3-way with 14-3 and 14-2
#1
03-11-20, 07:00 PM
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3-way with 14-3 and 14-2
I am changing light fixtures in my basement. I have a light with 2 switches (3-way). One switch has 14-3 wire going to the light and the other switch has 14-2 going to the light. I forgot how it was originally hooked up when I disconnected everything and now I’m stumped on what to do with the red wire since my light has just the two wires (black and white) and ground obviously. I did notice, when the power is turned back on, wires capped, the outlets on the side of the room with the 14-3 wire work, but the outlets in the side of the room with the 14-2 wire don’t work. Suggestions on what wires to connect at the light?
#2
03-11-20, 07:57 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
We need a better description.
You have a three way lighting circuit. That is a light controlled by 2) three way switches.
There must be three wires between the switches. So if you have one switch connected directly to the light with a three wire cable.... so must the other switch. The splices between the switches is made at the light.
That means your description is not including all the wiring in this circuit.
So look again.... let us know what you have for cabling at each switch and at the light.
In the future..... when you change light fixtures.... ONLY open the wire splices directly connected to the light..... not all the wires.
We need a better description.
You have a three way lighting circuit. That is a light controlled by 2) three way switches.
There must be three wires between the switches. So if you have one switch connected directly to the light with a three wire cable.... so must the other switch. The splices between the switches is made at the light.
That means your description is not including all the wiring in this circuit.
So look again.... let us know what you have for cabling at each switch and at the light.
In the future..... when you change light fixtures.... ONLY open the wire splices directly connected to the light..... not all the wires.
#3
03-11-20, 08:19 PM
It can't work the way you describe it. Open the switches and describe the wires in each one.
I suspect you have a 14/3 from one switch that is neutral, unswitched hot and switched hot.
If that is true connect all the whites, including the fixture.
Connect the two blacks.
Connect the light black to the red.
I suspect you have a 14/3 from one switch that is neutral, unswitched hot and switched hot.
If that is true connect all the whites, including the fixture.
Connect the two blacks.
Connect the light black to the red.
#4
05-08-20, 08:30 PM
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Retry - 3 way with 14-3 and 14-2
I have one 3-way switch with 14-3 and the other 3-way switch is wired with 14-2. The way the 14-2 3-way switch is wired (two people have now told me an old guy wired this), a white, tape with black tape, is jumped over to a switch which controls my outside light. Both these switches have no power when disconnected from the wires from the 14-3 3-way switch.
So at the light in the ceiling, I have 1 red, 1 black, and 1 white coming from the 14-3 3-way switch. Then I have 1 white and 1 black coming in from the 14-2 3-way switch. I also have another light coming from this light witch is wired with 14-2 and makes for 1 more white and 1 more black coming into the light.
Without messing with it too much and just making it work, which wires need to be connected at the light, and which ones need to be capped together?
So at the light in the ceiling, I have 1 red, 1 black, and 1 white coming from the 14-3 3-way switch. Then I have 1 white and 1 black coming in from the 14-2 3-way switch. I also have another light coming from this light witch is wired with 14-2 and makes for 1 more white and 1 more black coming into the light.
Without messing with it too much and just making it work, which wires need to be connected at the light, and which ones need to be capped together?
#5
05-08-20, 08:51 PM
Group Moderator
Still something missing.
We understand a 14-3 from one switch to the light.
We understand a 14-2 from the other switch to the light.
This can not be a three way switch as you have only told us of two wires.
We do not see a neutral in this equation.
Does power come from the other light or does this open light box supply the other light ?
We understand a 14-3 from one switch to the light.
We understand a 14-2 from the other switch to the light.
This can not be a three way switch as you have only told us of two wires.
We do not see a neutral in this equation.
Does power come from the other light or does this open light box supply the other light ?
#6
05-09-20, 05:01 AM
In the future, label all wires before disconnecting them and save all old parts until the project is finished and working correctly. Have enough detail to put it back the way it was if someone asked you to, even though no one will actually ask you to.
Molehills turn into mountains when you don't follow this rule.
Molehills turn into mountains when you don't follow this rule.
#7
05-09-20, 12:04 PM
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Retry 2
The open light box supplies the other light.
I know this messed up and something seems to be missing. It was working with the old lights and I forgot to take a picture of it before I look wires off.
I know this messed up and something seems to be missing. It was working with the old lights and I forgot to take a picture of it before I look wires off.
#8
05-09-20, 03:35 PM
Group Moderator
In order for a three way switch circuit to work...... you need three wires from each switch. We've determined that you have one switch like that. We've also determined that your second light is connected as a parallel device off the main light.
That means you need two traveler wires and a neutral down to the second switch location. If you only have two wires between the second three way switch and the light location..... that would mean that they were using the white and black wires as the travelers and getting the neutral from the ground. That is 100% wrong and dangerous.
That means you need two traveler wires and a neutral down to the second switch location. If you only have two wires between the second three way switch and the light location..... that would mean that they were using the white and black wires as the travelers and getting the neutral from the ground. That is 100% wrong and dangerous.
