[craigo]

I have 2 switches in my kitchen. (Wiring diagram attached).
Switch on the left operates the kitchen light; switch on the right operates a porch light. Porch light has a second switch on the porch. Both switches are fed by BX cables.

I would like to add a second switch for the kitchen, but I'm not sure exactly what I have to do. I don't understand the wiring within the switches.
In the diagram, the grey line represents a white wire.
Does this wiring make sense, and how do I proceed to add a switch to the left circuit?
Thank you for any help you can offer.

 

[gregzoll]

You would have to run 14/3 to be able to use a 3-way switch. That would also mean pulling all new wire from the panel to the light and the switches where they are at. You are talking about having to make some holes to pull the wire, possibly a permit and then of course either paying a licensed electrician to do the work, then have a drywaller come in to patch the holes, or do it yourself if you are up to it. Not something that someone wants to do for their first electrical project.

They do make battery operated remote switches that you can buy from smarthome.com. You place the receiver at the light and the battery operated switch where you want it. Works on the same principal as the small two button fan remotes.

 

[FrodoOne]

I have 2 switches in my kitchen.
Switch on the left operates the kitchen light; switch on the right operates a porch light. Porch light has a second switch on the porch. Both switches are fed by BX cables.

I would like to add a second switch for the kitchen, but I'm not sure exactly what I have to do. I don't understand the wiring within the switches.
In the diagram, the grey line represents a white wire.
Does this wiring make sense, and how do I proceed to add a switch to the left circuit?
Thank you for any help you can offer.

Because you "don't understand the wiring within the switches." and (I suspect) the wiring BETWEEN switches, I suggest that you first read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiway_switching, which contains a great deal of "background information".

You may then see that your "porch" light is multiway switched in the same way as you wish to rewire your "ktchen" light. Hopefully, you will then understand why you will need to replace the existing "kitchen" (SPST) switch (with a SPDT switch) and provide a second SPDT switch with the appropriate (3 conductor) wiring between them - as indicated by gregzoll.

Note that it is stated in the Wikipedia article "This article follows American usage. Readers in the most other countries should read "two-way" or "SPDT" for the American "three-way" and "intermediate", "crossover" or "DPDT" switch for the American "four-way"."

 

[craigo]

Thank you guys for such a quick response.
The old house I'm working on has wiring in just about impossibe locations.
There have been renovations on top of renovations. There is even a floor on top of the floor in the attic!
Alas, I'm now 0 for 2 in electric projects...just not worth the money for the skills required.
That's okay, I've got lots of "physical labor" projects to pursue.
And thank you for the remote switch idea. It may get me just what I wanted anyway.