Help with 3-way light switch

Posted by John Grabowski on June 27, 2008, 7:33 am

>I had asked my father to re-sheetrock my kitchen ceiling. I had a
> light fixture in the middle run by 3-way switches. He failed to re-
> wire it correctly and now there is constant power to the light and
> both switches don't work. The other problem is there are 4 wires
> running into the light box and I have no clue how to re-wire this. Not
> sure why there are 4 wires running into the ligh box on a 3-way
> switch.

It could be that the line and load are both in the ceiling box. If so the
white neutral would go directly on the light fixture. The hot wire would
connect to the wire going down to feed the switches, which should be a
white. The black coming from the switches should get connected to the light
fixture.

Posted by franz fripplfrappl on June 27, 2008, 8:26 am

On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:10:27 -0700, Techhead wrote:

> I had asked my father to re-sheetrock my kitchen ceiling. I had a light
> fixture in the middle run by 3-way switches. He failed to re- wire it
> correctly and now there is constant power to the light and both switches
> don't work. The other problem is there are 4 wires running into the
> light box and I have no clue how to re-wire this. Not sure why there are
> 4 wires running into the ligh box on a 3-way switch.

3-way switches use 3 wires. The 4th wire most likely is the neutral.

Here's what I'd do:

1. Turn off power.
2. Remove light fixture.
3. With power on again, determine your hot and neutral wires. Neutral
should be white.

4. Once you know the hot and neutral, it's a matter of figuring out the
other wires.

5. This is as good a diagram as any as to how a 3-way gets wired:
http://www.electrical-online.com/3waydiagram.htm

When making connections, turn off power to wires. It's one thing to make
a light bulb glow. Not so sure you want to light up as well.

--

=================================================
Franz Fripplfrappl

Posted by terry on June 27, 2008, 1:32 pm

> On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:10:27 -0700, Techhead wrote:

> > I had asked my father to re-sheet rock my kitchen ceiling. I had a ligh=

> > fixture in the middle run by 3-way switches. He failed to re- wire it
> > correctly and now there is constant power to the light and both switche=

> > don't work. The other problem is there are 4 wires running into the
> > light box and I have no clue how to re-wire this. Not sure why there ar=

> > 4 wires running into the light box on a 3-way switch.

> 3-way switches use 3 wires. =A0The 4th wire most likely is the neutral.
> Here's what I'd do:
> 1. =A0Turn off power.
> 2. =A0Remove light fixture.
> 3. =A0With power on again, determine your hot and neutral wires. =A0Neutr=

> should be white.
> 4. =A0Once you know the hot and neutral, it's a matter of figuring out th=

> other wires.
> 5. =A0This is as good a diagram as any as to how a 3-way gets wired:http:=

//www.electrical-online.com/3waydiagram.htm

> When making connections, turn off power to wires. =A0It's one thing to ma=

> a light bulb glow. =A0Not so sure you want to light up as well.
> --
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

> Franz Fripplfrappl

Another question; did the sheet rocking work disturb (i.e. disconnect)
wires in the ceiling box to which the light is wired?
Did the sheet rocking disturb wiring in the two (so called 3 way wall
switch boxes)?
If some of the wiring was undisturbed it may simplify repair. e.g.
some plasterers just remove switch plates and cut the sheetrock to fit
around the outlet box thus not disconnecting any wiring! Often
requires some careful measuring but simplifies!
PS. If you don't understand wiring and many otherwise 'handy-people'
don't, always tag or make a note and/or diagram of disturbed wiring.
WITH THE POWER OFF!

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Help with 3-way light switch - Page 2