This slideshow walks the beginner apprentice through the process of cutting in a multi-gang switch box.

1. How to Cut in
a Multi-Gang
Switch Box

2.  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.

3.  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.

4.  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.

5.  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

6.  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.

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

8.  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)

9.  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.

10. 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.

11.  Twist a wirenut on
to the neutral wire
splice.
(Follow the manufacturers
guidelines for installation of
wirenuts.)

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

13.  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.

14.  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.

15.  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.

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

17.  Next, strip end of
wire and curl as
shown in picture.
 Use strip gauge
on device to
determine how
much sheathing
to remove.

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

19.  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.

20. THE END