I want to upgrade the light switches in a room. I have a 3 gang box, two single pole switches and an indicator light for one of them (the basement light switch). The indicator light is its own thing and uses its own space in the box. All I find in the big box stores is switches with built in indicators. But I need to fill three slots in the box. And I would also need the switch cover to have a lens to show when the indicator is on. Can't find that either. What's currently installed is from the 1960s and needs to be replaced. Thanks everyone.
Electrical – Pilot light device with
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Related Solutions
It entirely depends on how the existing switch is wired. You need a constant hot and a neutral wire. It would be helpful if you can check what wires are in each location - what colors, and how many actual cables are coming in. You'll need to turn off the power at the breaker panel and physically remove the switches (don't disconnect them, just pull them out), as well as the light fixture. Compare to the diagrams below (or at the original source), or ask here again and we'll try and help you out (labelled pictures == very helpful).
There are several ways to wire 3-way switches, but what you'd be concerned with is the type where power comes to the switch first:
In the above diagram ,you can add another switch to the one on the left - you'd connect to the white and black wires coming from the "power source" line.
On the switch on the right, you have a neutral, but you don't have constant hot -- hot is switched, on either the red or black, depending on how the first switch is flipped.
Another common way the switches are wired is the power goes to the fixture first.
In this case, there is no neutral at the switches. (Also note, the black tape on the white wires indicates this. White is, by code, always neutral, and has to be marked if it's used for a switched circuit. That said -- keep in mind that not everyone follows code.)
If you're missing the hot/neutral, the only option you have is to run a totally new wire, or possibly (depending on how it's wired), you can convert the 3-way to a single switch, and then re-purpose the wires to supply constant hot and neutral to the new outside switch (effectively, one of your 3 way switches would get converted to control the outside light instead). This still may not be possible, and definitely isn't a beginner task - you need to understand electrical fairly well, and map out everything involved with this circuit.
Masonry boxes are metal because concrete can get wet and conduct electricity. The box can be grounded to prevent this becoming a problem. Code allows you to use items that are MORE safe than is required. For instance, if code requires 14 gage wire, you're OK using 12 gage (but not 16). The same holds here. You're proposing using a more safe box than is required. As long as it physically fits, you will be OK.
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Best Answer
If I am reading your question right what you are looking for is a jewel light, which you won't find in a big box retail store but you should be able to find on line. This is an image of a red jewel light.
If that seems a little more than you want to handle, you might try and install a switch with a lighted handle and buy a wall switch blank for the other slot.
These can be found in some big box hardware stores, usually in white. If not then you can also order these on line.
Good luck.