What wires do I need to run a circuit from my subpanel to 2 switches separate switches.?

Question

1 switch will control 2 separate spot lights outside and then 2 separate receptables.

The other switch will control 10 different single spot lights with a 3 separate receptables in between.

I want the switche to control the ligths but not the stand alone receptables. What do I do?

Answer 1

That kind of depends on the size of the light bulbs. I will assume they will be 100 watts each. For 12 lights you

will be using 10 amps.  You could use a 14-3 cable, but

personally I would use a 12-3 cable. You have a black, white,

and a red in the cable. Run the cable to your switch box and

use the black as the hot for the lights. Hook it up to one s***w

on both switches. Then you need a 12-2 cable to go from

each switch to the lights it is going to control. Put the black

wire from the 12-2 on your switch and splice the whites together. After your wires are in the first light you can run the

12-2 from the first light to the second one and splice the

wires color to color. One set of wires goes to two lights, and

the other set goes to the remaining 10 lights. After that take

another 12-2 cable and run to your outlets. Splice the black

from the 12-2 to the red wire on the 12-3 and splice the

white wire with the other white wires and twist all the ground

wires together. In the panel make sure you put the breakers

one directly below the other one, because they need to be

on different phases. Lots of luck.

Answer 2

I can tell you, but that means I have to draw a diagram.  Get a book called, "advanced wiring."  I think Black and Decker publishes it.  When you get ready to wire, draw yourself some diagrams.  It looks like you'll also have some three way switches.  If you're an electrician, you wouldn't be asking me these questions.  So what you want it to do before you string any wire is make sure it all turns on and off on paper.  Use the correct wire, Treat electricity with respect.