How To Add Additional Light Switch

Family Handyman

Is your bathroom dimly lit? Do you take a hallway that could utilize more than light? Here's how to install a wall-mounted light directly in a higher place a light switch.

This projection requires an agreement of how a switch is wired and a few basic tools. You'll demand a noncontact voltage detector, a wire-stripping tool, a screwdriver and a drywall saw. Then, with our instructions and a few hours' piece of work, you'll be able to add a sconce to whatsoever room that has an advisable switch.

Not all electrical boxes with a lite switch in them contain the necessary ground, hot and neutral conductors. To notice out, offset shut off the power to the switch at the main electrical console. And then remove the switch embrace, and agree the noncontact voltage detector against the wires attached to the switch. This is to ensure the ability is off before you remove the screws and pull the switch from the box.

To locate the required neutral, look for 2 or more white wires joined with a wire connector. If the merely white wire inbound the box is continued to the switch, and so there's no neutral and you can't power a sconce from this box. If your switch wiring looks different from what we evidence here and you don't understand how it's connected, put everything dorsum together and abandon the project or call a licensed electrician.

There'south one more than important examination you lot must complete while the ability is still turned on. With the light switch turned off, hold the noncontact voltage detector against each of the wires connected to the switch. Take note of which wire causes the tester to light up. This is the hot wire and the one you'll connect to the "hot" side of the new double switch. If you're adding a separate unmarried switch, this is the wire you'll use to ability both switches. Now turn off the ability to the switch at the chief electrical console. Back at the switch box, exam in one case once again to brand sure the power is off and marking the hot wire with a wrap of black electrical tape.

Finally, consummate a simple adding to meet if the existing switch box is large plenty to accept more wires.

Afterwards yous've determined that the existing switch box will work to power the new light, it'southward time to store for the sconce and pick upward the remodeling box, cable and electrical connectors you'll need. Choose the fixture get-go. Then pick a rectangular or round remodeling box that is small enough to be covered by the lite fixture canopy. You lot'll need enough cable to reach from the switch to the box plus nearly 3-ft. Lucifer the cable, either 14-2 or 12-2, to the existing wire judge. Fourteen-gauge wire is equally thick every bit a dime and 12-approximate wire is equally thick every bit a nickel.

Cut the hole and run the cablevision

Locate the studs. Then concur the fixture confronting the wall somewhere betwixt the studs to decide the best location and lightly marker the top and bottom of the canopy with a pencil. Center the remodeling box on the marks and mark the box cutout carefully, taking note of notches needed for the clamps and other protrusions. Cutting out the hole (Photograph two). Next, punch out 1 of the knockouts in the top of the switch box and push the cablevision up to the hole (Photos 3 and 4). Set up the remodeling box for mounting past stripping about 12-in. of sheathing from the cable and pushing information technology into the box through i of the cable entry points on the back. Make certain at to the lowest degree 1/iv-in. of sheathing is visible within the box. Leave some slack cable within the wall to let some leeway when you connect the switch (Photo 5). Then fit the remodeling box into the hole and tighten the clamps.

Connect the fixture and switch

Photograph half-dozen and Figure A prove how to connect the light fixture. First by mounting the fixture strap to the box. Strip the ends of the wires and connect them to the fixture.

At the switch, cut the cable about 12-in. beyond the box. Strip viii in. of sheathing from the wires and push the cable through the knockout, leaving 1/four-in. or more than sheathing visible inside the box. Trim the black and white wires to the same length as the wires they volition connect to. Then strip the ends of the wires. Connect the white neutral wires with a wire connector. Connect the wires as shown in Figure A. Connect the hot wire to the side of the double switch that has the "jumper tab" between the terminals (Photograph 7). Complete the project by mounting the lite fixture, screwing the switch to the box, and installing the cover plate.

What If Yous Take To Get Fish?

Nosotros're showing how to run a cable through the aforementioned stud space that contains the switch. Positioning the light in an adjacent stud space is more than hard.

Figure A: Wiring Diagram

FH10MAY_508_06_018_TA01-1200 add a light Family Handyman

Apply a double switch to power two different fixtures. The existing box must contain a neutral line that's not connected to the switch.