Is there an Electrician in the house??

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tommy2tone

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Hampton, VA 23666
I want to hook up a 3 way switch to my garage lights. I have a single swirch now my the garage entrance from the house. I want to put a switch by the back door from outside. The power is feeding into a switch (from the bottom of the box) for the security light by the backdoor out of the top on one side. Then from the left side it goes to the garage light and down to the switch from the house. Hope this make sense. I can incl pictures in the morning. I googled some diagrams of how to do it but my situation seems to be different. They all show pwr coming either to a single light or switch. I understand about the 12/2 and 12/3 wire and 2 gang box. I am just confused how to add a 3 way and have pwr go (in two directions) to both lights.
 
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You have to make a "pigtail" with the black wires and hook them to the 3 way switches. The white wires get wirenutted together. A 14/3 has to go to the other switch. Leave the single switch for the outdoor light.
 
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longbeard said:
Google 3 way switch wiring diagram. Give you everything you need.
Click to expand...
I did that. The ones I found only showed a single switch with power coming in from the light or the switch. I need to know how to jump power from the outdoor light switch to a 3 way switch. I will have to add the switch and change out the single box for a 2 gang. I don't want to have to put another breaker in the panel.
 
Jeff; Check out these diagrams. You will have to add a wire for the new switch and it will have to be a three wire + ground. Both switches will need to be replaced. The lights will be wired in parallel.
Wiring Diagrams for Residential Electrical Wiring Projects | Ez DIY Electricity

Use caution when doing this and verify that you can do this without an electrician. Some places don't allow even a wiring change witout an inspection and electrician certification.
 
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I asked my LOML and he said you will need a 14/3 wire from the powered switch to the second switch. The 14/3 wire has a red wire that is used as the traveler wire between the switches. Maybe that will help?

I would call an electrician. I hate being shocked.:mad: Even from static...
 
You can buy an Add a Switch. How they work is the main sensor goes into the box with the power now and the remote can go anywhere you want it, and you can turn that light off or on from either switch. Has a range of about 20'.
Lin
 
3-WAY SWITCH

Disclaimer: Follow all local codes & use box connectors and/or conduit or
BX Cable if indicated.

1). Add the double gang box where your existing switch is and a single gang box where you want the other 3-way switch.

2). Run a piece of 12/3WG Romex from the double gang box to the single gang box. (Again: Use conduit if required by local code.) We will call this wire the "Traveler". Then, run a piece of 12/2WG from the single gang box to where you want the 1st light (probably a 4" octogon box).

3). Use wire nuts & connect a short black wire from your incoming power
source (black is supposed to be hot, check with a meter) to the different colored screw of your new 3-way switch.

4). Connect the black wire of the "traveler" to one of the other silver colored screws of the 3-way switch. Connect the red wire of your "traveler" to the other silver screw. Also, connect the white wire of the traveler to the incoming white neutral of your power source.
(obviously also connect all of the green colored or bare grounds together and ground all devices)

5). At the single gang box, connect the black wire to one of the silver colored screws & the red wire to the other silver colored screws.

6). At the single gang box, Connect the Black wire of the 12/2WG (going to your light) to the different colored screw of the 3-way switch and connect your two white wires together with a wire nut.

7). At your 1st light you connect the Black & White wires to the device and then you can run another piece of 12/2WG romex to your second light and connect the two wires there. Again, don't forget the bare or green ground wires & ground each device.

hope this helps.....Again, follow all local codes & if in doubt, call a qualified electrician...
 

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Correct!

If he wants, I have several switches lying around, I thought about actually taking a picture of them with the wires connected correctly....:cowboy:

navycop said:
that's what I thought. He'd have to tie all the black wires so both switches would have thier own power.
Click to expand...
 
For around $20, you can buy a GE Switch with a wireless key ring remote. By just replacing the SPST SWITCH with the wireless switch, you can turn the light on or off from anywhere within about 125 feet. If you can operate a screwdriver, you can make this change in about 5 minutes.

Two regular 3 way switches will cost you about $10. Where I live, they sell 14/3 copper wiring to the highest bidder.

Just another (cheap) way of accomplishing the same goal.

Respectfully submitted.
 
A couple of years back, we started changing most of the switches in our house to wireless.

We can turn things on or off, regulate heat, do many other things from anywhere in the world that has internet. Additionally, IF YOU WANT TO GET UP OFF THE COUCH, you can STILL walk over to the switch and operate it the same way they worked back in 1970:)
 
maxwell_smart007 said:
PenMan1 said:
We can turn things on or off, regulate heat, do many other things from anywhere in the world that has internet.
Click to expand...

Let's hope you never get a computer virus! :smile:
Click to expand...

It would be hard for ME to get a computer virus across the house controls, since no computer is involved on my end.

They go straight through to a secure connection at the manufacturer's site.

NOW, if the MFG's servers got a virus, THAT WOULD BE UGLY.....But fun to watch! Lights and door locks twinkling on and off all over the world:biggrin:
 
Anyway, BACK ON TOPIC. With today's prices of copper wire, adding one wireless switch might just be a viable alternative to rewiring.
 
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