When your three way light isnt working and you have ruled out problems with the bulb outlet cord and plug replacing the three way switch can be done quite inexpensively by any relatively handy. Now using your multimeter you are going to determine which of the three colored wires is.
2 Way Switching Diywiki
Three way switch not working. Repeat for the other 3 way switch box. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work page. How to troubleshoot an improperly wired 3 way switch step 1. 3 install the first. 1 turn off the power to the circuit at the main panel. There are a pair of wires that run between the two switches.
Three way switches work by alternating the power connection between 2 legs called travelers. Identifying the common wires. Each switch powers one or the other leg at all times. Refer again to the figures on the tutorial. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker remove the 3 wires from each of the switches and make sure that none. Fixing a 3 way switch tips use a voltage tester to help with this job you just need to identify the continuous hot wire and the wire that goes to the light fixture watch the easy videos below be careful working with energized conductors click here to get tims free funny newsletter.
In this step you will be turning the power back on do not touch any of the wires previously removed with. Using a continuity tester check continuity between the common black terminal and each of the traveler terminals. Disconnect all three wires or four if the outlet is grounded. Test a 3 way switch turn off power to the switches at the circuit breaker and using a tester make sure power is off. Connect the remaining wire to the in screw. In the latter one of the switches has likely gone bad.
There should be continuity between the. 2 turn the power back on. In the first 3 way switch box connect the pair of wires leading to the other box to the out pair of screws 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. In this case the traveler wire and load wire were swapped and repairing the circuit involved switching them back. Remove the two 3 way.