Adding An Outside Light
#1
07-14-04, 08:36 AM
Adding An Outside Light
My house does not have an outside light at the back door so I want to install one with the switch on the inside wall by the door. There is currently a 3 way switch on the wall by the door that controls a hallway light. I'm hoping I can replace the single box with a double box, add a two way switch and tap into the 3 way switch for power. Is it simple as pigtailing into the hot, neutral and ground in the 3 way switch? Thanks for your help.
#2
07-14-04, 08:54 AM
Member
Tapping power from a 3-way switch is very iffy. It only works about a third of the time.
Shut off the breaker and gently pull the 3-way switch out of the box. If you see a white wire attached to the switch, then you need to find power somewhere else.
If you don't see a white wire attached to the switch, it may or may not be possible. You'll need some sort of electrical tester to figure it out. Do you have one?
Shut off the breaker and gently pull the 3-way switch out of the box. If you see a white wire attached to the switch, then you need to find power somewhere else.
If you don't see a white wire attached to the switch, it may or may not be possible. You'll need some sort of electrical tester to figure it out. Do you have one?
#3
07-14-04, 08:55 AM
Maybe, maybe not. You need to determine if there is a neutral in this 3-way box. There may not be.
Provide a complete inventory of the wires in this box and how they connect. How they connect to each other, to the switch, to anything.
Provide a complete inventory of the wires in this box and how they connect. How they connect to each other, to the switch, to anything.
