My light switch controls an outlet next to the front door and for some reason a switchbox 20 feet away, which controls the back porch and the upstairs hall. In the switchbox next to the front door there is: one red wire, three black, three white and 3 copper wires. There are two switches in the box at the front door, the other controls the front porch light. I’m using a 3 pole switch with the red wire connected to the dark screw (black to both brass screws at top of switch) at the front door. I would like to have the switchbox, that’s 20 feet from the front door, receive its own power and not through one of the light switches at the front door. How do I wire the switchbox to give constant power to the box 20 feet away while still controlling the power outlet next to the front door? Any ideas would be great.

Great 39 views and ZERO answers, what a great website for help!

Welcome chobbins

The first thing u have to do is locate the hot pair feeding and the wires feeding other box.

If your question is not clear on what the wires are doing in each box, makes it very hard to help.

If not familiar with working of electric, would advice to get a pro as it can be very dangerous.

Why want distant switch box to have own power?

It sounds like u have a three way wet up. Meaning u can turn outlet on and off from both locations.

Good luck

Chuck

Greetings.

Just to piggyback on Creahands.

Switches carry only power. They do never placed on the Neutral or Return conductor.

Finding the source feed will not be trivial unless the feed is located at the switch.

Switches can be directly fed, in which case, there will be a neutral (White or Gray) conductor in the Switches jbox.

From what I read above, it is more likely that you have a switch loop providing a source feed to the three-way switch.

Can you provide us with some pictures of what wiring you have and tell us exactly what you are planning to do, please.