Can you add single pole (light 1) to 3-wire switch (light 2)?
Heather L
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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Heather L
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Two 3 way switches, two lights already wired
Comments (14)The wiring may not be conventional because the power or the light circuits are not coming into the switch boxes and some creative wiring was done. The easiest way to figure this out is to first disassemble all switches and lights to access the wiring. Find out which wires in each box have power and make a diagram. Next shut off the circuit so you can check each wires resistance/continuity. This will allow you to determine which cable is feeding where. With a voltmeter/DVM set to OHMS pick the first wire to check and make sure there is no continuity. With the meter still connected to the wire go to the light or switch box you think the wire is running to and touch the same colored wire to ground (this is assuming it hasn't changed color by a connection somewhere else). The meter will read close to zero ohms when the wire is touched to ground (some wires may read a low resistance if it is connected to the light bulb so you may want to remove them). Do this for each wire until you have a diagram showing where all wires are going/coming from. Then is is a matter of having the wire supplying power go to the common of one switch. The two other wires in that same switch box must get to the other switch. The other switch will have the two wires coming in from the first switch and then the wire going to the lights connect to the common of switch 2. It now is a matter of connecting the wires through all the boxes to achieve this configuration. If you cannot figure this out then a picture of where all the wires go to the switches and lights. Good Luck!...See MoreNeed Help on Replacing Dual Single Pole Light Switch
Comments (3)You really need to figure out what is going on before you touch *ANYTHING*. There's no NEUTRAL on this switch PERIOD. If you actually managed to put HOT and NEUTRAL across the switch, the breaker/fuse will blow as soon as you turn it on. The first thing you have to determine is if you have a switch loop or an incoming feed going through the switches to the light and fan. I suspect the prior. Hopefully you've not disconnected the wires from the old switch yet. If you haven't we can help you diagnose things. If you have, you'll need an electrician to unscramble the mess you've made....See Moreproper single pole switch wiring
Comments (5)The "normal" install would be that you have live/neutral/ground coming into the box and live/neutral/ground coming out of the box. The neutral in will be connected to the neutral out. The live in will go to the switch and the live out will go from the other pole of the switch. The ground in will go to the ground on thee switch (and sometimes to the box) and to the ground out. If the original live/neutral/ground is actually going to the fixture and not the switch, then you would have a switch loop. You would only have 1 set of wires coming into the switch box. The live would go into the switch. The white wire would be marker black and be connected to the out of the switch. It needs to be marker black to show it is being used as a loop of the live and not as a neutral. The ground would go to the switch and sometime the box itself. It is important to note that if you use a switch loop, the wiring at the fixture will be live even when the switch is off. Either way works fine. Which one you use depends on where the power is actually coming from. If the rest of the circuit is in the wall, it is usually easier to use the first method. If the rest of the circuit is in the ceiling, it is usually easier to use the second method....See Moretapping into 14/3 ceiling Fan wiring to add recess lighting
Comments (3)Forgive me if I'm dense, but let me make sure I'm operating with a correct understanding of the facts. There are two wall switches. One controls the lights for both ceiling fans. The other controls the two lights. Furthermore, there are not two switching points (i.e., three-way switches). Is this correct? IF I'M MISUNDERSTANDING, IGNORE THE FOLLOWING AND CORRECT MY ASSUMPTIONS. In this case, you should be able to tap either of the fan/lights to add a couple of cans. Of the two hot wires (one red, one black), it's not possible from the information given to tell for sure which controls the fans and which controls the lights. There are a couple of ways to tell which is which. For one, you can look at the switches to see which controls which. Another, and perhaps more foolproof, way is to use a circuit tester to figure out which wire controls lights and which controls fans. Once you know which is which, you should be able to tap one of the fan/lights with the appropriate red/white or black/white combination to feed additional cans. It is, of course, possible that circuit capacity is at issue here (i.e., that the cans you plan on adding will overload the circuit), but I'm ignoring that for now because I don't have the information to assess and, in any event, a couple of 50 watt bulbs is a fairly light additional load....See Moremtvhike
8 years agogreg_2015
8 years agoHeather L
8 years agogreg_2015
8 years agoRon Natalie
8 years agomtvhike
8 years agogreg_2015
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
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