I have a workshop with a single switch that turns on and off two sets of lights. The first set is a row of spots and the second, at the other end of the room, is a fluorescent strip light. The wiring to the lighting is part accessible and runs on the top of wooden beams from which the lights are attached. The switch is fixed in a wall. Is it possible to put a second switch in that will turn off the spots? So I have the original switch that turns all on and off and then a secondary switch (mounted on the beam where the wiring is accessible) that turns on/off the spots and leaves the strip light on?
Electrical – Adding a switch to a light circuit
electrical
Related Solutions
It sounds like the switch is at the end of the electrical run; the white wire that's connected to the black wires is carrying current to the switch, then the black wire coming back from the switch is connected to the light:
You need to connect the black wire for the new outlet to the black wire going to the light, not the cluster of other black wires; all the neutrals and grounds should be OK as they are.
While you've got the electrical box open, does the white wire connected to the black wires have black electrical tape wrapped around it? If not, it should; this will indicate that it can carry live.
Your circuit contains two 3-way switches. Referring to the diagram below:
- if the switch with the incoming "hot" is the one you want single control from (shown at left)-
1) replace that switch with a single-pole switch
2) connect either of the "traveler" wires to the load side
3) remove the other (unwanted) switch and connect the traveler wire used in step-2 to the "switched hot" wire that goes to the lights.
4) the unused "traveler" wire is abandoned
- If the switch without the incoming "hot" is the one you want single control from (shown at right)-
1) remove the switch with the incoming hot (shown at left) and connect the incoming hot to either of the "traveler" wires
2) replace the other switch (shown at right) with a single-pole switch
3) connect the "traveler" wire used in step 1 to one side of the switch
4) connect the "switched hot" that goes to the lights to the other side of the switch.
5) the unused "traveler" wire is abandoned
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Best Answer
There are a couple of ways to do what you want.