3-way wiring problem
#1
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3-way wiring problem
I have an issue with a two 3-way switches controlling an overhead light. The switches were going bad, only worked part of the time, so I changed them out. Both boxes have 2 black and 1 red wire to the switch. The light works now, but one switch seems to control the other- the one must be "on" for the other switch to work. I tried changing some of the wire positions on the new switches and now the situation is the same, but the second switch now controls the first. In other words, both switches operate the light, but only if one of the switches is in a certain position. How can I fix this so they work regardless of the position of the other switch?
#2
Did you connect the correct wire to the common of the new switch? Position of the common terminal varies with the manufacturer so you must use screw color (usually dark gray) not screw position when swapping out.
Do you have a two conductor cable in each box. Is one of those cables hot when checked with a multimeter (but not a non contact tester).
If I had to guess I'd say the red is common and the two blacks are your travelers (brass screws). You might try making that assumption and testing.
Do you have a two conductor cable in each box. Is one of those cables hot when checked with a multimeter (but not a non contact tester).
If I had to guess I'd say the red is common and the two blacks are your travelers (brass screws). You might try making that assumption and testing.
Last edited by ray2047; 02-12-13 at 01:33 PM.
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Let me make sure I understand. Check each wire with one probe of multi-meter while other probe is touching ground wire. Wire that is hot gets connected to non-brass terminal on new switch. Is that correct?
#4
Correction on my post you responded to. Do you have a two conductor cable in one of the boxes that is hot and a two conductor cable that isn't in the other box?
Last edited by ray2047; 02-12-13 at 01:31 PM.
#5
How can I fix this so they work regardless of the position of the other switch?
Both boxes have 2 black and 1 red wire to the switch.
Check each wire with one probe of multi-meter while other probe is touching ground wire. Wire that is hot gets connected to non-brass terminal on new switch. Is that correct?\
Connect the other two wires in that box to the two (brass, usually) traveler terminals.
In the other box, connect the two traveler wires to the traveler terminals and connect the wire going to the light to the common terminal.