Help! I know basic wiring but I'm not an electrician. I have two lights. One at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top. The power feed comes from the bottom light up into box located at top of stairs. I installed the top light. Ran wires into box. Connected white wires together and ran both blacks onto switch. Problem is that although both lights go on/off toether they are both dull (as if hardly any power being supplied). What am I doing wrong?
Thanks
Don

Unscrew one bulb, if other bulb goes out, you have lights wired in Series, Need to be parallel. White to white, and black to black, or colors used.

Problem, only two wires coming out of light box. So this is what I did... bought a double switch, took both white wires and tailed into one, put on neutral side of switch,bottom screw. On same side took black wire from new light fixture and put on top screw. Took hot wire from original light (from switch box originally) and screwed that on hot side of switch.
NOW I have a bright light when I turn on bottom switch (for light at bottom of stairs) and then when I turn on top light (top switch) light is dull and Also the bottom light goes on and is dull :confused:
Thanks
Don

I am not sure what you have, or what you are trying to do. If you just want a second light to come on whne you switch the fiorst on, the first answer was correct. You may need to post back with just what wires youhave at each of the 3 locations. To have one switch for both lights what you need is for the power from the black hot wire to flow to the switch and then to the first light. Then a second pair of wires connects from the wire to the first to the second. The white wires bypass the switch running directly to the silver terminal of each light.

If the feed is to the first light (one pair of wires in, and another out), then you can't power the second light by a pair of wires from the switch.

Ok, This was the set up... from fuse box to first light @ bottom of stairs (black & white) then same colors running out to wall switch on top of stairs. I want to put a light @ top of stairs. So I opened up swich box and only two wires (B & W) where there. So I went out and bought a switch that has two toggles. I connected the two white wires (old & new lights) together and ran a pig too (same wire- W). I then connected this to the silver terminal on the bottom screw. I then took the black wire from the new light and connected that too to the silver terminal on the top screw. I then connected the black wire (original from wall switch box) to the copper side terminal on bottom (tried the top one too but does same thing). Now when I turn on the bottom toggle switch the bottom light comes on perfect. I shut that off and turn on the top toggle switch and the top and the bottom light both light up and are very dull. That's it in an egg shell. :D

If the feed is to the first light (one pair of wires in, and another out), then you can't power the second light by a pair of wires from the switch.[/QUOTE]


So then if what I'm reading is correct, I need to get a separate power source to the second light.. because that is how my set up is :mad:

You just need to run a pair of wires to the second light from the terminals of the first light.

Yhank you for all your help. Really appreciated!! :D :D