I have two ceiling lights in my kitchen that come into the same wiring box (light switch). It's a single light switch that controls both lights. I want to install a two fixture light switch so that I can turn on each light by itself. It looks like there are only two wires coming into the box...a black one and a white one (and a ground wire). The two-switch I bought is requiring three wires though. How do I wire this thing?
It's called making pig tails.
if you don't know how to wire for what you want ..i could not tell you enough to get you through the job..but , you can get a pull string on / off switch at the hardware store that will do the same thing that you want ..anyone can do that..just unscrew the light bulb and screw in the pull switch then screw in the light bulb ..they do have them in remote control but they ain't cheap..good luck
=== you are going to have to rewire the lights to have the new switch operate each fixture independently == that is how it will work ... it is the only way to do what you want done .... at the present there is one pair of wires that operate both fixtures
You need a new cable from the light switch to the fixture and between the fixtures. Since you are in doubt about how and what to do this i suggest you hire a qualified professional electrician to do the work. The next choice is to buy a book on electrical wiring so you can understand what is needed and why.
You would need an additional run of 2/14 wire ( 14 gauge wire , black, white and ground ) to go from the switch box to one of the fixtures for this to work. All of the bare grounds in the switch box would be joined with one going to the ground terminal on the switch. All of the common ( white ) wires in the switch box would be joined with a wire nut. The black wire supplying power to the switch would go on the side with the single terminal. One of the black wires to one light would go on one of the terminals on the other side. The new black wire would go on the other terminal on that same side.
