How to Cut in a Multi-Gang Switch Box

Prepare to “cut in” box. Label each cable with sharpie. Strip outer sheathing of the

cable being careful not to damage the inner conductors.

Only use listed tools for this task.

Labels can be made from the leftover cable sheathing.

Labels are used to identify important conductors such as a “switch leg” or “three way” for later use.

Labels should abbreviate the conductor being labeled. For example, a set of travelers for a three way switch could be abbreviated as simply “S3”

Label should slide over the conductor as shown in the picture to the right.

After stripping and labeling conductors, separate and group grounds, neutrals, travelers for three ways, switch legs, and power wires.

It is important at this stage to eliminate important wires such as switch legs and three way switches by placing in their intended finished position and bending up. See Right

This systematic approach to cutting in the switch box will help to organize the conductors and also make the job less complicated.

Box should look something like the picture on the right.

Find several (as many pieces as you have switches) pieces of scrap bare copper at least 12” to 18” in length.

Bare copper should be same wire size. (AWG)

Bend the top 3 – 4” in a hook. See Picture

Next, hold all the ground wires together with your thumb and forefinger to make a pigtail.

After that, gently Train your wires by lightly grabbing with your linesman pliers and twisting counter-clockwise.

Once all wires are trained in a somewhat uniform fashion, grab firmly with your linesmans pliers and continue twisting counter-clockwise.

Twist until ALL grounds are firmly and permanently secured to each other.

The tip of the twisted grounds should be cut with Linesmans / Side Cutting Pliers on an angle like the picture on the right.

After that, place a wirenut on the end of the splice and twist counter-clockwise until you start to feel a counter resistance. (wirenut starts to feel tight)

Ground splice should then be folded neatly in the back of the back.

Ground tails should be folded and bent down in position and ready to be installed to the switch.

The white wires that will not be used as traveler wires for 3 way switches will be Neutral wires

Prepare to Cap your neutral wires

Train your wires by lightly grabbing with your linesman pliers and twisting counter-clockwise.

Once all wires are trained in a somewhat uniform fashion, grab firmly with your linesmans pliers and continue twisting counter-clockwise.

Twist a wirenut on to the neutral wire splice.

(Follow the manufacturers guidelines for installation of wirenuts.)

Neatly fold twisted neutral wires and push to back of box, just in front of ground wire splice.

Bend all of your black (120v power) conductors to the left or right side of box, cut, then strip 1” of insulation from the wire.

Cut twisted end on an angle to help the wirenut better fit the splice.

Grab with Linesman Pliers and twist counter clockwise.

using the previously mentioned wire training technique.

Next, make neat switch packages that include the conductors needed to wire each switch.

Wrap the ground wire for each set of conductors around the end of the conductors before cutting each.

Fold each switch package neatly and push in the back of box vertically, so that conductors cannot be cut by sheet rock crew

Next, strip end of wire and curl as shown in picture.

Use strip gauge on device to determine how much sheathing to remove.

After that, install switch with conductor curl following the direction of the screw.“Right-Tighty, Lefty-Loosey”

Finally, install the switch(s) and move on to the testing phase of the job.

Make sure switches are straight vertically to ease later installation of cover.

THE END