Say you have a room that has only a single light point or maybe a dining hall that you feel is not bright enough. You can always add in an additional light without too much trouble and you don’t even have to mess with the Main Switch Panel.
Wiring Diagram 1- Shows you how the existing light point’s wire is typically installed. The live wire goes to the switch and the neutral wire to the existing light. In short you have everything that is needed to light up another light right here. The live and the neutral wire are what we need.
Diagram 2 – One way to install an additional light is to run a piece of wire (S2) from the existing one gang switch and another piece of wire (N2) from the existing light to the new light point. Then replace the one gang switch with a two gang switch and terminate them seperately using the looping method that I showed you in this post.
At the existing light point twist the newly laid out neutral wire with the existing one and re-terminate the light point.
Wiring Diagram 3 – If however you want to locate the switch for the new light away from the existing switch, all you have to do is to run a new wire (L2) from the existing switch to the new location. From that new switch, run another piece for wire (S2) to the new light point. Get a new set of one gang switch and terminate it accordingly.
Follow the same procedure for the neutral wire as mentioned just now.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a 2 wire (black & white) coming from the west part of the room to the light first (original and only light–on/off with a pull chain). I ran a 2 wire from there to a switch at the east wall. the black wire runs to the switch (I joined the new black-wire to the existing black-wire in the original light box). The new white wire goes from the other side of the new switch back to the light. I connected it to the light where the black was previously. Everything worked fine.
Now I installed a new florescent light above the switch and replaced the existing light with a florescent also. The first light from thje switch is OK, but the second one is very dim and flickers. The white wire from the switch to the wire on the first florescent and then the white from the black on the florescent to the second florescent then the old original white coming out the other wire…!! What’s wrong??
Thanks
Wayne
wayne
I don’t quite understand what you are trying to explain, but I think yo have your wires wrongly connected.
First you should dismantle the switch on the west part, which I believe is where the original light and switch is located. From that switch you should run one strand of wire to the new switch at the east part.
Then from the existing light, run another wire to the new light at the east part. Now you have a pair of wires running to the east part where you intend to add a new light.
The wire which you ran from the existing switch (the west part) should go to the new switch and the wire from the existing light should go to the new light. It doesn’t matter what color wires you use as long as you remember which goes where.
Now, you have one wire at the new switch and one wire at the new light point, (east part) From the new switch, run another wire to the new light point so now you have 2 wires at the switch and 2 wires at the light. I hope you are with me so far.
Okay, now terminate the new switch. You have 2 wires right? One coming from the existing switch in the west part and one going to the new light. The one coming from the existing switch will be the “live” wire or the “hot” wire. The wire going to the new light will be the “switch” wire or the wire that supplies electricity to the new light. Terminate the switch accordingly.
Now go to the new fluorescent light. The wire that came from the existing light in the west part is the “neutral” wire. The wire that came from the new switch is the “hot” wire. This wire normally ends up at the light’s ballast.
After terminating the new switch and the new light, go back to the west part. You have a wire at the light point that runs to the new light right? This wire MUST be twisted together with the NEUTRAL wire of that light. I think this is where your present problem lies. Find out which is the “hot” wire at the old existing light and avoid twisting the new wire with this one.
After you are sure you got that right, go to the old existing switch. You have another new wire there which you ran to the new switch. This new wire MUST be twisted together with the HOT wire in that switch. This mean the wire that has electricity supply coming, so make sure you switch off the mains.
If you did all this correctly, all should be working perfectly. If the fluorescent light still flickers, it means the light is faulty and not the wirings.
Hi,
I have recently partitioned my garage (creating two smaller rooms) and would like to add a second light to the new area that can be controlled by it’s own switch by changing the single light switch to a double.
I can see how I can take the live input (L1) from switch 1 to switch 2…no problem.
But…rather than have to tap into my existing ceiling rose for the neutral circuit (I’d have to chisel out the ceiling in order to get from one light to the other and conceal the cable) is it possible to use a spurred 13A -> 5A socket (I have one very close to the light switch) to somehow feed the second light?
I’ve seen this done before but don’t know enought about electrics to try something like that myself.
Hi Andy,
Though not an accepted practise due to safety reasons, it is a workable solution.
i have a 2 gang switch, 1 of the switches goes to another switch and works as a 2 way. and the other switch on the 2 gang works an outside light. how do i wire it into the back of the 2 gang switch. you have a 3 core coming from the light Red, Yellow, Blue, A 3 core going to the other switch. Red Yellow Blue again. And a 2 core, Black and Red going to the outsdie light. I have linked the neutrals together. just need help wiring the others into the back of the 2 gang switch.
How to Install photocell Wiring For A one Way Switch?
please show photocell wiring diagram Installing .thanks
B.rgds
khamisabadi
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