Adding Another Switch to A Box - Not working :-(

[boilermanc]

Hi all, I have a puzzle on my hands today...

I have a light on the side of our hall heading downstairs that is on a three way switch. The power wire comes into the switch at the top of the stairs. I am trying to add another light at the top of the ceiling that will be on its own switch. I cannot for the life of me get the ceiling light to light.

Coming into the box is a wire with four wires - red (HOT), black, white and ground. I tested and the red is for sure hot. Breaker on, red hot. Breaker off, red not. Other wires no power, just the red.

I started by pig tailing the red and running it to the side light and the new overhead light. I pig tailed the whites and connected them all together. The black coming in on the feed is connected to the side light like it was before. The black coming from the new light is connected to the new switch.

Nada. Does not work.

I have then tried about every combination that I can think of. I even ran just the hot and the black to the new light. nada. Then red and white to new light, nada. Just straight from the power with now switch and neither one work. I tested the line and its tells me its getting juice up to the light.

I know the light works, I hooked the wires that i ran to the light at the switch to a test cord and plugged it in to an extension wire. Bing, light!

So what am i doing wrong?

So to restate, four wires coming into box. Currently runs a three way switch that works a light on the side of the hall. Adding a new light at the top that will work off another switch in the box but will not be a three way switch.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Can u post a pic of the box?

Are u sure theres just the one 3conductor cable in the j box?

If so then the incoming power feed for the 3-way and the feed going to the existing 3-way light are in the same switch box, which is the one at the OTHER end of the switch box youre working on.

U need a hot AND a neutral for the second light to work. And since this is a 3-way circuit all u have is 2 travelers and a hot NO NEUTRAL!

Unfortunately, without a neutral, youre SOL. U would have to run another NM-b cable to the J box for the light to work...

 

[1969]

Red wire being hot does not make it a "feed" wire necessarily. In fact, I would guess the "feed" is either at the light or at the other end of the 3 way. JMO

 

[pattenp]

If you flip the other switch you should see the red that is hot in the switch you are working become dead and either the white or black become hot. As said, sounds like you are at the switch which only has the common and 2 travelers, no neutral.

 

[justsam]

As stated above, there are several ways to wire 3 way switches, which will not include a neutral in the switch box. Need to see what you have at both switch locations, and the light fixture.
http://www.buildmyowncabin.com/electrical/3-way-switch-power-into-light.gif

 

[Kmt803]

Wyliesdiesels nailed it

 

[boilermanc]

Thanks for all the great answers. Looks like i have some investigative work to do. Was busy in the yard Sunday so didn't get a chance. Hopefully tonight I will get back in and check the other box. This at least gives me some ideas on where to troubleshoot.

As usual, this forum just rocks!!

 

[Mustang51js]

There is no troubleshooting to do, you don't have the right setup. Now if your talking ideas to get a light where you want,that's different. If you don't need the 3 way setup you have now you can rewire it so you can have two separate switches and all you need to do is run a 14-2 up to where you want to add the light