ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues lighting question

I would like to come directly out of the breaker panel and into 3 overhead lights first and then send 1 piece of romex out to the switch. I can't make this work on paper without running 12/3 between the individual light fixtures. Is there any way to do this using only 12/2? The switch is far away from the panel and the lights. To avoid running a long piece of romex all the way to the switch first and then all the way back to the lights, I was hoping to somehow go to the lights first and send only 1 long piece of romex out to the switch to break the circuit. Any ideas???
Thanks!

There is no way to do this with 12-2 that would meet code requirements. 12-3 is probably going to be the most cost effective method. You could check into an x-10 relay that is controlled by a small radio transmitter similar to a garage door opener.

Good luck

Tom

out of the panel to a splice box. out of the box to the switch and out of the box to the lights. this way one cable to the switch will be the hot/switch leg.

Danny is on the right track. You could also split out your switch leg from the first luminaire in the string.

I guess I just need to bite the bullet and run the feed to the switch first. No big deal, I was just trying to find an easier way to do this and save from running all the way down to the switch and back. If it was just one light, it would be no problem but I guess when you get more than 1 fixture it gets a little more complicated. Thanks for the replies!

KY,

As gfretwell said, run your feed to the first light, run a dead-end 2-wire switchleg from there to a switch. Down on white (reidentified) and back on black. Then tie into the lights.