i have a basement stairwell with one light at the bottom, switch at the top. I want to make it a 3-way switch with 2 lights. 2 sections lit from either top or bottom of stairs.How to do? the wiring dates from 1954, but there is plenty of amperage left on the fuse formula. Thanks ahead of time.
the age of your wiring may not allow you to do this,, as you need to have the ground wire to make the three way circuit. you should run a new wire,, there is no such thing as a fuse formula,,, unless your speaking of the fuse/circuit breaker panel? and amperage really has nothing to do with the circuit in question as your only putting in two lights!! if you buy the right switches to make the circuit they will have a little schematic included in the box to show how its done!!
I suggest you have the work done by an electrician. Home depot guys are not electricians. That is like asking your car mechanic how to do a root canal because he had two.
Amperage for one more is light is negligible and not an issue.The job requires two three way switches and running some wire and that is an issue. Get a licensed electrician as others have suggested electricity is the last thing you want to experiment with.
Hmmmmmmmmm 1954. Is it in pipe or romex or BX(armor cable?) If in pipe, it is most probably cloth and rubber covering. High flamable and very smoky when burned. The more you move it around , the greater the risk of shorting. If you really want to try then use two wires of the same color for runners between the switches, and one wire for hot. take these to the junction you have for the new switch and install. Obviously the odd color goes on the odd color screw. The first switch should be connected with the runners on the same color screws and the wire to the light goes on the odd color. Oh yea, before you start, have a fire extinguisher and an ambulance nearby. Just kidding.
