I am having troubles wiring a 3-way switch in my place. All I wanted to do was replace an old looking switch for one of the new decor ones, but I must have messed up of the wiring.

It is a complicated scenario, but I will try to explain. The trouble I am having is, I can control the light fine from one location, but if I go to the other location, the light can't be controlled if the switch is in a certain position. Then if I hit the switch again at the original position, I can then control the lights at the second location, on and off. But then I can't control it from the original switch anymore.

To help you guys solve this, here is how the switches are wired and maybe you can point out what is wrong or if it is maybe a faulty switch.

Switch location 1:
- there are actually 3 switches here: Switch 1 is for the outside lights and works fine; Switch 2 is another 3-way switch for the downstairs and works fine; Switch 3 is the other 3-way that I am having troubles with and it is supposed to control two lights in my hallway that I should be able to control also at another switch location.

Wiring of switch location 1:
- 3-wire coming from bottom of the box - call it Wire 1
- 2-wire coming from bottom of the box - call it Wire 2
- three 3-wire cables coming from the top of the box - call then Wire 3, 4, and 5
- black wires from Wires 2, 4 and 5 are bundled together
- white wires from Wires 2, 3 and 5 are bundled together
- all three wires from Wire 1 go to Switch 2
- black wire from bundle goes to top of Switch 1, and a black wire from Wire 3 goes to bottom of Switch 1
- white wire from Wire 4 goes to top of Switch 3
- red from Wire 4 goes to bottom right of Switch 3
- red from Wire 5 goes to bottom left of Switch 3

Wiring of switch location 2:
- one 3-wire cable
- white goes to top of switch
- black goes to bottom right of switch
- red goes to bottom left of switch


Any ideas on what could be wrong with the wiring? Any help is appreciated before I call an electrician.

Cheers.

 

You moved the wires from the old switch to the new switch based on position. This is wrong. You probably got the wrong wire on the COMMON screw.
Look at the old switch and find the screw that is a different colour or is marked COMMON. The wire that was on that screw needs to go on the COMMON of the new switch. That screw is black in colour or marked COMMON.

DO NOT CHANGE ANY OF THE OTHER WIRES IN THE BOX. ONLY THE THREE WIRES THAT WERE ON THE OLD SWITCH NEED TO BE WORKED WITH.

 

The trouble is I threw away the old switch and can't remember which wire went where on it. Looking at the switch that is with the three other switches, does is seem odd to have two red wires going into it? Shouldn't it be two black and a red?

 

I solved the problem. I had the wrong wire on the common screw.

Thanks for your help.