Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Q: Wiring - power to fixture first then switch then adding new fixture

Hi, I have a track lighting fixture that is finished on the ceiling, and I can't see what's in the box as it is behind the drywall. I am putting new drywall on a wall below and want to add two wall sconces to that circuit.

The wall being refinished also has the light switch for the above track lighting plus an outlet (not-switched) that terminates there. The power goes into the track light first, then down to the switch 12-3 wire.

I removed the outlet as there is another too close and on the same wall but different circuit (always seemed odd to me).

The wires in the track light connector are red, black and bare ground.

The original wiring on the switch including the non-switched outlet had: Red to the top screw of the switch, black to the bottom screw. The black also went to the non-switched outlet. White with black electical tape ring (which I believe is supposed to indicate alternate use) comes from the fixture. That white is capped to the wire going to the non-switched outlet.

The non-switched outlet is now removed from the wall. The original switch is pulled from the box as I want to add a dimmer.

Going out of the switch I added 14-3 wire to the first box for the wall sconce (I wasn't sure at the time, but I think I could have done 14-2 on this as well). From that box to the next box is 14-2 wire.

So what I want is the new replacement track light, and the two sconces to be on the dimmer switch. But I believe I will have an extra wire in the mix.

Should I have the red and black from the switch go to the 1st sconce. And since I put 14-3 on the new wire going to the first sconce, what colors should I use going out?

Also is it safe to cap/tape off that white wire with the black tape marking on it?

Thanks.

I found your post hard to read, but I'll give it a try.

That white is capped to the wire going to the non-switched outlet.This statement is very ambiguous, as there are certainly more than one wire going to the non-switched outlet.

The wires in the track light connector are red, black and bare ground.I'm not sure what this "connector" is, but I don't understand why there isn't a white wire there. Are you in North America? Please put your city in the Location field of your profile for best advice.

Your post talks about 12-gauge wire first, and then starts mentioning 14-gauge wire. In many cases, mixing these wire sizes is unsafe. In other cases where it might be safe, it is still unwise. What is the size of the breaker?

Also is it safe to cap/tape off that white wire with the black tape marking on it?It is usually safe to cap off a wire. Whether or not things still work when you do is another question.

The wall being refinished also has the light switch for the above track lighting plus an outlet (not-switched) that terminates there.Are the switch and the outlet in the same box? If not, then some of your later comments are confusing.

I'm having trouble getting much farther with this as to my understanding of what you have and what you are doing.

I found your post hard to read, but I'll give it a try.


Sorry, it's a tough one to explain, perhaps I should snap a few pics and post links... Also thanks for the reply- I was working on other parts of the project which is why I didn't get back to this until now. The one thing is that I've already closed and finished the wall with the 14 ga. wire going to the 4" boxes. But there is nothing else on that circuit.

What I should probably do is re-edit my original one and address your questions to me in italics.

I found your post hard to read, but I'll give it a try.

This statement is very ambiguous, as there are certainly more than one wire going to the non-switched outlet.

I'm not sure what this "connector" is, but I don't understand why there isn't a white wire there. Are you in North America? Please put your city in the Location field of your profile for best advice.

Your post talks about 12-gauge wire first, and then starts mentioning 14-gauge wire. In many cases, mixing these wire sizes is unsafe. In other cases where it might be safe, it is still unwise. What is the size of the breaker?

It is usually safe to cap off a wire. Whether or not things still work when you do is another question.

Are the switch and the outlet in the same box? If not, then some of your later comments are confusing.

I'm having trouble getting much farther with this as to my understanding of what you have and what you are doing.


re: ambiguous: the black wire at the switch along with white wire with electric tape "ring" marking went to the unswitched outlet (separate box toward floor, now removed). I'm in central NJ.



re: connector: it's the "leads" to the track lighting- a terminal with screws which has a decorative cover.



re: wire gauge: it's a 15A breaker.


I should probably sketch before and proposed after.