Three way switch — MAYBE-CK

The bathroom is dark. It has one wall light with a pull chain and a "beauty bar" medicine cabinet light activated by (an oddly high) switch next to mirror. I want to add recessed LED cans, put in a three way switch setup so the lights can be turned on or off next to either door, and add the original wall light to this circuit to maintain the original vibe.

When you have a wall light with a switch on it, that means the switch is inside the light fixture and the wires in the box behind it are always hot.

This will be our main junction box. The power will come into the box, go out to the switches, come back into the boxed as a "switched hot" and then the switched hot will tie into the old light and the new overhead lights called cans. To show you what I mean, I've drawn you some pictures.

This is how a light works. You allow the electricity to "escape" through the filament to the ground. A voltage is a difference in charge that allows this to happen. The charges want to even out so you allow them to do so by making them do something … — This is how a light works. You allow the electricity to "escape" through the filament to the ground. A voltage is a difference in charge that allows this to happen. The charges want to even out so you allow them to do so by making them do something for you

This is actually closer to how the electricity is routed. It goes in through the bottom tip and out through the threaded sleeve.

This is a typical interrupter switch. The switch breaks the connection that supplies power to the light.

This is closer to what it really looks like. Two wires come into the box, white (-) and black (+).  There is also a ground wire if the wiring is newish. This is essentially a backup ground and won't need to be discussed here. — This is closer to what it really looks like. Two wires come into the box, white (-) and black (+). There is also a ground wire if the wiring is newish. This is essentially a backup ground and won't need to be discussed here.

Here is what I have to start with: a box with wires that supply power, and a light fixture with a pull chain switch built into it.

Now it gets complicated. A three way switch uses 3 conductor wire with two hot wires. The switches don't simply interrupt but rather rout the power to one of two "tracks". If you imagine a train going somewhere with two tracks and two track switches, it would need to have these switches "in agreement" to get to the destination - in our case this is power going to a light.

Here is one configuration: the power come into the first switch box with 14-2, 14 gauge 2 conductor wire. Between the switches is 14-3 wire. From the second switch box, 14-2 goes up to the light. Both switches are either on black or red. The have to… — Here is one configuration: the power come into the first switch box with 14-2, 14 gauge 2 conductor wire. Between the switches is 14-3 wire. From the second switch box, 14-2 goes up to the light. Both switches are either on black or red. The have to be switched to the same hot wire to turn on the light, thus a three way light switch (3 because 2 switches and a light I suppose).

If you get how the three way works, now for the real challenge - putting this knowledge into use in your preferred configuration. From earlier: "The power will come into the box, go out to the switches, come back into the boxed as a "switched hot" and then the switched hot will tie into the old light and the new overhead lights called cans." That looks something like this:

See if you can trace the power all the way through. The white wire of the 14-3 becomes the switched hot coming back into our junction box where it feeds the original light and from there some new added cans.

First though I have to turn off the circuit by finding the correct fuse. It's a good idea to write down everything that turns off when you pull this fuse. On a side note, you can think of a fuse like a light bulb that has a thick filament that burns out when too much power is flowing through it (amperage) thus cutting off power to the circuit.

Pulling the middle left fuse cuts off power to the circuit we want to work on

Here's our wall light. I took out the pull chain because we will have two switches for it. One wire going to the switch from the old light / junction box is the fused hot going to the switch box and coming back through the white wire as the switched… — Here's our wall light. I took out the pull chain because we will have two switches for it. One wire going to the switch from the old light / junction box is the fused hot going to the switch box and coming back through the white wire as the switched hot. The other wire is 14-3 which is going between the 3 way switches. The switched hot connects to the old light and from there to the ceiling lights.

One switch, two switch... red switch blue switch?

The three way is working! With all the wires it's pretty easy to mix something up.

After making holes where I want the lights and making more holes to rout the wires, I'm ready to drywall the ceiling. The plaster won't stop falling until you remove it and drywall or drywall over it. Going over this mess is a lot easier than taking… — After making holes where I want the lights and making more holes to rout the wires, I'm ready to drywall the ceiling. The plaster won't stop falling until you remove it and drywall or drywall over it. Going over this mess is a lot easier than taking it all down and drywalling to the studs... You probably won't miss the 3/4" you would gain from removing all the lath and plaster.

I highly recommend you get a hole saw exactly the size recommended by the instructions of the can you're putting in. It makes retrofit cans go in much easier. This one is 4&1/8" as specified and the can is a nice tight interference fit with the … — I highly recommend you get a hole saw exactly the size recommended by the instructions of the can you're putting in. It makes retrofit cans go in much easier. This one is 4&1/8" as specified and the can is a nice tight interference fit with the hole

I have one more to put in over the tub but I ran out of the plastic grommets that fit into the metal can box so that the wire going in doesn't have its insulation ripped by the metal edge. (You know how metal boxes have breakouts? The little coin lo… — I have one more to put in over the tub but I ran out of the plastic grommets that fit into the metal can box so that the wire going in doesn't have its insulation ripped by the metal edge. (You know how metal boxes have breakouts? The little coin looking things? When you knock those out, you are supposed to put in a connector meant for the type of conduit you are using. Easiest and cheapest for Romex (plastic sheathed conduit) are the plastic click type. They have metal connectors too but they cost more and are harder to install but can be reused.

I am so happy to have that bathroom lit up brightly. Good lighting noticeably improves my mood. I'm still not sure what vanity light I'm going to use for above the mirror but I'm leaning towards a chrome "beauty bar". I think I have one kicking around somewhere. I'm kind of a light fixture hoarder...

Haha actually I have two.