Three Way Light Switch Not Working Properly

Virtually every house has at least one set of three way switches.

Three way light switch not working properly.

They may be at the bottom and the top of stairways. That s just not the way it s supposed to be is it. When a white wire is attached to a 3 way switch a tester may not read the power because of the position of the other 3 way switch. The dang 3 way switch isn t working.

If one breaks or you wish to replace them with more decorative switches you can often confuse the wires. Scott first gives an explanation of the three way switch two switches that control one light fixture. Remove the two 3 way switches so you can access the switch terminals the wire connections do not have to be removed. So to turn the light on she carefully negotiates the stairs to the top and flips on the switch.

There are many ways that a three way switch can be wired but usually power or the light fixture connect to the load side of the switch and traveler wires run between traveler screws on both switches. 3 way light switch problem 1. Short circuit in electrical wiring if you have several light switches or light fixtures that are not working then there may be a short in the electrical wiring or most likely a loose connection has developed. One has a black white red wire and the other has a black white red wire and another wire with a black and white wire.

Test a 3 way switchturn off power to the switches at the circuit breaker and using a tester make sure power is off. Our dining room light is controlled by two 3way switches. Countless homes across the country are plagued by miswired 3 way circuits causing not only inconvenience but a. These are the runners of the circuit.

The third wire is the common wire that feeds the light fixture and is connected to the black screw on the switch. How to wire a 3 way switch video. Touch the probes to the 3 wires removed from the switch until you get a reading on the tester indicating continuity. 3way light switch wiring electrical question.

Often they can be found at either end of a hallway. 3 way circuits can be a formidable opponent. Existing 3 way switches. Then the black or darkest terminal is connected to a black wire that feeds to the light fixture to get connected on the hot contact on the fixture while the white.

Using a continuity tester check continuity between the common black terminal and each of the traveler terminals brass colored of each 3 way switch. In your description i only hear about 2 wires per switch as i tried to show in the diagram. You need 2 traveler wires for a 3 way switch to work properly. From the first 3 way switch through a 3 wire cable the two travelers from the first switch are connected to the travelers on the second switch through the black and the red wires.

In this scenario the light will turn on only when both switches are trying to power the same in this case the upper traveler leg.