adding light switch
#1
12-19-02, 01:36 AM
adding light switch
I have a finished basement & dividing 1 room into 2. I have 4 light fixtures in the 4 corners, the wall going up will have 2 of the lights in it controlled by each of the switches. I want to seperate the lights so they are controlled only by 1 switch in each of the rooms. I dont know if that make any sense but it worth a try.
#2
12-19-02, 06:41 AM
Member
The best way to modify this to do what you want depends on how the lights are wired now. Unfortunately, there are many different ways that it might have been done. So we need you to investigate and give us as much detail as you can. Is the ceiling open so you can follow the cabling? If so, then first describe the cabling -- just the facts, don't make assumptions.
#3
12-20-02, 01:34 AM
Good call John!
There is a dropped ceiling anything can be found easily. What I found is that there is 1 red & 1 white wire coming into the switch box(2 switches). I will call them the left & right. The left switch 1 red coming in from the breaker, 1 red connecting to right switch, 1 red going up to left side junction box. Right switch has 1 red connecting from left switch and 1 red going up to right side junction box. 1 white coming in is split for left & right. In the junction boxes I found 1 red & 1 white coming in from the switches then the whites are connected to each of the 2 lights & red is is connected to black for each of the 2 lights. I dont know if this is any more clear than the last but i gave it shot. What i think would work, please correct if I am wrong. The new switches will be under the junctions boxes, instead of connecting the black wire from the light to the red, connect the black to a 2-way switch then connect back to red. Anything helps
thanks in advance - please respond quickly i am going to try my way in the morning - i dont want the house on fire!!!!!!
My idea wrong?
There is a dropped ceiling anything can be found easily. What I found is that there is 1 red & 1 white wire coming into the switch box(2 switches). I will call them the left & right. The left switch 1 red coming in from the breaker, 1 red connecting to right switch, 1 red going up to left side junction box. Right switch has 1 red connecting from left switch and 1 red going up to right side junction box. 1 white coming in is split for left & right. In the junction boxes I found 1 red & 1 white coming in from the switches then the whites are connected to each of the 2 lights & red is is connected to black for each of the 2 lights. I dont know if this is any more clear than the last but i gave it shot. What i think would work, please correct if I am wrong. The new switches will be under the junctions boxes, instead of connecting the black wire from the light to the red, connect the black to a 2-way switch then connect back to red. Anything helps
thanks in advance - please respond quickly i am going to try my way in the morning - i dont want the house on fire!!!!!!
My idea wrong?
#4
12-20-02, 08:36 AM
Member
Your description is not clear enough for me to draw the diagram. Let me give you some examples of what I find unclear.
You said, "left switch 1 red coming in from the breaker." How do you know it comes from the breaker? Did you follow this wire uninterrupted all the way back to the panel? Remember, no assumptions -- just facts.
You said, "1 white coming in is split for left & right." I don't know for sure what that means. What exactly does "split" mean, and where exactly do the wires connect?
Are both of these switches regular single pole, or is ine a 3-way? If so, which one?
Is your house wired with Romex or conduit? What city do you live in and when was the house built?
It is not enough to tell me that a wire goes to a switch. Please also tell me that, e.g., it connects to the upper left screw.
When I asked you to describe the cabling, I meant to describe how the conduit or cable goes from one box to another.
I need to be able to "see" what you see. Try to be more orderly and systemmatic in your descriptions. I'd like to able to draw this out. Provide descriptions of each light one at a time, and be sure to say which light will end up in which room, and where that switch box is now relative to the two rooms.
You said, "left switch 1 red coming in from the breaker." How do you know it comes from the breaker? Did you follow this wire uninterrupted all the way back to the panel? Remember, no assumptions -- just facts.
You said, "1 white coming in is split for left & right." I don't know for sure what that means. What exactly does "split" mean, and where exactly do the wires connect?
Are both of these switches regular single pole, or is ine a 3-way? If so, which one?
Is your house wired with Romex or conduit? What city do you live in and when was the house built?
It is not enough to tell me that a wire goes to a switch. Please also tell me that, e.g., it connects to the upper left screw.
When I asked you to describe the cabling, I meant to describe how the conduit or cable goes from one box to another.
I need to be able to "see" what you see. Try to be more orderly and systemmatic in your descriptions. I'd like to able to draw this out. Provide descriptions of each light one at a time, and be sure to say which light will end up in which room, and where that switch box is now relative to the two rooms.
