Adding a second light fixture to an existing circuit

[patmoore]

Help!!!!!


I’m trying to add a new light fixture between the wall switch and the existing light fixture. The wiring is 14-2 with ground. I tried three approaches and none of them worked.

#1. I connected the new light’s black wire to the black wire of the circuit and the new light’s white wire to white wire of the circuit. Note: the new fixture does not have a place to hook up a ground wire. When I restored power, light only appeared on one of the fixtures. When I turned the wall switch off, the light appeared on the other fixture! Obviously, this wasn’t the right approach.

#2. I left the existing circuit’s white wire uninterrupted and connected the new fixture’s two wires to the two ends of the interrupted black wire. When power was restored, only the new fixture would light up.

#3. Same as #2 except I left the black intact and hooked up the new fixture to the interrupted white wires. Again, only the new fixture would light up.

The only other change I made was to install a newer wall switch (rocker-type).

If the solution involves replacing the wire with 14-3, it's not practical. I can replace the wire from the switch to the first fixture but the wire for the older fixture is behind sheetrock and I really can't access it.

I’m running out of ideas.
:eek:

[John Nelson]

None of them work because what you are attempting is impossible. The only way to make it work is to run a new cable from the old fixture to the new fixture.

If you have access above or below the old fixture, you can fish wire to it without drywall damage. And if drywall damage is necessary, it's cheap and easy to repair.

[pcboss]

It sounds like you may have taped into a switch loop instead of the wires from the first fixture. What color and how many wires are at the switch box?

Can you get the new wire into the box that the first fixture is mounted to? If so just connect the new wires the same colors as the existing setup. Also make up the ground wires with a splice. Do not seperate any wires that are not connectoed to the existing fixture.

[patmoore]

Thanks for advice. I was afraid that might be the problem.

There is an outlet in the room. Maybe I can just tap into that and run a new circuit/switch for the new light.

[patmoore]

I bought another 25 feet of 14-2 w grnd and plan to connect directly to an existing wall outlet (I've figured out a way to snake the wire behind the wall). From there I'll be installing the new light and a wall switch. The wall switch will be at the end and the fixture in the middle.

My question is this: At the fixture, do I connect the lamp's black and white to the interrupted ends of the white wires and leave the circuit's black wires uninterrupted?

Thanks in advance!

;)

[John Nelson]

To wire a switch loop, you make the following connections at the fixture:
(1) Power black to switch loop white.
(2) Power white to fixture white.
(3) Switch loop black to fixture black.

Mark both ends of the switch loop white wire with a black marker.

[patmoore]

Thanks John,

I'll tackle the project this weekend.

Pat

[patmoore]

Thank you John!

It worked exactly as you described. I would never have figured out that combination on my own.

Much obliged!

Pat