adding 2nd light to 3 way lighting system ??
 

I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch at the
top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the stairs above
the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies

Hey I tried that on my own and now have two lamps that burn at half the
light. Don't know what I did wrong. Am thinking about just doubling
watt power of the light but would like to fix it right.

Norman Irvine wrote:
I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch at the
top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the stairs above
the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies

Len Shure wrote:
Hey I tried that on my own and now have two lamps that burn at half
the
light. Don't know what I did wrong. Am thinking about just doubling

watt power of the light but would like to fix it right.

Norman Irvine wrote:
I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch
at the
top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the
stairs above
the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies



You have wired them in series vice parrallel. I am sure one of the
electricians on here will tell you how to fix it.

Harry K

Len Shure wrote:
Hey I tried that on my own and now have two lamps that burn at half
the
light. Don't know what I did wrong. Am thinking about just doubling

watt power of the light but would like to fix it right.

Norman Irvine wrote:
I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch
at the
top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the
stairs above
the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies



You have wired them in series vice parrallel. I am sure one of the
electricians on here will tell you how to fix it.

Harry K

Norman Irvine wrote:
I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch at
the top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the
stairs above the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies

You'll have to tap into the light, not the switch.

In alt.home.repair on Sun, 20 Feb 2005 16:55:16 -0800 Len Shure
posted:

Hey I tried that on my own and now have two lamps that burn at half the
light. Don't know what I did wrong. Am thinking about just doubling
watt power of the light but would like to fix it right.

Doubling the wattage won't do it.

_______________
Power ___/ \_______Light___Other half of power
_______________


The light above is on. If you flip both swithches, it will still be
on, but the current will flow through the bottom wire. You can put a
second light in parallel with the first light, and that will work.
But if you just put it in symmetry with the first light, that is, if
you put it between the first word "power" and the first switch, the
two lights will be in series and will each be running on about 55
volts (if using bulbs of the same wattage). That's why your lights are
not bright.

Norman Irvine wrote:
I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch at the
top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the stairs above
the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies




Meirman
--
If emailing, please let me know whether
or not you are posting the same letter.
Change domain to erols.com, if necessary.

050220 1955 - Len Shure posted:

Hey I tried that on my own and now have two lamps that burn at half the
light. Don't know what I did wrong. Am thinking about just doubling
watt power of the light but would like to fix it right.

Norman Irvine wrote:
I have a light and switch at the bottom of the stairs and a switch at the
top floor. I would like to add a 2nd light at the top of the stairs above
the present switch to illuminate the upper stairs.

Hopefully I can tap into the existing switch.
Is this possible with no extensive rewiring of the system ???

Thanx for any replies




Go down to the panel and take the neutral wire for that circuit off the
neutral bar and hook it up to another breaker so that you have 220 at the
lights. That should brighten them up some...