Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Chobbins's Avatar
    Chobbins Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Feb 16, 2010, 12:42 AM
    My lightswitch controls an outlet and another switchbox 20 feet away?
    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.
    Chobbins's Avatar
    Chobbins Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #2

    Feb 20, 2010, 06:43 PM

    Great 39 views and ZERO answers, what a great website for help!
    creahands's Avatar
    creahands Posts: 2,854, Reputation: 195
    Ultra Member
     
    #3

    Feb 21, 2010, 02:42 AM

    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
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
     
    #4

    Feb 21, 2010, 07:38 AM

    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.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Circuit breaker and outlet/equipment it controls [ 6 Answers ]

Is there a way of finding out which outlets or equipment a circuit breaker controls without turning off the circuit breaker. Is there a tester that you can use to check this out. Thank you.

My lightswitch won't turn off the light [ 1 Answers ]

Hello all and Happy New Year to you My house is 3 years old. I have recess lights in my basement on a 2 way switch (one lightswitch on one side of the room, another on the other side). A couple of months ago I went to turn the light off by the lightswitch and it won't go off. So I walked to...

LOVE is not a LIGHTSWITCH! How could she just turn it off so fast! So confused! [ 24 Answers ]

I was in a relationship for 7 months with a girl I thought I could see myself being with for a while. We fell heavily in love with each other. Feelings I felt for her I never felt for anyone else. Everything was good. We went out a lot. We went on picnics, went to the lake, went star gazing, she...

Wiring ceiling fan to swith that controls outlet [ 8 Answers ]

Hi I have a light swith that only has two wires to it it allows an outlet to be turn off and on, I need to have this control the outlet and a new ceiling fan... there is no overhead light in the room now... how would I need to wire this switch

Installing Switch to Control Ceiling Fan that Controls Outlet now [ 10 Answers ]

I have several rooms in my house that have outlets controlled by the only switch in the room. The ceiling fans are controlled only by the pull of the cord at the fan. I want to make the switch control the fan and light, and make the outlet live all the time. I am not sure how to setup the switch...


View more questions Search