3-way motion detector switches
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3-way motion detector switches
I installed a set of hall lights with 2 3-way motion detector switches (LUTRON).
The circuit is wired as follows:
14/2 wg (from panel) to Switch1
14/3 wg from Switch1 to Switch2
14/2 wg from Switch2 to Lights
Commons are all wired together and to fixtures
Grounds are all wired together and to Switch and Fixture Grounds
Line to Switch1 Black
Switch2 Black to Fixture Blacks
Switch1 Red to Switch2 Red (traveler)
Switch1 Brown to Switch2 Brown (traveler)
The system works as follows:
Both switches have off-auto-on positions
Switch1 motion detection doesn't work but off and on positions work.
Switch2 motion detection works as do the off and on positions.
What do I need to do to make Switch1 motion detection work?
Thanks, Joe
The circuit is wired as follows:
14/2 wg (from panel) to Switch1
14/3 wg from Switch1 to Switch2
14/2 wg from Switch2 to Lights
Commons are all wired together and to fixtures
Grounds are all wired together and to Switch and Fixture Grounds
Line to Switch1 Black
Switch2 Black to Fixture Blacks
Switch1 Red to Switch2 Red (traveler)
Switch1 Brown to Switch2 Brown (traveler)
The system works as follows:
Both switches have off-auto-on positions
Switch1 motion detection doesn't work but off and on positions work.
Switch2 motion detection works as do the off and on positions.
What do I need to do to make Switch1 motion detection work?
Thanks, Joe
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How about a part number on the switches.
I suspect that you did not wire the lights properly. Did you follow the directions? A quick search on the web shows that there are NOT traveler wires on a Lutron motion detector switch when wired in a three way configuration.
When you stop and think about it, there really can't be travelers.
I suspect that you did not wire the lights properly. Did you follow the directions? A quick search on the web shows that there are NOT traveler wires on a Lutron motion detector switch when wired in a three way configuration.
When you stop and think about it, there really can't be travelers.
Last edited by racraft; 11-22-05 at 11:15 AM.
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Unfortunately, the installation is at a vacation home about 100 miles away. I'll have to go to HD and get the model number from a package.
Until I do that, the best I can say is that there are no screw terminals on the MD's, just 4 wires (Black, <Red and Brown Travelers>, <Green Ground>).
I suppose it's possible that the Travelers need to be reversed, or maybe one of the traveler wires is loose at one switch or the other. I set SW1 to off and the lights stayed off even when motion was present near SW2. Then I set SW1 to on and all light came on. I then set SW1 to Auto and the lights cam on when there was motion near SW2. During all of these SW2 was set to Auto.
I did not check the operation with SW2 set to anything other than Auto.
-Joe
Until I do that, the best I can say is that there are no screw terminals on the MD's, just 4 wires (Black, <Red and Brown Travelers>, <Green Ground>).
I suppose it's possible that the Travelers need to be reversed, or maybe one of the traveler wires is loose at one switch or the other. I set SW1 to off and the lights stayed off even when motion was present near SW2. Then I set SW1 to on and all light came on. I then set SW1 to Auto and the lights cam on when there was motion near SW2. During all of these SW2 was set to Auto.
I did not check the operation with SW2 set to anything other than Auto.
-Joe
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Did you follow the wiring diagram and instructions that came with the switches?
There are no traveler wires. When wired properly, you essentially have two separate switches that can control the light. There is no way to turn off the light from one switch if the second switch says that it is on.
Also, I believe that you need to pay attention to which wires you use, as I believe that the switch can be used with different voltage applications.
There are no traveler wires. When wired properly, you essentially have two separate switches that can control the light. There is no way to turn off the light from one switch if the second switch says that it is on.
Also, I believe that you need to pay attention to which wires you use, as I believe that the switch can be used with different voltage applications.
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Hi Bob,
I checked and the switches are not LUTRON. They are Heath/Zenith SL-6107-IV-C. When I installed them, I tried to follow the instructions. Unfortunately the instructions in the package were not clear as to how the colored wires should be connected.
I downloaded the instructions from the internet and found my required connections - 2 switches at opposite ends of the hallway controlling a set of lights.
There are travelers, but the way they are used is quite different than in a standard 3-way switch setup.
My configuration should be as follows:
Line to SW1 Black and to SW2 Red_&_Brown
SW1 Red_&_Brown to SW2 Black which is also connected to the light fixtures.
Common from panel connected to common of light fixtures
Grounds all connected together (Switches and Fixtures)
Thanks, Joe
I checked and the switches are not LUTRON. They are Heath/Zenith SL-6107-IV-C. When I installed them, I tried to follow the instructions. Unfortunately the instructions in the package were not clear as to how the colored wires should be connected.
I downloaded the instructions from the internet and found my required connections - 2 switches at opposite ends of the hallway controlling a set of lights.
There are travelers, but the way they are used is quite different than in a standard 3-way switch setup.
My configuration should be as follows:
Line to SW1 Black and to SW2 Red_&_Brown
SW1 Red_&_Brown to SW2 Black which is also connected to the light fixtures.
Common from panel connected to common of light fixtures
Grounds all connected together (Switches and Fixtures)
Thanks, Joe
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How does this work?
It appears that each of these fixtures simply operates as an on/off condition. So, it seems to me that each switch needs to have a direct hot feed and whenever the switch is in an "on" condition that it not only feeds the light fixtures but "back-feeds" the other switch which might be either "on" or "off". This doesn't cause any harm to the switches which is a little confusing to me.
Is this just the proverbial "pressure" analogy? Since a switch in the on position simply allows current to flow then when there are 2 paths the current will just use both, while if a switch is off then the fact that it is fed from both sides doesn't cause a problem.
-Joe
Is this just the proverbial "pressure" analogy? Since a switch in the on position simply allows current to flow then when there are 2 paths the current will just use both, while if a switch is off then the fact that it is fed from both sides doesn't cause a problem.
-Joe
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If you think about it, a setup with motion detector switches can't be anything but individual switches hat control the light.
Yes, if there are two paths for current to flow then current will flow on both paths. The actual amount of current on each path is related to the resistance, which depends on the wire size, length, and the devices in the path. As long as there is one circuit involved, and the other rules regarding circuits and switches are followed, there is no safety issue.
Yes, if there are two paths for current to flow then current will flow on both paths. The actual amount of current on each path is related to the resistance, which depends on the wire size, length, and the devices in the path. As long as there is one circuit involved, and the other rules regarding circuits and switches are followed, there is no safety issue.