Hi,

I am adding a 4 way switch that was never installed originally. I have front entrance light hanging (L1) from the ceiling and a ligth fixture (L2) at top of stairs. The long version is below but the short question is when i power up the circut the light at the end of the run does not light up ut if i touch the white wire from the dongle to the metal ceiling box it does light up. i have no idea how that can be other than aground issue?

Long version:

The box (box1) on entrance landing has power in and the stairs go 1 filght up 1 down. There was no switch at the bottom of the stairs so i ran a 14-3 from box 1 to a new box (box 2) at bottom of stairs and then from box 2 I ran a 14-3 to box (box 3) at top of stairs to kitchen entrance then ran a 14-3 to the box (box 4) at the entrance to the bedrooms hallway.

Box 1 and 3 were originally a 3 way swithch that did work and controled L1. Box 4 was a single switch for L2. Power for L2 was brought in from dining room power that controled the DR. KIt, Oustside deck light and the bedroom hall lights originaly but that was disconnected due to re-wiring the kitchen. So i decided to put both lights on same 4 way line and they both can come on/off at once.

Both ceiling boxes had 2 BX lines in them so i tested and found the wire that runs inbetween the fixture boxes and was going to leave it so i don't have to go up into the attic again and run a new Romex. These ceiling boxes are metallic, and boxes 2,3, and 4 being plastic.box 1 is mettalic box as well and has power in.

hope this makes sense and i hope there is an easy answer.

Thanks!

 

Ground problem no...... lack of neutral is the problem.

power-----> [box1] --- three wire --- [box 2] -- three wire --- [box 3] ---- three wire --- [box 4]

I'm confused.... is what I have correct ?
Where are the switches.... at box 1, 2 and 3 ?
Both lights on this circuit would have to connect to box 3 or 4.

 

sorry i always have a hard time explaining. what you have it right power to box one switch leg up from box 4. ights are connected from box 4

i actually have not yet wired it to switches as sheet rock has to go up first i am just using wire nuts and have neutrals tied together. I am starting to think its an isse in the attic where the old BX and new romex are connected. but almost positive i checked that and it was fine.

 

So what is the problem ?
If there aren't switches in.... do you have the wires wirenutted thru box 1, 2 and 3 ?

 

Yes i did wire nut all the wires through the boxes.

i am only doing this because the only original wire i am leaving is the old BX line that ties the celing boxes together because re-runing a new wire will be a BLEEPING pain. i must be missing something

 

Since power comes in at box one..... you'd have to connect power to either the red or black wire to carry power thru. All whites would be carried thru from one end to the other.

 

soooo - i found out why the light would not turn on

How did i find this out well - i got woke up by some loud noise that sounded like a my garbage can falling over. I jumped out of bed hit the light switch in the bed room hall way and went in to the living room to look out to the drive way. Nothing going on all good - go back to sleep. Umm hey- how the F... is that light on?? yup hitting that other light switch turned the entrance light on. After a few minuets of still half asleep brain twisting i figured that it was the other light switch. I guess that was the open neutral. So in the end the BX cable did not go directly between the two ceiling boxes after all.

An not to take credit the answer was provided in a reply so that helped me figure it out.

I decided to just run new wires afterall...

Thanks for the help!

now for the next question