3 way switch problems

19 years ago

I apoligize up front because I am sure this has been asked a thousand times, but I need some help with a 3 way.

I just bought the house and noticed the 3 way to the basement does not work properly. I have traced the wires and think (based on several hours of research) that it is wired correctly, but it doesn't work. Here is what I have:

At box 1 are 3 switches, only one is for this circuit. The hot from the panel is in here (also powers the other 2 switches not part of this circuit). The hot is connected to the common terminal. From the other 2 terminals are a pink and white wire. They run, along with a black (14/3) to the other switch. At the other switch, the black is on the common and the pink and white on the other terminals. The black is spliced at the first box to the wire leading to the light along with the neutral that bypasses the switches.

The light only operates when one of the switches remains in the on position. Thinking the travelers were reversed, I switched them. Light still only operates with one of the switches always in the on position.

Please help.

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Comments (5)

hendricus
19 years ago
If white is used as a traveler it is wired INcorrectly.
Incoming and outgoing common is black.
Travelers are RED and black.
Neutral is white.
Switching travelers doesn't do anything except change the orientation of the switch (up or down), it doesn't affect the operation.
normel
19 years ago
The white of a **/3 cable can most certainly be used as a traveler. It should be remarked with tape or marker to signify it is hot, however.

Ruger: my guess is you have a bad switch. If your description is accurate, things apear to be wired correctly. When you replace the switch(es) make sure you wire the new ones exactly the same as the old.
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hendricus
19 years ago
normel, I got it, power in and out in the same box.

Could also be two different style switches, one has common on the side, the other at the top, if one was changed at some earlier time.
joed
19 years ago
Either a bad switch or the common is not correct. Common is the black screw or marked as common on the switch.
Third less likely possibility is a bad cable. This is very unlikely the cause unless there is a splice in the cable between the switches.
ruger3717
Original Author
19 years ago
I replaced both of the switches and the circuit is still not operating correctly. I am guessing there is a splice somewhere that I can't see. Any other ideas on how to track this down and fix it?