Switch to change between two power sources?

[xJoey Dubsx]

Looking for a switch to choose which power source goes to my garage lights.

Currently have a light switch in my house which controls light at door, side door of garage and 2 at the front of garage.
I also have a post light which is always powered (has a photo sensor at pole to turn off during day).

What I want to do is make it so I can have the garage front door lights how they currently work, but have a switch so I could make it so they no longer work from that power source, but from the power source the light post uses.

Basically I want the lights to (a) be on when the house lights are on light they currently on and flick the switch and (b) be constantly on.

The lights have a photo sensor as well as motion sensor.

On the picture below:
1) Light Post which is constant
2) Switch I am trying to find
3) Switch in house I want to make an option.
4) Lights on garage

Dashled line is how they are currently wired.

 

[lametec]

Get yourself a 3-way switch. $1.50 at your local home improvement center.

The ones labeled traveller wires are the ones that you have going left and right from switch #2. The one labeled common would go to your #4.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

Get yourself a 3-way switch. $1.50 at your local home improvement center.

The ones labeled traveller wires are the ones that you have going left and right from switch #2. The one labeled common would go to your #4.

Will a three way switch work though? I thought those work for if you want to turn power on and off at two points shared.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

5) Shows lights that I want to keep off original switch.

 

[lametec]

Maybe I'm not understanding what it is you want.

The 3-way switch will allow your #4 lights to get power from either #1 or #3. I'm not sure what the

I'm not sure what the dashed line in your illustrations signifies. I'm guessing that the arrows show where the power is coming from. In other words, #1 and #3 have power coming to them from somewhere, and you're wanting power to #4 to come from #1 normally, unless you flip #2, at which point it would come from #3, and #4 would be constantly on.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

Better/simpler example of what I need.

 

[lametec]

Your solution:

Get yourself a 3-way switch. $1.50 at your local home improvement center.

The ones labeled traveller wires are the ones that you have going left and right from switch #2. The one labeled common would go to your #4.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

I don't have switch number 2.. Number 2 is what I am looking for.

 

[sublimate]

The 3-way switch does what you're asking. It connects the common to either of the 2 inputs (labeled traveler) depending on how it's switched. Technically it's a SPDT (single pole - double throw) with no off.
It's basically half of the DPDT (double pole - double throw) switch you posted. You don't really need the second pole because for it to "work" you don't "NEED" to switch the neutral, just the hot.

BUT, None of this would be to code. Would this all be under one breaker? For safety it would probably need to be, and even then I'm sure it would fail code.

I don't think you can do what you're suggesting under code, except possibly with a transfer switch.

 

[sands35]

Why do you want to power the garage lights from 2 different breakers?

There has to be a way to do what you want by using a different method.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Better/simpler example of what I need.

That is exactly what you want ! It is called a Double Pole, Double Throw (DPDT) switch. One pole (top half of switch) switches the hot, the other pole switch the neutral (bottom half of the switch).

They DO exist, but you will never find one in a hardware story and probably not in a "big box" store.

The Leviton wall switch part number is 1282, but the price is ridiculous (> $50) ! You can find 120V 15A toggle switches for a few bucks if you don't mind the look and you are will to make your own cover plate. You would also have to crimp ring terminals on to some preferably stranded wire pigs tails and then splice that to the solid wire.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

I want the option to only have those lights on without having the house lights on, say if I'm working in the garage, or if we just want them for security purposes and not having house lights on, but if I want to turn on all four lights at once, I can.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

That is exactly what you want ! It is called a Double Pole, Double Throw (DPDT) switch. One pole (top half of switch) switches the hot, the other pole switch the neutral (bottom half of the switch).

They DO exist, but you will never find one in a hardware story and probably not in a "big box" store.

The Leviton wall switch part number is 1282, but the price is ridiculous (> $50) ! You can find 120V 15A toggle switches for a few bucks if you don't mind the look and you are will to make your own cover plate. You would also have to crimp ring terminals on to some preferably stranded wire pigs tails and then splice that to the solid wire.

So this right?
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/e...cfBYCS80nScOuOSIuHptLLJ2LMjw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Mustang51js]

I want the option to only have those lights on without having the house lights on, say if I'm working in the garage, or if we just want them for security purposes and not having house lights on, but if I want to turn on all four lights at once, I can.

Prob better off just separating them with two separate switches on 2 3ways,if I'm following you right.

 

[theoldwizard1]

So this right?
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/e...cfBYCS80nScOuOSIuHptLLJ2LMjw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

That will work !

 

[sands35]

Prob better off just separating them with two separate switches on 2 3ways,if I'm following you right.

Yes

I want the option to only have those lights on without having the house lights on, say if I'm working in the garage, or if we just want them for security purposes and not having house lights on, but if I want to turn on all four lights at once, I can.

IMHO, you are asking for trouble to have a light circuit coming from two different breakers. Yes and DPDT switch will work. But it is far simpler and will introduce less risk to simply have two switches.

I'm not familiar enough with NEC to know if it is code legal.