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I'd like to drywall/finish the 'closet' under my stairs, but I'd like to add a light fixture with a switch inside the closet first. Inside this closet already, the back of an outlet box and the back of a light switch box (and wiring between them) are accessible. That switch, which I'll call switch #1, toggles the outlet, which is for the room adjacent to this closet. I want to add a 2nd switch, inside the closet, which toggles a light in the closet, independently of switch #1. Is this possible? (EDIT: Can someone explain and/or show me with a diagram how this might be possible?)

The wires in the circuit are 14/2 with ground.

Basic representation:

enter image description here

I have a very basic understanding of circuits and I know that black is generally hot and white is generally neutral, so here is what (I think?) is a more correct representation of how it's already wired:

enter image description here

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  • Your basic knowledge is correct if you have an available hot and neutral that you can tap and bring into this new area you could install a lamp and either a pull cord type of fixture or for a few dollars more add a light switch next to the storage area.
    – Ed Beal
    Sep 25, 2018 at 4:05
  • Hi Ed, thanks for the reply, I should've clarified and asked specifically how can I accomplish it- as far as the wiring setup goes? The source hot wire seems OK but when I think about connecting the neutral, I feel like I'd be crossing currents and I'm either going to create a short, or the new light is going to also turn on by the existing switch #1 which I wouldn't want. Here's where my confusion is: i.imgur.com/AA6jUsp.png I could pigtail the black hots in the new switch just fine, but where to correctly connect the new neutral back into the circuit confuses me, thanks!
    – ps48
    Sep 25, 2018 at 10:30
  • The neutrals are pig tailed at the switch the hot is controlled by the switch this is correct you are not crossing them but placing the lamp in parallel with the outlet this is the correct way to do it.
    – Ed Beal
    Sep 25, 2018 at 12:59
  • Hi Ed, thanks again. Last question (probably) - My concern was the return current along the white. If source current (black) pigtails at my new switch and travels to the already-existing switch#1, wouldn't the returning current after the already-existing switch (white) touch my new closet light on the way back, even if the new switch is off, after the white pigtail? I apologize if I'm being oblivious here. Here's what I mean: i.imgur.com/Wy42Mx9.png
    – ps48
    Sep 25, 2018 at 13:40
  • @ps48 No, that's not how electricity works. For one, current can't flow "backwards". The voltage on your hot is ~120V (if you're in the US), the voltage on your neutral is ~0V. Current will only flow from 120 to 0, not the other way around. Further, current can't flow through an open circuit. In your 2nd picture, the current will go through the pigtail and back out to the panel (and then to ground). Where you have a question mark, you have an open circuit with the switch off, and a potential difference of ~120V with it on.
    – Chris M.
    Sep 25, 2018 at 14:14

1 Answer 1

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You'll need to tap power at the receptacle box

Since power is coming in at the receptacle end of this circuit according to your diagram, you'll need to tap power to the new switch and light there, as that's the only place in this you'll find always-hot and neutral -- any point from the existing outlet to the existing switch won't have neutral, just always-hot and switched-hot.

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  • Hi, just for clarification, wouldn't the white be switch-hot regardless of which side of the receptacle I'm on? i.imgur.com/QMA0rbz.png I'd assumed that the, um, "hotness" of the white would just continue straight on through, even after powering the receptacle, no? Thanks
    – ps48
    Sep 26, 2018 at 15:19
  • @ps48 -- no, because current flows in loops -- the utility wants their electrons back once they're done doing nice things for you (so to speak ;)
    – ThreePhaseEel
    Sep 26, 2018 at 23:19
  • In that case, can you confirm that this would be the right configuration regarding tap-in position & pigtailing? Thank you i.imgur.com/SzyJY4Q.png
    – ps48
    Sep 27, 2018 at 1:43
  • @ps48 -- you got it :) right on the money
    – ThreePhaseEel
    Sep 27, 2018 at 1:58

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