DIY Home Improvement Forum banner
1 - 20 of 24 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
8 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I attached a photo diagram of current situation. Every combination I make either fan or light switch work by themselves and other is on all the time. Been going at this longer than I'd like to admit. Can anyone help me to make my 2 switch light switch turn the combo bath light/fan on and off and also keep flow going to the rest of my basement? I understand a little of electric and ive never seen the main coming in from the ceiling. Thanks so much and have a great holiday!
 

Attachments

· Registered
Joined
·
8,167 Posts
If you keep trying random stuff, you will probably find a combination that works, but then kills you.

The information you've given isn't really clear or helpful, that is why you aren't getting answers. It would be more helpful to post pix of what is inside the boxes (DON'T unhook devices).
 

· Registered
Joined
·
701 Posts
Ok let's make this work. At ceiling box connect black R1 to hot black. Connect R1 white to feed white, pigtail for fan/light white. At switch box. Pigtail black R1. Feed both switches and existing basement circuit. White R1 connect to basement circuit. R2 will be switch legs. Connect black to one switch and white to other. Cover white color to black with tape, marker whatever. [email protected] ceiling. Black to fan, white to light. Hope this makes sense.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
11 Posts
Switch 1 looks like a 3 way switch, that means 2 switches operate the light or lights. This is not an easy concept. The second switch is either a 4 way or a double pole single throw. Look up the wiring for all three. If you still have trouble send me another post

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 

· Registered
Joined
·
8,167 Posts
Ok let's make this work. At ceiling box connect black R1 to hot black. Connect R1 white to feed white, pigtail for fan/light white. At switch box. Pigtail black R1. Feed both switches and existing basement circuit. White R1 connect to basement circuit. R2 will be switch legs. Connect black to one switch and white to other. Cover white color to black with tape, marker whatever. [email protected] ceiling. Black to fan, white to light. Hope this makes sense.
Chuckle, I knew somebody would go there. You're drawing current down R1 and returning it on R2. Currents must be equal in each cable or conduit.

Given that OP won't tell us much about the circuit, I prefer to optimistically hope one of the cables is a /3. That would be fine; use the /2 to passthru always-hot/neutral, and the /3 as a normal Sw1/Sw2/N.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
8,167 Posts
Nevermind, I think I figured it out.

300.3(B) Conductors of the Same Circuit. All conductors of the same circuit and, where used, the grounded conductor and all equipment grounding conductors and bonding conductors shall be contained within the same raceway, auxiliary gutter, cable tray, cablebus assembly, trench, cable, or cord, unless otherwise permitted in accordance with 300.3(B)(1) through (B)(4).

300.3(B)(3) Nonferrous Wiring Methods. Conductors in wiring methods with a nonmetallic or other nonmagnetic sheath, where run in different raceways, auxiliary gutters, cable trays, trenches, cables, or cords, shall comply with the provisions of 300.20(B).

300.20(B) Individual Conductors. Where a single conductor carrying alternating current passes through metal with magnetic properties, the inductive effect shall be minimized by (1) cutting slots in the metal between the individual holes through which the individual conductors pass or (2) passing all the conductors in the circuit through an insulating wall sufficiently large for all of the conductors of the circuit.
I'm not 100% confident of this, but it appears you can gang up /2 and /3 Romex when you need a cable with 4-5 conductors if either a) use a plastic box or b) a cable clamp that admits 2 cables in the same clamp. Or c) slot the box as discussed in 300.20(B). I was previously under the impression that you could not.

I'll run it by the code wonks on SE just to be sure.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
8 Posts
Discussion Starter · #11 ·
Sorry all. It was a quick diagram. Switches should not have been added as i was just showing those were my options when drew this diagram for myself. Oddmaster you are correct. I have a 2 button switch i wanted to use. One for fan and one for light in a single light switch box (i drew the one button switch just in case i could ring a bell with a way i could use it easier). joed The hot comes in through the ceiling box oddly and i need to bring it down to the switch box but be able to power the rest of my basement at the same time as using a switch to cut power to light and fan. I just moved into this house and in Arizona its all romex. Illinois where I came from its all conduit. Very different for me to figure out and never seen anyone put the hot through the ceiling box. I'm not experienced to say the least but usually can handle something like this. Its driving me nuts.


So I included picture of 3 boxes and color coded the wires. The light switch box has green from top right and blue and orange coming in from top left. running. Ceiling light / fan box orange comes in right side with blue. Red comes in the top and is [HOT]. I included the wall outlet to show the green is powering it (along with quite a bit of other things n my basement). Hope this makes more sense. I'm sorry best i can think to explain from my computer.
 

Attachments

· Registered
Joined
·
3,944 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
8 Posts
Discussion Starter · #15 ·
i have the Leviton 15a Two switches 5634 where you can break off tab. Just turned power back on and realized both switches turn off light and fan instead of each having its own function. Should i break the tab to seperate??
 
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top