Electrical switch question

[dja4260]

I have what I hope is a simple question.

I have a single light switch with a hot (black) and a neutral (white). I'd like to add a light off the existing switch box. I cannot chain off the existing light is it's 16 ft on the ceiling overhead. The space is finished except the existing light switch. Can someone link me to what is the proper switch or a diagram. I tried just adding the wire to the switch, then a 3 way switch. The new light worked, but only dimly.

*The new light is a 12 watt LED bar under a platform.



Thank you for your help!

 

[zrxkawboy]

Hmmm...black and white should not both be connected to a switch. Or am I misunderstanding your description?

 

[dja4260]

Originally Posted By: zrxkawboy
Hmmm...black and white should not both be connected to a switch. Or am I misunderstanding your description?


Maybe I didn't describe it well.

The single switch has two wires connected. A black and a white wire, plus a ground.

 

[mx5miata]

Sounds like your circuit has the power at the light fixture.. The wires at the switch box are just switch legs being "hot" depending on the switches position.

You can't power a circuit that way because you need a neutral and hot.

Updated electrical codes require a neutral in the switch box. PM if you have any questions

 

[mx5miata]

You might damage the circuitry in the led fixture without proper wiring there's a circuit board and the neutral balances the load.

 

[dja4260]

Thank you for the feedback. I will hardwire the light fixture to an outlet close by. I'll just need to use the pull chain on the fixture....

 

[mx5miata]

Safer choice.. You could also look into a remote control plug adapter and leave the pull chain in the on position.

 

[The_Jeff]

Inside either your switch box or your light box should be two wires wire-nutted together. They'd be a black and white in the light box-- code is to wrap the white with black tape to indicate it's now hot, but few seem to do this. The "true black" is "incoming" and the white-black goes down to the switch, while the black in its romex jacket is switched hot returning.

The switch box would have both whites nutted and blacks to the switch.

Like miata says, it sounds like the power goes to the light fixture and "detours" down to the switch and back. This is the less convenient option for you.

IDK if it would be legal to steal the neutral from the outlet you have there, and the switched hot from the switch. Are they the same breaker?

 

[mx5miata]

You cant share neutrals this causes resistance and when the power is turned off at the panel the hot will be back fed from the shared neutral. Making the neutral hot.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: dja4260
Originally Posted By: zrxkawboy
Hmmm...black and white should not both be connected to a switch. Or am I misunderstanding your description?


Maybe I didn't describe it well.

The single switch has two wires connected. A black and a white wire, plus a ground.


It's like this: The hot wire from the fixture comes down to the switch where it's cut and a switch is put in the middle. When you turn the switch on, it completes the hot wire and therefore completes the circuit. That white wire is not neutral. It's probably the hot wire going back to the fixture.

 

[mx5miata]

Yes we got all that figured out.. Its the simplest of all switch legs common practice of years ago.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: mx5miata
Yes we got all that figured out.. Its the simplest of all switch legs common practice of years ago.


It's not common today to do it that way?

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: mx5miata
Yes we got all that figured out.. Its the simplest of all switch legs common practice of years ago.


Come on mx5! It can't be true unless exactly what you said is repeated 3-5x.

It's been awhile since I've done any DIY for myself, but I didn't know about the current standard of having a neutral in the switch box. I've run plenty of switch legs down over the years.

 

[The_Jeff]

The neutral-in-switch-box is a new-ish requirement so "smart" switches can operate.

 

[mx5miata]

It can be done.. now a days they like a neutral to be present in the box.

 

[dja4260]

I went off an outlet. Everything is good!

I'll post some pictures when It's done. I removed a wall, built a 4x12ft platform for storage with a work bench below. This gives me so much more practical space and room for a bigger boat.

 

[mx5miata]

Very nice.