Help with 3 way switches
#1
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Help with 3 way switches
Hi,
The switch plate in my dining room recently broke so I tried to replace the switch. I figured it was a 3 way switch since the light is controlled by two switches on opposite sides of the room.
However, when I disconnected the old plate I noticed 5 wires and 5 terminals on the old switch.
My new three way switch only has 4.
There are 4 black wires and one red ground wire.
Also, when I disconnected the switch, the power in the next room went out.
I know which of the black wires is hot. I also know which one of the black wires goes to the power in the other room (turns on the stuff in the other room when connected to the "hot" wire). I assume the other two wires correspond to the light.
Basically, it seems like a normal three way switch with the extra wire going to the other room. NORMALLY the power in the other room is in no way controlled by this switch.
Is there a special type of switch I need to buy in order to complete the circuit and power the other room? Or should I tie some combination of the black wires above?
If I need to clarify something, just let me know.
The switch plate in my dining room recently broke so I tried to replace the switch. I figured it was a 3 way switch since the light is controlled by two switches on opposite sides of the room.
However, when I disconnected the old plate I noticed 5 wires and 5 terminals on the old switch.
My new three way switch only has 4.
There are 4 black wires and one red ground wire.
Also, when I disconnected the switch, the power in the next room went out.
I know which of the black wires is hot. I also know which one of the black wires goes to the power in the other room (turns on the stuff in the other room when connected to the "hot" wire). I assume the other two wires correspond to the light.
Basically, it seems like a normal three way switch with the extra wire going to the other room. NORMALLY the power in the other room is in no way controlled by this switch.
Is there a special type of switch I need to buy in order to complete the circuit and power the other room? Or should I tie some combination of the black wires above?
If I need to clarify something, just let me know.
#3
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Here's what I did:
I connected the hot wire to the wire that feeds the other room and then to the switch. I then connected the ground as well as the other two black wires to the switch.
The light switch now functions, but not as a 3 way switch. (Only the one switch turns off and on the light. The other switch will turn the light off, not on and while this switch is in the off position, the light won't turn on regardless of what you do to the other switch). I switched the position of the two black wires on the switch and still the same problem persists.
What did I do wrong/should I replace the other switch too?
Thanks.
I connected the hot wire to the wire that feeds the other room and then to the switch. I then connected the ground as well as the other two black wires to the switch.
The light switch now functions, but not as a 3 way switch. (Only the one switch turns off and on the light. The other switch will turn the light off, not on and while this switch is in the off position, the light won't turn on regardless of what you do to the other switch). I switched the position of the two black wires on the switch and still the same problem persists.
What did I do wrong/should I replace the other switch too?
Thanks.
#4
Sounds as if you have a 4 way switch. Are you sure there are only 2 locations that control the lighting? There must be one more. Can you check and let us know?
#7
I disconnected the old plate I noticed 5 wires and 5 terminals on the old switch.
Before we go on, we need to figure out whether the old switch was a 3-way or a 4-way.
There are 4 black wires and one red ground wire.
#9
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I originally saw the red wire on the green terminal of the previous switch I replaced. However, this house was poorly wired by young kids and that could have easily been a mistake. Anyways I could go back and diagnose which wires are which?