might overload the circuit. As a safety precaution, the maximum lights allowed is 10. which I think will be more than enough. Of course if you want more lights, you will have to increase the size of the wires and install a higher amperage setting for the circuit breaker, but that would be the job of a professional who knows how to calculate power consumption. It is something I will discuss later on.

Related posts:

1. Multiple Light Points Wiring Circuit Diagram To wire up multiple light points is nothing any complex than wiring a single light point. A multiple light point’s circuit works exactly the same as a single light point except for the series looping of the live wire and the neutral wire. The fact that we see more than...
2. 3 Gang Switch Wire Termination Diagram I have explained the difference between a 3 gang switch and a 3 way switch. I have also mentioned that a 3 gang switch is actually 3 individual 1 gang switch bundled side by side so as to save space and to make multiple switches lined up on the wall...
3. Wiring Up A Two Gang Switch To install the wrings of any switches, be it a one gang or a two gang switch, we have to understand first how a electrical circuit works. The electrical current we use in our house is called alternating current or AC. This means the current flows continuously alternating from point...
4. Terminate a two gang switch Remember that a 2 gang switch is just like any other one gang switch. The only difference is they are 2 switches bundled together side by side and each of the switches are in fact just like any one gang switch. If anyone knows how to terminate a one gang...
5. Installing An Additional Light Point Say you have a room that has only a single light point or maybe a dining hall that you feel is not bright enough. You can always add in an additional light without too much trouble and you don’t even have to mess with the Main Switch Panel. Wiring Diagram...

Tagged as: Circuit Diagram, Electrical Tips, Lighting Points, One Gang Switch, Switches