I just moved into a new home and I want to add a light switch and 3 fluorescent light fixtures to an area of the basement and remove the existing fixture which has a pull chain.

The way things work now, there are 2 light switches that control basement lighting; one at the top of the basement stairs one at the bottom of the basement stairs. There are 6 light fixtures in the basement each with a pull chain. When you turn on the switch at the top (or bottom) of the stairs, all 6 fixtures in the basement come on (or off). You can turn them off individually by pull the chain to turn individual fixtures off or on.

I want to use a certain section of the basement for a work room. I want to replace the single bulb fixture that currently hangs in this section (it has a pull chain) with a fluorescent fixture and add 2 more; total of three fluorescent fixtures. I also want to install a switch so I can turn these 3 fixtures off and on without affecting the rest of the basement.

Wow... sounds complicated. Can you help ?

Thanks

Install the new switch where you like, feed the new switch, then run a two wire cable to each of the new light fixtures. Cap any of the existing light outlets with wirenuts and blank plate.

When you say "feed the new switch", do you mean take the line that currently feeds the fixture with the pull chain (it is end of the line) and have it go to the switch first ? Do I need a three way switch?

Thanks

No three way swich is required. You are correct, take the two wires that feed the fixture to be replaced, go to a switch and from the switch to the three new fluorescent fixtures.

No, I do not mean use the end of line cable that is feeding the existing light, since this cable is already switched by the two 3 way switches.

I mean find constant 120 volt power and feed the new switch.

If you feed the lights from constant power, you will lose the master switching of the lights from the staircase.

Thanks guys... but it seems there is a slight disagreement. I think I'll do as TKRUSSEL says and report back to the board if I lose the master switching capability.

Thanks

I don't view bhayne's suggestions as a disagreement to my suggestion, just another method. My suggestion assumes that you may want the new lights on while the others are off.

Bhayne's suggestion assumes that once you are done in the area with the new lighting, that you can go up or out of the basement, and use one of the three way switches to kill all the lights, existing and new.

Downside to his suggestion is that the new lights will only be on if the other basement lights are on.

Really up to you how the switching is arranged and how you would like it to work.