How can I wire up my own light switch board to control many lights from a central location?

Question

It is for a haunted house - I need to be able to control many lights all from one location. For a look at what I want to end up with, check out http://terrorsyndicate.com/tsp_haunts2004.html and scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

Wiring diagrams, hardware needed, and other tips are all greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

If the wiring isn't done yet, then you can bring all your switch legs (wires coming from the lights) back to a central location.  Also, bring the feeds from the panel to that same location.  If you have a lot of lights you may need to separate some switch legs so you don't overload each circuit.  You can still multiple feeds in a box so you can have a bank of 4/5 switches.  In the switch boxes you will want the whites together, the black feed wired around one terminal on each switch, and the black switch leg wire on the other terminal of a switch.  Make sure you twist all the grounds together and wrap them around each switch too.

Now if the wiring is already done, you can interrupt the circuit by adding an additional switch.  You can either wire through the original switch by wire-nutting the feed and switch leg together (and then blank plate it off) or leave it there (but make sure it's always in the up position).

However, this will interrupt the whole circuit, not just one light switch.  If this isn't good enough, then you will have to have the lights rewired and configured as first indicated.

Answer 2

Need to know how many lights and what the wattage's of each would be and how many lights you want to be switched.

Answer 3

you say many lights but on one circuit you will only be able to control about 8 to 10 incandescent lights. would need to know how many lights, what kind of lights, before you could set up any control board.