House Electrical Wiring Diagrams:
Wiring Connections in Switch, Outlet, and Light Boxes

The following house electrical wiring diagrams will show almost all the kinds of electrical wiring connections that serve the functions you need at a variety of outlet, light, and switch boxes. It gives you over 200 diagrams. For help understanding them, be sure to open the Explanation page. Also consider taking the Connections Tutorial or seeing the Typical circuit diagram.

EXTENSIVE   Box-and-Cable Connection Diagrams

1. How many separate cables (not wires) come into the box for your outlet, switch(es), or light?
2. How many wires are in each of these cables (don't count grounds, which are bare or green)?

According to your answers to these questions, open this Explanation and click the appropriate diagram:

-Only one 2-wire (flat) cable ["14-2" or "12-2"]

-Only one 3-wire (round) cable ["14-3" or "12-3" (w/red wire)]

-Two 2-wire cables

-One 2-wire cable and one 3-wire cable

-Two 3-wire cables

-Three 2-wire cables

-Two 2-wire cables and one 3-wire cable

-One 2-wire cable and two 3-wire cables

-Three 3-wire cables

-Four 2-wire cables

-Three 2-wire cables and one 3-wire cable


[Be sure to open the Explanation (new window) to understand the functions of the cables.]