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ajakal · Sep 15, 2008, 07:52 PM

When we built - 4 years ago, my electrician wired all of the lights in our basement to 2 three way switches. I am currently rewiring to add switches to the newly built walls and rooms. How to I tie into the current and draw it to the separate switches that I am going to use?

My main concern is the hallway: It has a light, and I want to wire that light to two 3-way switches. I am thinking that I need to run a #12-2 from the light to the first switch, then a #14-3 to the next switch and back up to the light. Am I correct in this thinking, or way off. I know that I need to take the black wire off the light and run it to the switch in order to make the switch control that light.

Any info on how to simplify this job would be much appreciated.

Thank you

hkstroud · Sep 15, 2008, 08:19 PM

First, you must determine the amperage of the circuit from which you are going to take your power. If it is a 20 amp circuit you must use 12 gauge wire. That is 12 gauge wire everywhere on the circuit. Next you must determine where you are going to take your power from. Where that will be depends on how the existing circuit is wired.

If the existing circuit feeds a light fixture you will take your power from there. If the circuit feeds the switch you will take your power from the switch.

ajakal · Sep 15, 2008, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by ajakal

When we built - 4 years ago, my electrician wired all of the lights in our basement to 2 three way switches. I am currently rewiring to add switches to the newly built walls and rooms. How to I tie into the current and draw it to the separate switches that I am going to use?

My main concern is the hallway: It has a light, and I want to wire that light to two 3-way switches. I am thinking that I need to run a #12-2 from the light to the first switch, then a #14-3 to the next switch and back up to the light. Am I correct in this thinking, or way off. I know that I need to take the black wire off of the light and run it to the switch in order to make the switch control that light.

Any info on how to simplify this job would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Harold,
Are you saying that I should not use 14 gauge wire? I should use a 12-3 wire than to carry the wire?

hkstroud · Sep 15, 2008, 08:37 PM

That is correct if the circuit is 20 amps.

ajakal · Sep 15, 2008, 08:45 PM

Harold,
It is a 15 amp. So should I be using all 14 g. wire for this application? Also, since every light in the basement is wired to two 3-way switches, do I just do the same application for every light I want controlled by a different switch? I am experienced at the building more so than the wiring - does is show?

hkstroud · Sep 15, 2008, 08:52 PM

Yes if it is 15 amp use 14 gauge wire.

Can you determine where the power is being brought to the existing lights, the fixture or the switch.

ajakal · Sep 15, 2008, 08:59 PM

I am guessing that the power runs to the lights, but I am not sure. The electrician just wired all of the basement lights to those 2 3-way switches. SO I am not positive if the power is at the switch or the lights.
If at the switch, how do I pull power for the other switches? Just splice into the black and white and run to the new boxes?

hkstroud · Sep 15, 2008, 09:04 PM

That is correct. Pull switches and tell me how many cables in switch boxes. I will draw wiring diagram.

ajakal · Sep 17, 2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by ajakal

When we built - 4 years ago, my electrician wired all of the lights in our basement to 2 three way switches. I am currently rewiring to add switches to the newly built walls and rooms. How to I tie into the current and draw it to the separate switches that I am going to use?

My main concern is the hallway: It has a light, and I want to wire that light to two 3-way switches. I am thinking that I need to run a #12-2 from the light to the first switch, then a #14-3 to the next switch and back up to the light. Am I correct in this thinking, or way off. I know that I need to take the black wire off of the light and run it to the switch in order to make the switch control that light.

Any info on how to simplify this job would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Okay Harold,
Sorry it took so long to get back. The power is coming into the light. So, can I just go from the light to each switch? Hooking black power to white to tcommon on sw#1 then white from sw#1 to black on sw#2 to traveler then white from common back to light. Mean while running red from traveler on sw#1 to red on traveler from sw#2? Is this correct? At the boxes, do I just pig tail the grounds and attach to the green screw?

hkstroud · Sep 17, 2008, 10:19 PM

Two ways of doing this. One is to run power cable from old light to new light the other is run power cable from old light to switch.