Adding extra light switch

[nwhiker]

I have an L-shaped basement area that I am going to wall off the smaller section. It is for my office and to make it more quiet when my kid's are home. On the wall right before you walk into my office space there is a single gang light switch. I want to add another light switch that will be inside the room. It will be  on the same wall about 4' away. Can I run romex from the original light switch to the new switch? I don't want to have to install a splice box and then having to install a blank face plate. The prior owner did some electrical work so there is already several splice boxes in the room.

[Jon Bon]

I have an L-shaped basement area that I am going to wall off the smaller section. It is for my office and to make it more quiet when my kid's are home. On the wall right before you walk into my office space there is a single gang light switch. I want to add another light switch that will be inside the room. It will be  on the same wall about 4' away. Can I run romex from the original light switch to the new switch? I don't want to have to install a splice box and then having to install a blank face plate. The prior owner did some electrical work so there is already several splice boxes in the room.

Keeping all the same lights? or adding new ones?

If you want to keep the same lights just do a 3 way. With having access it is generally easy putting in a 3 way switch. You need to buy some 3 way wire. Black, White, Ground and Red (traveler wire). Look up how to do a 3 way switch, there are a shocking number of ways to wire it up. It it is definitely do able for a novice in an afternoons work. Just shut everything off before you work. Also be sure to buy the same type of wire thickness as going to the existing switch (12 or 14 gauge are most common) You will also need to buy two three way switches.

Good luck!

Also I would not mess around with one of those "remote" 3 ways I think they might work but just do it right.

[nwhiker]

I have an L-shaped basement area that I am going to wall off the smaller section. It is for my office and to make it more quiet when my kid's are home. On the wall right before you walk into my office space there is a single gang light switch. I want to add another light switch that will be inside the room. It will be  on the same wall about 4' away. Can I run romex from the original light switch to the new switch? I don't want to have to install a splice box and then having to install a blank face plate. The prior owner did some electrical work so there is already several splice boxes in the room.

Keeping all the same lights? or adding new ones?

If you want to keep the same lights just do a 3 way. With having access it is generally easy putting in a 3 way switch. You need to buy some 3 way wire. Black, White, Ground and Red (traveler wire). Look up how to do a 3 way switch, there are a shocking number of ways to wire it up. It it is definitely do able for a novice in an afternoons work. Just shut everything off before you work. Also be sure to buy the same type of wire thickness as going to the existing switch (12 or 14 gauge are most common) You will also need to buy two three way switches.

Good luck!

Also I would not mess around with one of those "remote" 3 ways I think they might work but just do it right.

Thanks I'm not sure why I didn't think of
 That. Probably because the other switch, which is right beside it, is a 3-way.

[Jon Bon]

Well then you might need a 4 way, which I believe exist! Ive never done one, because the number of combinations and wires gets really complicated as you add different combinations! I am not sure what you are looking to do exactly. But if you are going to wall off a dedicated area for your office I would just put in my own light switch.

It sounds like it already has a light in it? I would just take that light off the existing switch and run a new switch to that light. That way the old 3 way does it job and the new 2 way you have added runs only your office?

Maps/diagrams/pictures help.

Sounds like you are competent enough with electrical to make this work. Again its your basement and you have access to the wires it should be pretty easy.