Remodeled a bathroom, Installed a new exhaust fan that the customer bought (Nutone). I installed a three switch box for the vanity, fan and fan light. Walls are done.
Installed the lights in the fan and found it has a nightlight, customer loves the night light!
I don’t have a switch for it!!
Do they make a switch that powers a light in the on position and powers another (nightlight) in the off position?
I realy don’t want to take apart the wall or fish another wire. I could buy a multi function switch but that leaves empty spots in the box.
Ward
Replies
Seems to me a 3 way switch would do it. One side goes to the night light, and the otehr one to the regular light.
But it would require fishing another wire, which you said you didn't wanna do.
There are switches made for ceiling fans that can produce two hots from a single wire, using an electronic gizmo in the ceiling. No idea how expensive or where you'd get one. And, unfortunately, likely they're only available as a part of a speed control.
I don't see how a 3-way would solve anything. What you're missing is the extra wire.
"I don't see how a 3-way would solve anything."
One leg goes to the regular light. The other goes to the night light.
That doesn't create another wire. And the night light can be constantly on, if need be.
You don't need a 3-way. What you need is a single-pole, double-throw switch --- along with the extra wire for the night light. You feed the fan light off one side of the double-throw & the nite light off the other side. Nutone probably makes a switch for that unit that will feed everything, but then you wouldn't need the 3 gang box.
That's sounds like what I need. Now to find a SPDT switch.
Looks like im going fishing for a new line. I really didn't want to go back in that attic. It's 90 today!!
Next time I'll RTFM...live and learn!!
Thank everybody!!
Ward
A SPDT switch is sometimes referred to as a "three-way switch" (as opposed to the "four-way switch" that is used for 3 or more fixtures).
Where is the hot feed, the switch or the fan box? If the feed is in the fan box, and you ran a switch loop to the switch location, wire the night light across the light switch so when the switch is off, the night light is in series with the big light. The night light will be about 90% and the big light may be a dull orange.
Put a photo eye on the night light.
Ideally one is already there. The SPDT switch wouldn't turn off the night light during daytime hours when the sun is shining through the window.
I guess I will cut a hole and run a new wire. Reviewed the pics I took and there is no way I can snake it.
I'll just add a double horisontal switch for a total of 4 switches in three spaces.
Not pretty but it will work!
fishing the wire.
From above, drill the plate in the stud space-drop a tight loop chain down the hole-fab a hook out of stiff wire-stick that up through the box-hook the chain and pull it in the box.
pc. of cake.
The chain we use is not link chain
and I'll try to get a picture or name of it . It does work well.
If not able to use the chain, next best thing besides the cumbersome fish tape-fibreglass rods. Sections screw together..
You also need a magnet to probe for that chain with. I like a rare earth magnet out of a disk drive, epoxied to a piece of #10 wire.
That baby with find the chain and not let go if you even get close. The only trick is getting it away from a metal box, hence the #10.
Ward,
Can you run a new neutral to the light and vanity. If so just use the neutral in the switch box as a hot.
Don't forget to mark both ends with black tape.
KK
Seems to me that if he could run a new neutral he could run a new hot.
Well it's a done deal. Ran new wire and installed switch. Live and learn!!
Now to take apart an old disk drive and find a magnet!!
Ward
Cow magnet
My preference is for a "cow magnet". They are rare earth magnets, about 4-inches long, and half an inch in diameter.
They sell them in feed stores to stuff into cows first stomachs to capture any bits of steel, (such as bits of wire), that they might eat so the wire doesn't perforate their stomachs.
They cost about $1.50 each if you don't mind the recycled ones.
So they call that Recycling now?