Neutral and Hot seem to be connected

I have a fair amount of basic electrical experience but have never dealt with 3 way switches. I am upgrading the 1970's wiring in my attic and came across a light fixture controlled by a 3 way switch. If the 3 way switch is in the off position, the switch on the other end does not function. The ceiling junction box has a wire with the white (neutral) and ground running to the light fixture. The black wire joins two other wires running into the box with one having the black (hot) and the other wire having one of the whites connected. The hot wire from the line that supplied the white (connected to the two blacks) is connected to the light fixture. The wires power lights farther down the line. The next fixture down has the same configuration. Does this seem normal to anyone?

 

Is the ground connected to ground on the fixture? or is it being used as one of the power wires?
Please don't call them hot and neutral. Not all white wires are neutrals. Use only colours when describing wire connections.

I am having a hard time understanding your description. Can you make a drawing?


The problem is most likely the wrong wire on the COMMON screw at one or both of switches. Tell us about the wiring at the switches.

 

Welcome to the forums.

You are describing a three way switch loop.
Pictures of the wiring at both switches would be very helpful..... How-to-insert-pictures.

 

tschaeff3: Please confirm. Does the switch actually have an "On" and "Off" imprinted in the switch? If it does then this switch is not a 3way switch and more than likely a single pole switch. Has this set up worked in the past?