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Hello, Please see the attachment showing how it is currently wired. I have 3 switches in one gang box.(3 way to kitchen light, single pole to bathroom light and 3 way switch controls upper portion of multiple outlets)

  • Power Source: Located at kitchen light. (white , black & ground)
  • Kitchen light 3 way switch: Between both switches there is a 3 wire with ground. (red,black & white) From switch in 3 gang box to kitchen light there is 3 wire with ground. (red,black & white)
  • Bathroom light: 1 each single pole switch to light (black, white & ground)
  • Switched outlet:3 way switch (brown, white, black & ground)

Issue: No dedicated common for bathroom light. Need to make use of the red wire located at the light so I can have a dedicated common for the bathroom light.

Provided hot to the single pole switch, but no dedicated common. Provided hot to the outlet 3 way switch and it works fine.enter image description here

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  • what is your question?
    – jsotola
    Feb 1, 2019 at 22:48
  • Are you trying to provide power to the bathroom light from one of the switch boxes? Feb 1, 2019 at 23:49
  • You said a lot, but still not clear on the wiring. Power enters the kitchen light? On the kitchen light 3-way switch in box 1, do all 3 switch terminals attach to the red black white on the same cable, or does It interact with two cables? Same question again, box 2. Feb 1, 2019 at 23:49
  • how do i rewire the kitchen light with the red wire from the 3 way switch which will allow from a dedicated neutral line for the bathroom light, see attachments Feb 1, 2019 at 23:51
  • Can you post a diagram of what's going on with the mudroom 3 way? Something's wrong there as well... Feb 2, 2019 at 17:25

1 Answer 1

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That kitchen switch loop needs to be redone to meet Code

Right now, the reason you are searching in vain for a neutral for your bathroom light is because you violated NEC 404.2(C) when you wired the switch loop for the kitchen lights by capping off the red and using the white as the always-hot wire.

You need to fix this as follows (with the breaker off, of course):

  • Remove the black and white wires going down to the switch box from where they were connected in the kitchen light box.
  • Nut the black wire from the switch box with the black incoming hot from the power source and any other always-hot wires in the kitchen light box
  • Nut the white wire from the switch box with all the neutrals in the kitchen light box (including the white pigtail from the kitchen light fixture
  • Connect the red wire from the switch box with the remaining terminal on the kitchen light fixture and any other switched-hot feeds that are present in the kitchen light box

Moving onto the switch box:

  • Unhook the black and white wires going up to the kitchen light box from whatever they were connected to in the switch box
  • Connect the black wire from the kitchen light box to the black wire going off to the other switch box, and to a black pigtail going off a brass screw on the bathroom switch
  • Connect the red wire from the kitchen light box to the differently-colored (likely black) screw on the kitchen light -- it should be the only open screw
  • Connect the white wire from the kitchen light box to the white wire from the bathroom light box
  • And connect the black wire from the bathroom light box to the remaining brass screw on the bathroom switch

Once you're done with this, you can button things up and enjoy your new bathroom light! (If you want advice on the mudroom receptacles, by the way, edit your question with more info and I'll incorporate fixing them up into my answer.)

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  • Appreciate follow-up, will rewire according to your instructions Feb 2, 2019 at 17:47

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