Help with wiring 3-way switch
#1
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Help with wiring 3-way switch
A long time ago an electrician came over to wire in a light bulb that was in our house. He ran the wire to a 2-gang wall box. which contained a 3-way switch to an outlet and a switch to our ceiling fan. Instead of making the box a 3-gang, he just undid the 3-way capability of the outlet, and stuck a dimmer switch in for the light. So now the "other" switch in the room is the only one that will control the outlet.
I'd like to make this box a 3 gang box, with one gang controlling the light, one gang controlling the outlet, and one gang controlling our ceiling fan.
Can anyone point me in the direction I need to go? What wires do I need to connect where?
Here's a schematic of what I've figured out so far...
So Here's a "legend"
Black Ovals represent black wiring that runs through the walls. White ovals represent white ones.
The colors of the lines represent the proper color of the wiring.
The lower right oval runs to the panel.
Obviously I have to do "something" with the red wire attached to the white wire, and something with the red wire that is just hanging loose...I just don't know what. If I want to add a three way switch into this mess, what do I need to disconnect to add that switch?
I don't know which black oval goes to the other switch and which one goes to the outlet. Will I need to figure that out first?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
I'd like to make this box a 3 gang box, with one gang controlling the light, one gang controlling the outlet, and one gang controlling our ceiling fan.
Can anyone point me in the direction I need to go? What wires do I need to connect where?
Here's a schematic of what I've figured out so far...
So Here's a "legend"
Black Ovals represent black wiring that runs through the walls. White ovals represent white ones.
The colors of the lines represent the proper color of the wiring.
The lower right oval runs to the panel.
Obviously I have to do "something" with the red wire attached to the white wire, and something with the red wire that is just hanging loose...I just don't know what. If I want to add a three way switch into this mess, what do I need to disconnect to add that switch?
I don't know which black oval goes to the other switch and which one goes to the outlet. Will I need to figure that out first?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
#2
To change the box from two to three gang will require you to open all the connections so that you can remove the old box and install the new one. You will need to ID all the cables coming into that two gang box.
So start a list....
1) two wire cable - feed in
1) two wire cable to light
1) two wire cable to fan
1) three wire cable to receptacle
1) three wire cable to three way switch.
The bottom left hand oval/cable is the one to the receptacle.
The top left oval......currently black is power TO the three way switch and white is the switched HOT back to the receptacle.
New diagram.....
So start a list....
1) two wire cable - feed in
1) two wire cable to light
1) two wire cable to fan
1) three wire cable to receptacle
1) three wire cable to three way switch.
The bottom left hand oval/cable is the one to the receptacle.
The top left oval......currently black is power TO the three way switch and white is the switched HOT back to the receptacle.
New diagram.....
Last edited by PJmax; 08-31-15 at 05:42 PM.
#3
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Awesome! Thank you! I have the new switch ordered and will be tackling this in a day or two. Seems easy enough now!
Now I just have to get my head wrapped around what is actually happening and essentially why this works. ...for my own piece of mind!
Now I just have to get my head wrapped around what is actually happening and essentially why this works. ...for my own piece of mind!
#4
Since I've made my rounds thru the forums I can explain for you.
You have a power cable coming in to that box. The neutral is shared with the fan, light and receptacle.
The power goes thru a single pole switch to the fan.
The power goes thru the dimmer to your light.
The power goes to the black of the receptacle three wire cable for the always live part of the receptacle and for any other receptacles/devices that are fed from there.
Power also goes to the remote three way switch on the black wire. This wire will be on the dark/odd colored screw.
The red and white wires are the travelers between the two switches.
At the new switch.... the dark/odd colored screw is the switched hot from the three way switches and feeds the red wire that goes to the receptacle.
Does this help some ?
You have a power cable coming in to that box. The neutral is shared with the fan, light and receptacle.
The power goes thru a single pole switch to the fan.
The power goes thru the dimmer to your light.
The power goes to the black of the receptacle three wire cable for the always live part of the receptacle and for any other receptacles/devices that are fed from there.
Power also goes to the remote three way switch on the black wire. This wire will be on the dark/odd colored screw.
The red and white wires are the travelers between the two switches.
At the new switch.... the dark/odd colored screw is the switched hot from the three way switches and feeds the red wire that goes to the receptacle.
Does this help some ?
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Yeah, it definitely makes sense. Since I never pulled apart the receptacle, I didn't know how it was set up. I knew that one outlet was always on and the other was switched, but didn't realize how that worked. To tell you the truth, I assumed that a switch Romex 2 wire went there AS WELL AS an always powered Romex 2 wire. One to each outlet. Didn't realize you could do this with a singe Romex 3 wire.
After reading your explanation and drawing it out another time, I totally see it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I pulled the receptacle out, I'd see a Red wire going to the screw on lets say the bottom left. Then the Black wire would go to the top left screw, and the white wire would be connecting both the screws on the right.
After reading your explanation and drawing it out another time, I totally see it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I pulled the receptacle out, I'd see a Red wire going to the screw on lets say the bottom left. Then the Black wire would go to the top left screw, and the white wire would be connecting both the screws on the right.
#6
if I pulled the receptacle out, I'd see a Red wire going to the screw on lets say the bottom left. Then the Black wire would go to the top left screw, and the white wire would be connecting both the screws on the right.