How to Add an Extra Light Switch In a One Switch Location (how to replace a receptacle box)

This video shows how to add a second light switch or fan switch where one switch already exist. The problem is that the existing light switch is in a single gang receptacle box that has no room for an additional switch to be installed. In this case we need to replace the old single gang receptacle box with a larger 2-gang box.
Supplies:
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Romex 14-2 Wiring (if installing a new light, etc.) = amzn.to/33fgigq
Toggle Dimmer witch = amzn.to/3n912JG
2-Gang Toggle Switch Wall Plate = amzn.to/36pVFzZ
Wire Stripper = amzn.to/36nAwXk
Linesman Pliers = amzn.to/36mDxqE
Voltmeter = amzn.to/3cLbodY
Disclosure: The above are Amazon links. "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
In this example I needed to install a sconce wall light and my closest power source was a light switch that controlled another light. My solution was to add another light switch to power the new sconce light however I needed to remove the old light switch box and install a larger box to house both light switches.
Adding the new receptacle box required removing the old one. I purchased a old work 2-gang light switch box and traced its outline over the existing receptacle box. I then cut the opening for the new larger box. Now I had space to remove the old receptacle light switch box. Then I installed the new sconce light and ran a Romex wire from the new light to the new opening for the 2-gang receptacle box. I inserted all the electrical wires into the new box and inserted it into the wall space. Then I installed both light switches making sure I connected wires correctly so that the original circuitry was functional and that the new sconce light was operational.
#DIY #HomeWiring #lightswitch

[@grant9904]

This was EXACTLY what I was looking for. So many videos that I've searched showed replacing an existing double switch, but none like yours turning one switch into two. Thank you! Your post commentary was very clear and the footage showed me exactly what I needed to see.

[@MrKistel]

Thank you for this comment. Glad to hear how this to turn one switch into two was help0ful for you. I greatly appreciate your feedback.

[@THEMANINAMASK]

Amazing!!!!! Just followed your instructions as I needed to add a secondary switch to have seperate lighting for the closet to be able to install pot lights. Worked like a charm.

[@MrKistel]

Awesome to hear you were able to add a secondary light switch for your project.

[@carlotta4th]

Very invaluable information, just finished installing my switch today (with some irl help and your video) and it went smoothly. Thanks!

[@MrKistel]

Thank you for sharing that this video was helpful in your light switch project.

[@ImTheBlueRanger]

Just installed a series of new lights in my basement and added a new switch using this video, thanks so much!

[@MrKistel]

Glad it helped! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your DIY light switch install.

[@rahspardobvy709]

Thank you for making this so easy and so clear in five minutes when others have taken on hour.

[@MrKistel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amcastro8599]

Man you just did exactly what I want to do for my basement stairs. I have only one light towards the end of the stairs and wanted a second one at the beginning but wasn’t sure how to go about it, thanks!

[@MrKistel]

Great to hear the video of use to you. Thanks for sharing

[@costaloukellis2624]

This was perfect for what I needed. Thank you for making it easy to understand which gave me the confidence to do it myself.

[@MrKistel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Oneklickmedia]

Sweet! I wanted to added lights to my island using the switch from the outside patio light. Just gave me the confidence to move forward. Thanks!

[@MrKistel]

thanks for watching

[@davidberliner2228]

Well done. This is the video I'll watch when installing my new light & switch.

[@MrKistel]

Thanks Dave, best of luck with your electrical project.

[@alrozman6862]

Great video! A perfect video for what I wanted to get done. Obviously, I'm not the only person you helped. Thank you so much!

[@MrKistel]

Wow thanks for the kind and supportive comment. And thanks for watching.

[@davidkefutauteoli4175]

This really helped me out a lot. Thanks 👌🏽💯💯

[@MrKistel]

Glad to hear it!

[@nel1803]

BINGO!!! THE EXACT VIDEO I WAS LOOKING FOR. THANK U SO MUCH🙏

[@MrKistel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevensmithjr9014]

Bro thanks for this video! Life saver! Smashed that like button for you!! 😎

[@MrKistel]

Epic! Thanks for the "Smash" and watching the light switch addition video.

[@g7003041]

Thank you, I follow your steps and it works great 👍

[@MrKistel]

Great to hear!

[@johnsmokin]

Thank you! This was exactly my issue and I could not find help anywhere. Good details and info!

[@MrKistel]

Glad it helped!

[@jimmysingh6667]

Very good nice shot video explains everything that i was looking for

[@MrKistel]

Thanks Jimmy, best of luck with your extra switch and new receptacle box installation.

[@averagejoesgarage8335]

Subscribed I was about to be charged 200 dollars each to change 5.... you saved me 1k thanks.

[@MrKistel]

Great to hear the extra light switch install video was helpful for you

[@SlowpokeShred]

Nice video editing. Really helped me out too. Thanks man!

[@MrKistel]

Glad it helped! Hope you were able to add another switch.

[@SlowpokeShred]

@@MrKistel I also didn’t think to use an old work light box. I was going to do a brace between joists. You saved me time AND money.

[@ronaldforemanjr.6854]

Thanks for your help!

[@MrKistel]

Glad it helped! Thank for watching the light switch installation vid.

[@davidseehorsch3563]

Perfect video for what I need to do in my Daughters condo. Thank you so much!

[@MrKistel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@michaelbuono9826]

Helpful! just gotta check if there's a stud to one side or the other before cutting into the wall

[@MrKistel]

Thanks for the comment and hope you are able to add a double gang box in your 1 gang box switch location.

[@leonidascastro3574]

Great explaining. Great for my project thanks. God bless you

[@MrKistel]

So nice of you

[@erval9]

I’m doing something similar but instead of putting two light switches together I’m feeding a new light switch from an existing light switch on a 90 degree corner angle. On one side of the wall my original light switch turns one a kitchen light and from the other side of the wall the new light switch will turn on my new hallway light. Your video is the closest thing I could find for my project. All I have to do different is add the pigtail extensions from one switch to the other (around 4 feet across the corner walls) and then feed my new light wires from the ceiling to the new light switch and pigtail those with the other and then connect to the new switch. Thanks for the explanation!

[@borys444]

Well done brother man!!

[@MrKistel]

Thank you Nick. I appreciate the supportive comment.

[@roycerichardsphoto]

Thank you bro!

[@MrKistel]

Thanks for watching the video showing how to convert a one gang box into two gang electrical box.

[@abrahamabraham1573]

Thanks for the help remodeling living room installing pot lights then I figured use the existing switch by sliding door to gain power ur video confirmed it >> new subscribers any pot lights u recommended as I'm still doing research to what material I actually need thanks

[@MrKistel]

Thanks for the comment and subscribing. Glad this video was insightful with your DIY lights installation project. There so many cool lights out there I would not have a clue what to recommend. I would just suggest to get what you like and something that looks simple to install.

[@CharlesBrownWorks]

thank you!

[@MrKistel]

You're welcome! happy 2021

[@davidpollard3522]

Good job 👏

[@MrKistel]

Thank you very much!

[@InProgressIO]

I am hoping this works for me. Need to turn 1 switch into 2 for a ceiling fan and light to be placed with a dimmer too. I liked and subscribed and shared (with hubby) since he won’t let me do it unless I show him. And also since he will have to lend me the tools. Lol

[@vancvrman604]

Hi, I am doing the exact same thing...did it work for you on your ceiling fan?

[@GlenHoffmanX]

Good instructional video. I always like watching your videos

[@MrKistel]

Thank you Glen, hope the video is helpful if you ever need to add an extra light switch.

[@GlenHoffmanX]

@@MrKistel I need to add a plug in to my light switch. Do you have a video for that?

[@MrKistel]

@@GlenHoffmanX they make receptacles that have one outlet and one switch that are pretty straight forward to install. They install just like the switches shown in this video. They are nice because you do not even need to replace the single gang electrical box in the wall.

[@GlenHoffmanX]

@@MrKistel thanks, I'll check them out.

[@taika2]

new sub here this video helped me out greatly…new homeowner here👍🏼

[@MrKistel]

Awesome! Thank you and congrats on home ownership. Very Exciting

[@casino007007]

thanks for video just did it exactly it working it save me a lot $ .

[@MrKistel]

Glad it helped

[@joaquinsuarez6090]

Great. Gracias. I need to add a new outside light with an independent switch and didn't want to run a whole new circuit all the way from far away braker box in garage.

[@MrKistel]

Glad it helped

[@Outfitters-mn8jt]

So I've got two split an exhaust fan and light with only one preexisting power cord coming in. Any tips?

[@javb3729]

Great video. I noticed when you joined the black wires and added a pigtail, you left one black wire out. Which black wire was the one you left out? Thank you sir!

[@MrKistel]

Thanks you. The black wire left out was not meant to be part of that circuit leg.

[@JB1996UTube]

What did you screw you box into?

[@luckyme621]

Really good video. Very detailed. I got a little bit lost after you connected all then neutrals. Where do you get the short black wires to make the pigtails? and where did each pigtail connect to after? what are the remaining wires left besides the black and white? I see a metal one. Sorry don't know much about electrical but need to do add a light and switch to an existing switch.

[@MrKistel]

Thank you Rozanna, I am not sure if I understand your questions completely. To make a pigtail wire I just cut a piece out of Romex. One of the trickiest things with these projects is keeping track of which wires go where and making sure they get connected in the proper fashion. If there is any doubt it might be good to contact an electrician to play it safe. Best of luck and let me know how it all works out. Thanks again.

[@luckyme621]

@@MrKistel thanks! now I know where to get the short black wires to make the pigtails. and ill take a picture of the existing lighting before unraveling everything so I can rewire in similar fashion! thank you!

[@paigeparsons9317]

Her question is actually the same as mine which is that after you connected the neutral wires, you had the old red wire from the previously installed light. You pigtailed black wire into two separate power sources. Then when you installed the two outlets, you (I believe) were working with 3 black wires and a red one. The pigtails were then connected to the old outlet? Or did you connect 1 black pigtail wire to old outlet (and red wire to old outlet), and the 2 remaining black wires to the to the new outlet? Please clarify! Thank you so much.

[@seesky112]

Very good video!!! One thing I'm confused is : you wired the power supply hot wire with another outlet black wire together? So the old light is not controlled by the switch? Thanks again for your nice work!!!

[@MrKistel]

Thank you. The main power wire likely fed something else on the circuit so I likely joined the wires together to continue the original power feed to wherever it was going. the old light is controlled by a switch.

[@TheTechGuider]

You could also just a double pile single gang switch

[@katherines9480]

This doesn't look anything like my situation. I have only one 12-2 wire coming into control the original switch, every KZbin video with a similar situation shows two wires one is from the breaker and one for the fixture. How can I add another light and switch on to this circuit. I have a 1940 built home, electrical changes have been made many times by different previous home owners.

[@imranlosangeles5141]

Beautiful nice and ez

[@MrKistel]

Thank you! 😊

[@kxewws7681]

Excellent. I would like to add that I usually wrap the wire caps with electrical tape as well.

[@MrKistel]

Great tip for when installing electrical receptacles and switches. Definitely helps keep the next guy from getting shocked!

[@Ron-rc7fg]

I need to know how to add another switch to existing switch and light one set of wires to the existing switch and I want to add another switch and light using the existing wire and the wire to new light

[@johnwride4911]

Hello, I am not quite a Dummy on electric issues but close, plus an old guy. I wanted to put two pendant lights over our kitchen bar and place a switch next to existing switches for the power. One is a hall switch with a number of switches that operate the hall light, maybe 3. The next switch is the kitchen lights with another switch at the other end of the kitchen. The two switches in the box (next to where I want to place my lights over the counter) between them have wires going everywhere, do I need to disassemble all these wires or can I just piggy back of the collected black wires and ?? Your input would be appreciated, if too complicated I will contact an electrician. Many thanks, great video, but I got lost a little with the pigtails, and red wire( like is this also power?)

[@MrKistel]

Thanks for watching. I am not quite clear of your situation and it might be best to bring in an electrician if you are uncertain. Regarding wire coloring in a house, black is usually hot, white is neutral, and copper /green is ground. Another color like red should indicate another hot and could be a switch leg or something.

[@johnwride4911]

@@MrKistel After looking at the video a couple more times, I successfully did what I wanted without redoing the wiring, I also managed to turn a two gang switch into a three gang. Many thanks for the ideas in your video, I am very pleased.. Cheers..

[@darrylwindsor]

The right side where you cut the extra space from the drywall shouldn’t have anywhere to mount the screw for the box ?? How did you secure that in ?

[@MrKistel]

I used a receptacle box that secures to the drywall itself. See the specific box used in the video description. Thanks

[@jacksoniris6841]

Do you use the pig tails on every wire except the neutrals?

[@MrKistel]

With standard light type switch a neutral wire is not connected to the switch. However to complete the circuit the neutral wires (white) need to be connected together in the light switch box. In this type of situation the "pigtail" is not necessary for the neutral wires.

[@PAPRITKO]

Thank you for making this video. But I'm still having aproblem how to rewiring everything. A diagram will be more helpful for me.😆

[@MrKistel]

Thanks for watching and the comment. I will try to include wire diagram models in future circuitry related videos.

[@johnal4560]

Multiple electrical outlets in all 3 washroom stop working after separating fan and light switch and installed new fan with light when i turn the same fan light on the power comes to all outlets but when i torn it off it cut the power in all the washrooms

[@MrKistel]

I am not completely clear what you are describing but from what I gather maybe the common "hot" wire was tied into the switch circuit. Meaning the wire that goes to the remaining electrical outlets was connected on the other side of the switch.

[@Faisny]

When you connected black hot wires you connected 2 wires from the box to the 2 pigtails. There are 3 black hot wires in the box, which 2 did you connect to the pigtail?

[@MrKistel]

The key is to make sure the incoming power wire feeds both the two switches. If there is another black wire in the box it is likely feeding the rest of the circuit and needs to be connected directly to the power wire feeding the box.

[@Engb3259]

How about using a double switch in the same box?

[@dangr123]

What if I need to get rid of an extra switch? Our old ceiling fan had a separate dimmer switch for the light and a toggle switch for the fan. The new fan only needs one switch because everything is controlled from a remote. If I hook up the new fan to the toggle switch, what should be done with the remaining dimmer switch spot?

[@erichill7560]

leave it empty

[@michalkusio2740]

Hi I tried do the same however in my single gang switch is only two cables L and N how can I connect? There is any chance to change it for two gangs switch?

[@MrKistel]

you may have have just a hot wire coming in and then a switch leg going out of the switch back the to light/fan/etc. The white wire might be marked with a piece of tape if so. In this case there is no neutral in the box. You potentially could add another switch but you would have to make sure there is a neutral available at the new light fixture.

[@aguillon5]

Thank you I would have pigtailed yhe neutral also.

[@MrKistel]

thanks for watching

[@Maugwa]

You did not tape up your wire nuts..............or the light switches.

[@geraldthornton-vj8eq]

My old light to switch is black white to box. Need a switch bottom switch is3way to the top black white start with 2 wires hook up how please lee g Thornton

[@Latinos4Trump]

Around 4:10 why do you connect 2 small wires, as a extension?

[@MrKistel]

It just seems to be an efficient way to attach the wires and components together. It might be helpful to watch the video a few times and may become clearer after doing so. Thanks for the comment and watching.

[@beckyleung7233]

good

[@MrKistel]

Thanks

[@Lukeyd19]

U got a video on how to change the two to one switch?

[@MrKistel]

I do not as of this point. Thanks for watching though.

[@tago8039]

It looks like the old switch was wired with 14 3 wire, which would explain the red wire. Was it 14 3?

[@MrKistel]

The existing wire may likely have been 14-3 Romex.

[@thedoctor1997]

You left a white out after saying you put all the white together and we can't follow you when you're not explaining where everything is coming from and going to

[@ParkourRhett]

I have explosive diarrhea.

[@tanercomertoglu5236]

How about if my fan and lights share the same switch, but want to switch them into 2

[@MrKistel]

You might have to run another wire if one is not already there. Some fans come with wireless remote controls that may allow the independent control of fan and lights with only one power source wire..

[@carloslima99]

Hey it's me, kissel (jerky boys)

[@michaelbuono9826]

Twisting all neutrals together with WHAT kind of pliers??? 3:58

[@MrKistel]

The tools used to add the double gang electrical box are mentioned in the description area.

[@toregon337]

HELP!!!! My knob on the fan part of the outlet plate broke off. I now can't turn it to start the ceiling fan while in bathroom. So it's an outlet that has a long switch for light and next to it? the knob for the fan (it's a timer). I have tried every word combo to see if someone has a video. HOW DO I DO IT? Please help? Thank you!

[@MrKistel]

I would guess you can just replace the entire fan switch with something else.

[@cbarnettcti123]

My light switch just has one set of wires (black, white, ground) coming into it. I assume these wires must come from the light fixture that the switch controls. How do I add a second light switch in that situation? Is there a video you can point me to?

[@MrKistel]

Is there black or red tape on the white wire?

[@cbarnettcti123]

@@MrKistel Black tape. How did you know that?

[@MrKistel]

@@cbarnettcti123 sounds like you have a set where you have a black wire coming in with power to the switch and then the white wire with tape is being used as the switch side of the power going back to the light. This means you have no neutral in the light switch box. in this case it might be tricky to add another switch because you would still need to provide a neutral to whatever you are powering.

[@cbarnettcti123]

@@MrKistel Thank you for taking the time to answer this. It was quite helpful.

[@MrKistel]

@@cbarnettcti123 it can be done you just have to be sure to run a neutral wire to the light or fixture to be powered off the new switch. .

[@margiedie]

Would it make a difference if the new switch was a 3 way?

[@MrKistel]

If the new switch needs to be a three way switch wiring might be lightly different. It depends on how the three way circuit is wired.

[@dontpanic4295]

I've tried this and it does not work. I only have a black wire and a white wire no red

[@oscarcolindres4637]

👍

[@MrKistel]

💪

[@averyslife6314]

Not as easy with single gang metal boxes

[@bb3283]

Tape up the naked wires u shoved back into the wall box lol

[@josephwunstell1008]

I don't have red wires mine is white,black and copper

[@MrKistel]

Red and black are generally "hot" wires.

[@shinyam75]

Sorry, what's the point of the pigtails? Isn't the switch connected to power without them already? why didn't you pigail the white wires?

[@MrKistel]

The electrical box contains a source power wire that feeds multiple circuits. The pigtails are just a way to connect the circuits together.

[@enriquemonarca5775]

I did the same thing but the fucking light isn't turned on and the outlets has no power .... 😒🙄

[@antorreon]

Don’t have a red wire, just black white and copper

[@MrKistel]

A typical circuit will have a black, white, and copper wire.

[@user-ds7gh4mq8e]

Ned Lichtsinn

[@AB-bu9go]

You just don't want to see your mouth when you talk 😂

[@barriesteele6313]

you went to fast and didn't separate what was done clearly

[@thegravytrain1129]

A shared neutral? Are you kidding? That's a terrible idea.

[@MrKistel]

feel free to elaborate to clarify your concern

[@altereggo119]

I didn't find this all that helpful. It could have been a lot better if it had focused more on the wiring. Way too much time on cutting sheetrock and putting in the electrical box, only a few seconds at about 5 minutes in on how to connect all the wires from the new switch and the old. It was all explained and done too quickly, to the point where several people below (and me) aren't sure what happened.

[@bbarns6431]

too bad i know more about his arm that the wiring he was doing

[@MrKistel]

Ya, some of the camera angles are not ideal for clearly showing the innards of the electrical box. I apologize.

[@Ron-rc7fg]

Not the right video