3-Way Switch Connection

I just saw the post from Vodkapundit about the 3-way switch problem. I Have exactly the same problem. I am certain that I connected the wires exactly as they were because I drew diagrams of the connections prior to removing and replacing the switch boxes (not the switches themselves). I was replacing the old metal boxes with new plastic ones while we are in the midst of knocking out walls. The only difference I am aware of is that one switch is new 12 gauge wire with ground and the other switch is the old romex wire with no ground. The ground wire was not originally connected to the switch, but I connected it. Could that be the problem?

Thanks.

 

gound should not be your problem. Tell me all your connections at the switches and the lights.

 

As Joe said in another thread, screw position is not a reliable algorithm. Simply moving the wire that was on the "upper left" screw on one switch to the "upper left" screw on another switch does not guarantee success. If you still have the old switch, examine both switches side-by-side to determine where the "common" screw is on each one.

 

First, let me make clear that I am using the same switches and wiring that was already there. All I did was disconnect the wiring from the switch to remove the old metal box and then reterminate the same wire to the same switch in a new plastic box. I double checked my diagram, which is still written on the mounting stud so I'm sure I reconnected as they were originally. Anyway, neutral (white) and ground are easy, but switch 2 does not have a ground wire so of course nothing is attached to that post, only the white wire to the neutral post.

Switch 1 = Red, top post and Black, bottom post, copper ground to green screw and white to neutral (same side as ground)

Switch 2 = Red to bottom post, black to top post, white to neutral (same side as ground)

Also, the red connections are to brass colored posts and the black connections are to darker posts. FYI, I just tried reversing the black and red wire on switch 1. It did not blow the circuit, but no light would work!

Thanks for the help.

 

Are there any other wires in the box other than the ones connected to the switch?

The grounding connection is not causing your problem.

Just FYI, any white wire attached to a switch is not a neutral.

 

Hi John,

No other wires are present. Only the ones I already described!

Thanks Again.

 

You haven't given us much to go on. You put back the same switches in the same place and made the same connections to the same wires. Yet it used to work perfectly and now it doesn't work at all.

Double-check your work. Perhaps a connection is poorly made. Perhaps the breaker is tripped. Perhaps a GFCI is tripped. Perhaps a connection came loose somewhere else on this circuit.

Buy a $15 non-contact voltage "tick" tester. See if there is any power anywhere on any wire in any box.

 

What happens when you connect the switches?
The light is always on?
The light is alwys off?
Flipping one of the switches makes the light go on/off?
Did you do any wiring at the light? It sounds like your problem might be at the light.

HERE is a drawing of what you should have.