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Light switch connections

I have a switch at top of stairs and one in added bedroom. They are both ran together. One power source. How do I make them work separately so they control each light separately.

Unless this was done intentionally, which would be very unusual in it's self, the circuit is simply mis-wired. To correct we must have more information. The first thing we need to know is where the power is coming to, the switch at the top of the stairs, the light in the stairway, the switch in the addition or the light in the addition.

Start by removing the switch at the top of the stairs and describe wires and connections there.

Light switches in stairways are quite often 3-way switches. Do you have another switch at the bottom of the stairs?

There is a switch in new room. The wire is ran through stairwell switch to light in basement. Then that light to another light in basement along same line about 8 ft away. Then another switch by back door that controls both lights. I guess its so u can enter either way, front or back entry, and control both lights. Both switches are working both lights. I need them separate. I know it's a three way switch down by back door. 4 wires I believe. Its at a jobsite.

So you have a switch at the top of the stairs and a switch at the rear door that controls two lights in the basement. Those would both be 3-way switches. Three way switches work in pairs, you can't have just one.

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4 wires I believe

Does that mean 4 wires or 4 cables. A wire is a single wire, a cable is 2 or more wires in an outer covering.

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Its at a jobsite.

Does that mean that the wiring is exposed?

We must first determine where the power is coming in at. It could be coming into either switch or either light.

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Its at a jobsite.

Are we to understand this is at a job you are doing? Are you doing this electrical work?

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

Are we to understand this is at a job you are doing? Are you doing this electrical work?

I'm doing the work.at te top of the stairs is where the power is. There is two cables. Two white and black and white connected with wire nuts. Then two black n a red hooked to switch with the gold ground. What gets capped?

I'm very confused. Please start over and tell us the whole story. It sounds like you are describing a light in a bedroom that is tied into a circuit for lights in the basement, that circuit using a couple of 3-way switches. That can be done but only if the bedroom wiring is tied into the line (first) of the two 3-way switches. Given that the circuit panel is most likely in the basement, the switch at the top of the stairs is not likely to be the line switch.

What's with the job site bit. Unless this is you own home you not likely permitted to do this work. I do not wish to be unkind but given the way you describe things, it is obvious that you have very little experience with electrical wiring.

Is this your home in which you are doing a renovation or addition? Who did the wiring as it now stands. If you did it , tell us exactly what you did. So post back and tell us the whole story.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

I'm very confused. Please start over and tell us the whole story. It sounds like you are describing a light in a bedroom that is tied into a circuit for lights in the basement, that circuit using a couple of 3-way switches. That can be done but only if the bedroom wiring is tied into the line (first) of the two 3-way switches. Given that the circuit panel is most likely in the basement, the switch at the top of the stairs is not likely to be the line switch.

What's with the job site bit. Unless this is you own home you not likely permitted to do this work. I do not wish to be unkind but given the way you describe things, it is obvious that you have very little experience with electrical wiring.

Is this your home in which you are doing a renovation or addition? Who did the wiring as it now stands. If you did it , tell us exactly what you did. So post back and tell us the whole story.

I figured it out. I had to run a feed from the outlet by to the back switch to the switch. Everything works perfectly. Thank you for your help and I know I'm not permitted to do it. Just needed some guidance. I guess the best way to learn is to figure it itself. Now I know forever.again thank you for your help.

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Originally Posted by Dan Miller4

I figured it out. I had to run a feed from the outlet by to the back switch to the switch. Everything works perfectly. Thank u for ur help and I know I'm not permitted to do it. Just needed some guidance. I guess the best way to learn is to figure it itself. Now I know forever.again thank u for ur help.

I did not do the original work. The light at the top of the stairs had the feed. Odd. Being the circuit was by the back switch. It was a rig if u ask me. I don't know terms but I do have common sense and it was rigged I just added an additional bedroom in the basement. All good now. Thx guys.