Light Switch Wire Size

Questions about wiring switches.

Light switch wire size.

Fully explained wiring instructions complete with a picture series of an installation and wiring diagrams can be found here in the gfi and light switch area here in this website. It will either be 12 or 14 gauge wire. The 14 gauge wire or 14 2 and 14 3 type nm is most commonly used for home lighting circuits because most switches for homes are rated for 15 amps therefore using a larger size would not be compatible with these devices and it would not be as easy to make the connections when using a larger wire size. The wire strippers should have a spot marked for each gauge wire.

This circuit is wired with a 2 wire cable running from the light to the switch location. If you re wiring a circuit on which there are both lights and outlets or you just aren t sure which wire gauge to use you can t go wrong by choosing a 12 gauge wire. When the electrical source originates at a light fixture and is controlled from a remote location a switch loop is used. A dimmer switch is wired the same way as a single pole switch.

How to wire a gfci and outlet to a light switch. In this illustration you can see the red hot lead wires of the dimmer are connected to the inbound black wire from the electrical source the electrical panel and the black wire that goes to the light fixture s black wire which in this case is a white wire that has been taped with black electrical tape. Next bend the wire into a pig tail loop so that you can easily attach to the screws on the light switch.