wiring lights from existing light fixture

raineydr

Need to know if I can use an existing light fixture (it is powered by a light switch at the top of the basement steps) to wire 6 recess lights. If so what's the best strategy?

secutanudu

Do you plan to use the same switch to turn on the new recessed lights and the one at the top of the steps?

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Andrew

raineydr

If i can i would like to put those 6 recess lights on a dimmer switch. I am confused because this same existing basement light switch controls another light fixture in the basement.

secutanudu

Most likely you can't tap into that light to power your new lights. It is probably all switched power in the ceiling, which would mean you'd have to use the same switch. To verify, turn off the breaker and see what wires you have in the ceiling above each fixture and at the switch (how many wires and what colors are they?).

There is a chance you have a "switch loop" and that the power is fed to the fixture before the switch. In this case, you could tap into it for some new lights on their own dimmer.

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Andrew

raineydr

Thanks for the help. The set up is a switch at the bottom of the stairs and at the top of the stairs that works 2 ceiling lights. They are accessible because the basement is not finished. Just basic blue work box and light bulb.
Looking at the box for the light switch at the bottom of the stairs there is 4 white romex wires coming from it. 1 back to the electrical panel, one through the floor (I guess to the light switch at the top of the stairs, one to a smoke detector and 1 I can't make out where it goes.
The white wire from the light fixture goes acriss the floor joist and then up somehwere through the floor.

secutanudu

What do you have at the fixture? And try to itemize each wire (black/white).

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Andrew

raineydr

at the fixture there is a simple black/white wire setup.