[jondavis08]

Tittle is a little misleading. Here's what I'm wanting to do:




In the middle of finishing my basement and wiring everything up now. I have two dimmer switches controlled in what is going to be a media area. I want two keep these two switches separate so I can control the lighting as I wish. I'm hoping to add a third switch at the bottom of the stairs that would shut up both sets of lights, just in case I forget to shut of the lights in the room. I know I can run two sets of of 14-3 but I'm hoping not too.



To sum it up I want to be able to control two separate set of lights independently but be able to shut both sets off with one switch elsewhere.




Thanks!

 

[eastcoastsparky]

Tittle is a little misleading. Here's what I'm wanting to do:

Thanks!

Why not changed the title?

 

[Gabriel24]

Three-way swich

You want to control two different lights independently and ( also ) be able to shut off both of them from a third place.

In one room you have two lights and these two lights are individually controlled by two different switches. One switch operates on light and the other switch operates the other light. But you want to connect two lights to a third switch which shuts off both of them. It can be done. I do not know 100% if it is legal. I have never done it but I think it can be done.

 

[TarheelTerp]

I'm hoping to add a third switch at the bottom of the stairs that would shut up both sets of lights, just in case I forget to shut of the lights in the room.

Power in ---> S1 ----> dimmer(s) ----> light(s)

 

[hammerlane]

In the middle of finishing my basement and wiring everything up now. I have two dimmer switches controlled in what is going to be a media area. I want two keep these two switches separate so I can control the lighting as I wish. I'm hoping to add a third switch at the bottom of the stairs that would shut up both sets of lights, just in case I forget to shut of the lights in the room. I know I can run two sets of of 14-3 but I'm hoping not too.



To sum it up I want to be able to control two separate set of lights independently but be able to shut both sets off with one switch elsewhere.

Still a little confused on your intent. Is it:

switch #1 to control lite set #1
switch #2 to control lite set #2
switch #3 to control lite sets #1 and #2

 

[k_buz]

You would need to switch the power feed for the existing set of switches. If the switches are on separate circuits, you would need a 2 pole switch. This situation will require the switch at the bottom of the stairs to be in the on position in order for the existing dimmers to function.

 

[hammerlane]

You would need to switch the power feed for the existing set of switches. If the switches are on separate circuits, you would need a 2 pole switch. This situation will require the switch at the bottom of the stairs to be in the on position in order for the existing dimmers to function.

Or have 2 sets of 3-way switches??

 

[hammerlane]

following up on above's post
having 2 sets of 3-way switches??

Imagine the left bank of switches is in the media room and the right bank of switches is near the stairs.

 

[hammerlane]

or simialr to what kbuz suggested having a switch at the bottom of stairs that supplys the power to the two media room switches. Only caveat with this setupm is that the switch at the bottom of stairs would have to be in the on position to have the media room dimmer switches functional. But if you forget to turn off the dimmers. when you are at the stairs you have a way to turn the media room lights off.

I would prefer two sets of 3-way switches over this method.

 

[jondavis08]

Hammer I think I'm with you and will have the two sets of three ways. One more question. Where the stairs are at I will be framing against concrete and currently have a conduit box for the switch. I'm assuming I have to keep all the switches in a utility box because of condensation. Is there any other switch plate covers that fit on the utility boxes besides the metal plates? Wife is freaking out about this one

 

[hammerlane]

Is there any other switch plate covers that fit on the utility boxes besides the metal plates? Wife is freaking out about this one

tell the wife that the metal looks rugged and that you are making a command decision

 

[joed]

Post #9 Has what you are attempting to do I believe. There is a MASTER switch that needs to be on for the two existing switches to work. The only difference is that the master switch could probably be wired up as a switch loop since the power feed is probably existing in the current double switch box.