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Can you help me understand the wiring of this double switch?
The lower switch powers two lights on either side of my vanity. The upper switch powers the bathroom exhaust fan but ONLY if the lower switch for the lights is also turned on. Ideally, I would like to put in a triple gang box where I have a standard switch for the lights, a second switch with timer for the exhaust fan, and a GFCI outlet. I would no longer want the exhaust fan to require the lights to be on. Is this feasible given the existing wiring and can you help me understand which existing wires would go where on the new switches? I will update the question quickly if you need additional details.
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1 Answer
- mermelizLv 73 years agoFavorite Answer
The black Romex cable coming into the box on the upper left is the hot power coming in from the circuit breaker panel.
The other black Romex cable is the wiring that goes on to the lighting.
The added white Romex cable is the wiring to the fan.
When the fan was added, the person doing the wiring jumpered off the cold side of the lighting switch so that the fan switch would only be enabled when the lights were turned on. If that was wired properly, that extra wire would not have even been necessary.
But let's move on. You are ripping that all out and putting in a triple ganger.
Here is the new wiring plan that I drew up for you to be used after you rip that all apart:
Source(s): retired electrician
