Have 3 light openings that work from 1 switch can I just use 2?

Sandy Ochoa
by Sandy Ochoa

i rather use 2 of the openings and have 2 large pendant lights rather then 3 small pendants. They are all connected together to one light switch though. Can I just use 2 if the 3?

  12 answers
  • Seth Seth on Jan 31, 2021

    What do you plan on doing with the fixture box for the light you will not use? (I am assuming it is the middle one you want to eliminate.) It is against building codes to just bury a box like that and cover it with your ceiling. You would need to remove it all together or put a cover on it. You can cap the wires for the box you will not use and put a " blank" cover on it. That would be the easiest solution. If you are convinced you will never use that box again, you will need to run a new line from the box that has the power to the other one being used, eliminating any junction between them. That would involve making new connections in the two boxes being used. Then you could remove the unused one and patch and finish the ceiling. Running the new wire between the two boxes you want to use and making the connections is not a tremendously difficult project if you are comfortable doing that level of electric work. If not, higher an electrician.

  • William William on Jan 31, 2021

    Yes you can. As Seth says you can't cover the box and hide it in the ceiling. Easiest solution is to wire nut the connections separately, stuff the wire into the box and put a blank cover over the box. Paint it the ceiling color. You can even glue a decorative "emblem" on the blank cover then paint. Removing the box would not be a solution because you would also need to remove the wires.

  • You could check the codes in your area, but I agree with Seth, usually you can not cover up a box.

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Feb 01, 2021

    Yes, you can cap off the third one.


  • Sandy Ochoa Sandy Ochoa on Feb 01, 2021

    Yes I’m planning to cover one with a blank. I was just wondering if the switch would work with just two lamps. Thank you!

  • Dee Dee on Feb 01, 2021

    Definitely cap off the wires, Check with building codes to see if that meets code, then cap the one you do not want to use off.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Feb 02, 2021

    That should not be an issue. Use wire nuts and electrical tape on the one you will not be using.

  • Deb K Deb K on Feb 02, 2021

    Hi Sandy, you will need to cap off the wire you are not using, here's how,

    https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-cap-dangling-electrical-wires-1821573

  • Bushra Bushra on Feb 04, 2021

    You should definitely have the electrician to close the other one just to be safe. That's my opinion.

  • It will still work as 2 and not three but I’d strongly encourage you to have a licensed electrician handle this. You don’t want to inadvertently burn your house down.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Feb 23, 2021

    Yes you can.


    You are not burying the box, are not disconnecting the line from the panel, you are just capping the end off, as it is presently not being used to hook up to any fixture. Capping off a line with a plastic cap that does not conduct electricity covers and protects the live end to the wire. No need to hire an electrician.


    Capped off electrical lines are seen quite often in homes. For example, if you are replacing a fan light with just a fan, there will be one line capped off. Or, another example, if you are replacing a timer light switch with a standard one, there will probably be a line capped off inside the wall.