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    stockups's Avatar
    stockups Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Jan 30, 2009, 09:31 PM
    Like to add an ceiling electric box off a exisitng switch
    Hi there I just bought a house and in the 2 smaller bedrooms there are on off switches but they control a electric outlet on the lower wall I want to add a ceiling electric box so I can add a light fixture or a ceiling fan what is the best way to do this. Can I tap into the on off switch


    Thanks Michael
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #2

    Feb 1, 2009, 07:05 AM

    Your first question is, "How are you going to get cable to the ceiling fixture and where are you going to draw power from."

    Switches only carry the constant Hot part of the circuit. There is no Neutral return leg.

    To work this, you will need to determine where the source of continuous hot is being supplied to the switch from. Then you will need to rewire that source to bring both the Hot and Neutral to the switch.

    Hot you would connect to the switch along with the Equipment grounding conductor (EGC). Neutral (White) would connect with the white going to the ceiling fixture's white. Black would connect to the top of the switch and all grounds would connect together.
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