AboutBob Sponaugle Expertise Just about any home wiring question. (not appliance repair) I have done all kinds of home wiring for myself, including adding a new breaker box, etc. Please, questions from North America only. Please be specific with details.
Question Sir, I'm attempting to wire a porch light running from
an existing light switch, using a separate switch for the porch light.Both switches are in the same gang box.
I had ran a hot jumper wire from the old switch to the new switch. Is this the right way to do this? And during testing current, I'm getting continuous current through the new switch. Is this a bad switch or wrong wiring.
In addition to answering my questions could you instruct me how to wire this correctly? A diagram would be great!
Thanks very much for your time.
Answer Hi.
Not counting what you just added, do you have more than one cable with 2 wires in the existing switch box? If not, that is called a switch loop, and you can't tap off of there because there is no neutral.
If you have at least 2 cables, then the power coming in will be connected to two short wires, each going to one terminal of each switch. The black wire from the existing light will go to the other terminal of the existing switch. The black wire from the new porch light will connect to the other terminal of the new switch. All the whites will connect together. All the grounds will connect together.
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