How to wire single switch to operate 2 lights?

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

The first thing to do at the distribution panel is to turn off the breaker feeding the receptacle's circuit.

To the new two gang light switch box, two wires will go from the wall receptacle, connected black to black and white to white and ground to ground, to the new two gang light switch box and then two more sets of cable wires will leave the new light switch box and proceed up to the new individual light fixture boxes.

In the two gang switch box, first connect the incoming and outgoing ground wires to the ground screw in the new switch box.

Be sure to connect the ground wire around the grounding screw in the light fixture box.

Next the white wires will be spliced together with a wire nut and pushed to the back of the box and then the incoming "hot" wire will be connected across the top of the two new switches.

Pre position the switches in the off position, which is the handle down, before attaching the wires. The "hot" incoming wire connects to two pigtail wires coming from the top screw of the two switches. These three wires will be spliced together with a wire nut and pushed to the back of the new switch box.

The two black outgoing wires that feed the new light fixture boxes are connected to the bottom screws of the individual switches.

When either switch is turned to the on position, voltage will be applied to the appropriate fixture junction box.

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.