Switch issues
#1
04-22-19, 01:52 PM
Switch issues
Replaced a ceiling fan with a dome light. I would like to correct the orientations of the switches because the double box switch shuts off the light in more than one position including the center. When it is in the center, it prevents the second switch, yellow wall, from operating at all. Any help is helpful.
Last edited by PJmax; 04-22-19 at 04:58 PM. Reason: cropped/resized pictures
#2
04-22-19, 02:00 PM
A little confused...the switches in the double box have more than two positions? I've never heard of that. BTW, if you place a 3-way switch in the middle (this isn't a normal position), the other switch(s) will not work. Do you have a bad 3-way switch in the 2-gang box?
#3
04-22-19, 02:10 PM
That was my first thought. I do think that the 3-way switch in the 2-gang box is bad. I needed to be sure that it was in fact a 3-way before I went out to buy a new one. The left switch in the 2-gang box controls the outside light fixture that is completely rusted through so I'm not paying attention to it at the moment. After I fix the initial issue, I will replace the outdoor fixture.
#5
04-22-19, 05:01 PM
Group Moderator
If we are looking at BOTH three way switches on that light circuit..... the reason you have a problem is the switches are wired wrong. Your dead end switch shows white as a traveler. That is not the same as the other end.
Look at the switch where there are two. Which wire is on the dark/black screw ?
Look at the switch where there are two. Which wire is on the dark/black screw ?
Last edited by PJmax; 04-22-19 at 05:44 PM.
#6
04-22-19, 08:49 PM
I was afraid there may be some miswiring. I am just now taking a crack at the light switches. The light fixture is what I wired and now I'm not sure if it was done correctly. I am uploading the fixture photo to hopefully clarify things.
#7
04-23-19, 09:27 AM
Group Moderator
The power enters the circuit in the first picture. There is a two wire feed and a three wire to the ceiling. The neutral is nutted thru to the ceiling. Confirm that the two wire cable black wire is on the dark/odd colored screw.
At the ceiling..... the two red wires should be connected and the two black wires should be connected. That leaves you with a white wire that was connected to a black wire. That white wire needs to be taped black and it connects to the black wire on the fixture.
Make sure the white wire is on the dark/odd colored screw there the two switches are.
At the ceiling..... the two red wires should be connected and the two black wires should be connected. That leaves you with a white wire that was connected to a black wire. That white wire needs to be taped black and it connects to the black wire on the fixture.
Make sure the white wire is on the dark/odd colored screw there the two switches are.
#8
04-23-19, 12:34 PM
Hello Pete,
thank you for taking the time to help me understand this. Before I go ahead and connect everything, I just want to be sure of the starting position. You said it was the two wire and three wire gang box if I understand you correctly. From your point of view is that the yellow wall or the brown wood one?
thank you for taking the time to help me understand this. Before I go ahead and connect everything, I just want to be sure of the starting position. You said it was the two wire and three wire gang box if I understand you correctly. From your point of view is that the yellow wall or the brown wood one?
#9
04-23-19, 12:53 PM
Group Moderator
The yellow wall. The switch at the brown wall is called a dead end three way switch because it's connected directly to a three wire cable only.
