Any pair of switch screws or dimmers wires that are the same color as each other are for a traveler pair. Using a continuity tester check continuity between the common black terminal and each of the traveler terminals.
How To Troubleshoot 3 Way Switches Electrical 101
3 way switch failure. The remaining two insulated wires are then attached. How to troubleshoot an improperly wired 3 way switch step 1. Be sure the wires are not touching anything and the bare copper ends are sticking out of the boxes and not touching anything. In this case the traveler wire and load wire were swapped and. Disconnect all the wires from both switches. One of the wires in the two three way switches is always hot assuming the circuit breaker is on.
Once you locate the common terminal replacement of a defective switch is simple. 1 attach the common wire to the common terminal on the new switch. The only wire in a multiple switch system that is hot all the time when all the switches of. 2 screw the switches back into their boxes put the switch plate covers on and turn the power. Wiring a 3 way light switch can be a difficult process particularly for diyers who are attempting the process with little to no electrical knowledge. Remove the two 3 way.
There are many ways that a three way switch can be wired but usually power or the light fixture connect to the load. One of the most common problems that homeowners face when tackling this project themselves is improper wiring which happens when the circuit wires are connected to the wrong screw terminals. Test a 3 way switch turn off power to the switches at the circuit breaker and using a tester make sure power is off. Scott first gives an explanation of the three way switch two switches that control one light fixture. There are many ways to wire a 3 way switch. There should be continuity between the.
Turn off the power at the circuit breaker remove the 3 wires from each of the switches and make sure that none. In this step you will be turning the power back on do not touch any of the wires previously removed with. 3 way switch troubleshooting the two travelers are in the same cable with each other. Without a switch wiring diagram it can be very easy to make a serious mistake that will cause the circuit to malfunction and possibly become a hazard. Start by turning off the power to the switch circuit at the circuit breaker. If you get the common and one of the travellers exchanged you will see exactly this behavior.
If one switch is overriding the other in a three way circuit that usually means one of the switches has been hooked up incorrectly. The power can start at a fixture or either of the two switches. This is a common configuration in hallways and staircases.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch Failure
