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Posted by Wilma Harrington on January 16, 2006, 12:11 am
Advice please - 3 way light switches - I just moved into an older house
where the light switches in the entry way seem to be terribly confused.
(There are 4 switches 2/2 - porch light, coat closet, on/off hall light
from upstairs, on/off same hall light from downstairs) I've replaced 3
way switches before so that's not the problem (famous last words?),
however, that was in a different house. What I'd like to know is: Is
there a way to test the wiring BEFORE throwing the circuit breaker
power back on?
The need for a way to test it first is because the breaker box is
downstairs into the basement and then to the opposite corner of the
house. I worry that if the switches weren't wired right, I might see
pretty sparks when I run zoom upstairs and around a corner to check on
my repair job. And then have run zoom back downstairs and across to
make sure the power is back off. Just the thought makes me nervous.
Any hints or ideas will be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you,
Wilma Harrington
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Posted by komobu on January 16, 2006, 2:43 am
If you are replacing one switch at a time it should be straight
forward. Turn the light on and then throw the circuit breaker. This way
you can tell it is off because there is no light on. Then just remove
the old wires and place it on the new switch. Here is a pretty good
picture of it and instructions:
http://www.handymanwire.com/articles/3wayswitch.html
http://www.electrical-online.com/howtoarticles/3-wayswitches.htm
http://www.the-home-improvement-web.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch.htm
Hope that helps
Pat
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Posted by buffalobill on January 16, 2006, 3:44 am
tip number one: plug in a radio with a socket adapter and turn it up.
it needs to be a type of radio that will go on when you turn on the
power at the light switch.
tip number two: use lighted handle switches. they are safer to
newcomers and visitors and will tell you when they have power on them
if a bulb or radio is plugged in.
also handy when i am trying to figure out why i didn't replace them and
test them one at a time.
tip number three: read up on four way switches just in case.
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Posted by Bob on January 16, 2006, 6:03 am
If you secure only one wire to each screw, I don't believe it's possible to
short anything out. There is nothing internal in the design of a three-way
switch which would cause a short. (Take a look at the schematic in komobu's
link.) Secure the wires to the new switch, but let it hang out of the box
where it isn't touching anything. Turn the breaker on. Then put gloves on
and check the new switch to make sure it's wired correctly. If it is, turn
the breaker off and install the switch in the box. Then turn the breaker
back on. If your system is grounded and the new switch is hitting something,
your breaker should trip.
show/hide quoted text
> however, that was in a different house. What I'd like to know is: Is
> there a way to test the wiring BEFORE throwing the circuit breaker
> power back on?
> The need for a way to test it first is because the breaker box is
> downstairs into the basement and then to the opposite corner of the
> house. I worry that if the switches weren't wired right, I might see
> pretty sparks when I run zoom upstairs and around a corner to check on
> my repair job. And then have run zoom back downstairs and across to
> make sure the power is back off. Just the thought makes me nervous.
> Any hints or ideas will be gratefully appreciated.
> Thank you,
> Advice please - 3 way light switches - I just moved into an older house
> where the light switches in the entry way seem to be terribly confused.
> (There are 4 switches 2/2 - porch light, coat closet, on/off hall light
> from upstairs, on/off same hall light from downstairs) I've replaced 3
> way switches before so that's not the problem (famous last words?),
> however, that was in a different house. What I'd like to know is: Is
> there a way to test the wiring BEFORE throwing the circuit breaker
> power back on?
> The need for a way to test it first is because the breaker box is
> downstairs into the basement and then to the opposite corner of the
> house. I worry that if the switches weren't wired right, I might see
> pretty sparks when I run zoom upstairs and around a corner to check on
> my repair job. And then have run zoom back downstairs and across to
> make sure the power is back off. Just the thought makes me nervous.
> Any hints or ideas will be gratefully appreciated.
> Thank you,
> Wilma Harrington
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Posted by Beachcomber on January 16, 2006, 7:02 am
>If you secure only one wire to each screw, I don't believe it's possible to
>short anything out. There is nothing internal in the design of a three-way
>switch which would cause a short. (Take a look at the schematic in komobu's
>link.) Secure the wires to the new switch, but let it hang out of the box
>where it isn't touching anything. Turn the breaker on. Then put gloves on
>and check the new switch to make sure it's wired correctly. If it is, turn
>the breaker off and install the switch in the box. Then turn the breaker
>back on. If your system is grounded and the new switch is hitting something,
>your breaker should trip.
Make sure you understand exactly what you have there. If there are
four control points, then it is most common to have two three-way
switches (3 terminals on each) and two four-way switches (4 terminals
on each). Each extra control point may be installed using an
additional 4-way switch.
The four way switch acts as a kind of reversing switch to the two
traveler wires which are terminated at each end by the three-way
switches.
Three way (and four way) switches are mis-named but no-one ever
bothered to change the term for a better understanding of common
electrical use. A three way switch is more correctly termed a Single
Pole Double Throw switch (SPDT). Why then, is it called a three
way switch? Because it has three terminal screws on it?! Very
strange.
Another mis-named electrical device.... The Current Tap.
Beachcomber
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> there a way to test the wiring BEFORE throwing the circuit breaker
> power back on?
> The need for a way to test it first is because the breaker box is
> downstairs into the basement and then to the opposite corner of the
> house. I worry that if the switches weren't wired right, I might see
> pretty sparks when I run zoom upstairs and around a corner to check on
> my repair job. And then have run zoom back downstairs and across to
> make sure the power is back off. Just the thought makes me nervous.
> Any hints or ideas will be gratefully appreciated.
> Thank you,
> Advice please - 3 way light switches - I just moved into an older house
> where the light switches in the entry way seem to be terribly confused.
> (There are 4 switches 2/2 - porch light, coat closet, on/off hall light
> from upstairs, on/off same hall light from downstairs) I've replaced 3
> way switches before so that's not the problem (famous last words?),
> however, that was in a different house. What I'd like to know is: Is
> there a way to test the wiring BEFORE throwing the circuit breaker
> power back on?
> The need for a way to test it first is because the breaker box is
> downstairs into the basement and then to the opposite corner of the
> house. I worry that if the switches weren't wired right, I might see
> pretty sparks when I run zoom upstairs and around a corner to check on
> my repair job. And then have run zoom back downstairs and across to
> make sure the power is back off. Just the thought makes me nervous.
> Any hints or ideas will be gratefully appreciated.
> Thank you,
> Wilma Harrington