Wiring question

[Craig D Peltier]

I have undermount lites on my cabinets, its 3 lites hardwired to a lite switch. Each lite has a cord that runs to a 3 way plug.
Can I cut each wire to the length of where the 3 way plug is and splice all three together and wire into one plug? Im just looking for less plugs and less cord.
If I cant do the above I assume I can cut the cords to length and rewire plugs onto the end of them to make the wires only the length they need to be.

Thanks

[Don Jarvie]

You might want to check to see if the lights can be hardwired in a series.

Light - Wire - Light - Wire - Light to wall switch. One switch would turn all on or off similar to you shop lights.

Google the model number of the lights and see what you find.

I'm going to do the same thing and some GE models at HD allow this.

[Tom Veatch]

You might want to check to see if the lights can be hardwired in a series.

Light - Wire - Light - Wire - Light to wall switch. One switch would turn all on or off similar to you shop lights.

Google the model number of the lights and see what you find.

I'm going to do the same thing and some GE models at HD allow this.

Be sure you understand the difference between loads wired in series vs wired in parallel. There's no technical reason the fixtures couldn't be wired in parallel as long as the power cord is sufficient for the amperage. With three fixtures, the power cord will be carrying three times the current draw of one fixture. I doubt there would be a problem, but it should be checked and verified there isn't.

Parallel connection:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Resistors_in_parallel.svg/301px-Resistors_in_parallel.svg.png (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/File:Resistors_in_parallel.svg)

What you can not do is wire the fixtures in series electrically. Doing so would only apply about 40 volts to each fixture instead of the 120 required. Also, if one bulb burned out (unlikely with only 40 volts), none would work. It would be like the old style series connected Christmas lights from my youth. Never could tell which lamp was burned out without checking each one individually.

Series Connection:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Resistors_in_series.svg/390px-Resistors_in_series.svg.png (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/wiki/File:Resistors_in_series.svg)

[Don Jarvie]

My electrical jargon is lacking but the thought process to the wiring was similar to running 4 shop lights from 1 switch, switch - light - light- light - light.

Some of the under cabinet lights work the same.

Also, the wire that goes between the lights is 12 to 14g romex and not the power cord. There was a GE brand that allowed you to remove the cord and hardwire the lights in.

[Chris McGee]

I have undermount lites on my cabinets, its 3 lites hardwired to a lite switch. Each lite has a cord that runs to a 3 way plug.
Can I cut each wire to the length of where the 3 way plug is and splice all three together and wire into one plug? Im just looking for less plugs and less cord.
If I cant do the above I assume I can cut the cords to length and rewire plugs onto the end of them to make the wires only the length they need to be.

Thanks

Because of the size limitations on cord ends you can't really splice them into one plug directly. What you can do is splice them all together in a junction box ( a small metal "handy box" or "4 square" box will do ) and then run one cord from there. Or connect the lights in parallel if the light design allows as Tom mentioned. I have attached an illustration showing this, the top is in parallel the bottom is the splice.
Good luck on your lighting endeavors!

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Power strip in the first plug, and plug all the lights into the power strip. Should be safe enough. No need to re-invent the wheel here.