Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - single pole switch problems...

hello i hooked up a single pole switch according to diagram #1 on this website:Wiring a Light Switch (http://www.ask-the-electrician.com/singlepoleswitchdiagram.html)

and i thought it was working fine. The switch is for a light in my master bedroom closet and it only seems to work if the light in my office is off. Also on a side note sometimes the office light will have a faint glow if the closet light is on. I got the power for the new switch from a junction box in my attic there are three wires coming into this junction box one i assume comes from the breaker box, the second one i assume goes to the light in the office and the third i put in for the light in my master bedroom closet. the three black wires, white wires, and the ground all have wire nuts to keep them together in the junction box.

if this makes any sense to anyone please help.

Sounds like you are trying to to take power from a switch loop. Did you try to take power from the office light switch. Is there only two wires there not counting grounds?

To avoid confusion do not count grounds when stating number of wires. Do not refer to cables as wires. A cable is a group of wires in a sheath. A wire is an individual conductor.

could you explain what a switch loop is?

A switch loop consists of two wires. Usually a two conductor cable. The power comes in at the light. One of the wires in the cable caries power to the switch. The other carries it back to the light.

Many newbies are fooled because the white wire is not remarked. They see a white and black wire and think they have a neutral but they don't. The white wire should have been re-designated any color but white or green using marking tape, or a marker pen or paint. Code says it should be remarked but sometimes it isn't.

You need to find an always hot source for your light such as an un-switched receptacle anywhere except the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry.

okay thanks for explaining that ray i will try to figure the problem out tomorrow will post how it goes.

Good luck. We are here to help.

thanks ray it was exactly what you said it was. everything is working properly now.

Glad you got it. Thanks for letting us know.