Hi,

I had a breaker trip and one of 2 3-way switches on that circuit felt very loose when used. The 2 switches control a set of stair lights (1 on top, 1 on the bottom). There are a few other receptacles on the same breaker. When I turned the light off, the breaker no longer tripped.

Went to Depot and bought 2 switches. Both are 3 way switches, and I wired them the same way the old (1970's at least) switches connected.

Breaker is no longer tripping, but switches are not switching right.

Upstairs switch will turn light on or off no matter what the position of downstairs switch.

Downstairs switch will only turn light off (when upstairs is on)

Downstairs switch won't turn light on.

Trying to avoid bringing in electrician $$$ but don't want to burn house down either

Thanks in Advance for any ideas!

 

On your switches, there is a black screw standing alone at the bottom of the switch with two brass screws at the top. The black screw will hold either line on one end or load on the other end (hot wire versus lights). The two brass screws are just runners between the two switches. Make sure the runners are attached to the top of both switches, then the last wire will go to the brass screw.

 

You did not wire the switched properly. Not all three way switches are the same. The traveler terminals (the two same color terminals) may be on the same side of the switch or may be on opposite sides. The common terminal (odd color terminal) is the other one.

What you needed to so is to pay attention to color of the terminal that the old wires were connected to. If you still have the old switches you can look at them. If you no longer have the old switches, you can go by trial and error.

There are only three combinations for wiring each switch that make a difference. three times three equals nine. That means in nine attempts you can have this wired properly.

On one switch attach a wire to the common terminal and the other two wires to the traveler terminals. Then wire the other switch up to three times, changing which wire is attached to the common terminal. If none of those combinations works properly, then try a different wire to the common terminal of the first switch with each of the possible combinations at the second switch. If none of those are right, then try the last three combinations at the second switch with the final wire attached to the common terminal of the first switch.

Make all of those changes with the power off, and only turn power on to test. Yes, it takes time. But that's the price you pay when you make a mistake and don't note how the wires were previously connected.

Note that you can also figure this out with a meter or two wire tester, or sometimes by just looking at the wires. But that requires having a meter or tester and knowing what to test for, or it requires knowing what to look for at the wires. Cine you haven't given us any information about the wiring, we can't make suggestions blind.

 

Thank You!

They currently have a white wire going to the side with the single screw, and red on the lower screw/black on the upper screw on the two screw side. The old switches were wired this way, so I just followed the way it was.

Does that sound right or should I have did something different?

I also noticed the new switches have a green ground screw but the old ones don't.

John

 

Please read my post.

The position of the wires on the switches means nothing. All that matters is what color the terminals are. Following the old switches may or may not be correct (obviously in this case it is not).

Please read my post.

I have told you how to solve your problem. Either go by trial and error, or match the wiring to the old old switches (by terminal color NOT terminal location).The green ground screw does not enter the picture. If you have a ground wire then ground the switches. If you have no ground wire then leave the green ground screw alone.

 

Read it. Done. Fixed! Thank You.

Didn't realize it was screw color that mattered (not wire color.) The black screw was on the opposite side on the new switches.

Thanks Again!!!!

2 to "racraft" & "chandler" for taking the time to answer!