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Domc · Dec 3, 2009, 10:27 AM

I have a light switch that controls an outside light. I want to add 3 other lights that work off that same switch. I am able to run pipes to the new lights, but need help with the wiring. I have a diagram of how the wires are at this time. Where would I splice the red and white wires for the new lights to work off the switch.

Thanks,
Dom

ballengerb1 · Dec 3, 2009, 11:07 AM

Where do you live, these colors are unusual. Re you wanting to control these new light from the single pole switch or the 3 way?

Domc · Dec 3, 2009, 11:28 AM

It would be the single pole switch that is already there. It currently controls one outside light, which is at the front door. I want it to control the light that is there new and three lights that I did not have on the garage exterrior. It would be best to have all those light on one switch, don't you agree? I live in Lombard, Illinois. Its an older house and have been doing a lot of work on it. Mostly plumbing and carpentry until now.

ballengerb1 · Dec 3, 2009, 11:32 AM

I'm in Wheaton but don't do house calls in Lombard. Your building department gave me a rough time with the last deck I built on Finley Rd. Run a pig tail off the screw where your redwire is currently attached, one the other end of the pig put your red wire and a new hot wire which can go to the new lights. You can also then put a pig on the light where your white wire is connected. Put the old white wire on the other end of the pig along with a new white running to your new lights. Do you have a ground wire in these boxes?

Domc · Dec 4, 2009, 07:28 AM

I don't have any ground wires to at the switch. I was going to ground the fixtures with the wire provided to the bracket provided with the fixture. Is that enough?

ballengerb1 · Dec 5, 2009, 05:20 PM

That would work if you knew for sure that the box it is mounted on is also grounded. To tes put a tes probe on you hot wire and touch the box, if you have a circuit then your can ground the fixture as you describe.

Domc · Dec 9, 2009, 07:52 AM

I was able to run the wires out of the switch box like you said. To get into the garage, I found a box in the crawlspace that goes through the brick wall. That's good, because I don't have a hammer drill. If I run the red and white like you said, do I have to run another white to the garage, if there is one there already. Of course I will run a white from the lights to the box in the garage. See drawing, thanks.

Tev · Dec 9, 2009, 04:04 PM

You may not have to run a white with the red but it is a good idea to do so. I'd have to know which circuits the black and red wires are before I could tell you if it is even OK to not run another neutral. I never recommend sharing a neutral for a DIYer in any case.

ballengerb1 · Dec 9, 2009, 04:40 PM

From your drawing I'd say you are OK with no new white, all power is coming off that balck and white in the lower left of the drawing, right? On the brick wall, you are putting that connection in a box, right? No spicing, all 3 wires twisted and held with a twist nut

Domc · Dec 9, 2009, 05:59 PM

Yes, the black and white control lights in the garage. I will place the spliced white and new red in a closed box with wire nuts. It was a little tough fishing through the pipe, so I pulled out the black and white, fished them at the same time. It worked fine. That whole run from the box to the garage is actually 20 feet. So it was a little tough, but I did it. Thanks so much for the help.