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Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here.
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Posted by Proom on July 3, 2009, 5:16 pm
I helped a friend with his 3-way switches today. He has two 3-way
dimmers that used to work to dim one light. He removed the one light
and added six recessed lights, but all should work the same.
Unfortunately now neither of the dimmers work, and each light switch
only functions if the other is in the opposite position (e.g., switch1
only functions if switch2 is down, and switch2 only works if switch1
is up). I followed the following diagram at:
http://www.homeimprovementweb.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch-option4.htm
and it is wired accordingly. The only difference is that it is an old
house and there are no ground wires. The switches also aren't labeled
with "common", but it seems obvious that the odd-colored screw is the
common...and besides, it worked before and the only wiring we redid
was at the light (where the power enters as well). Any clues?
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Posted by RBM on July 3, 2009, 6:06 pm
>I helped a friend with his 3-way switches today. He has two 3-way
> dimmers that used to work to dim one light. He removed the one light
> and added six recessed lights, but all should work the same.
> Unfortunately now neither of the dimmers work, and each light switch
> only functions if the other is in the opposite position (e.g., switch1
> only functions if switch2 is down, and switch2 only works if switch1
> is up). I followed the following diagram at:
>
http://www.homeimprovementweb.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch-option4.htm
> and it is wired accordingly. The only difference is that it is an old
> house and there are no ground wires. The switches also aren't labeled
> with "common", but it seems obvious that the odd-colored screw is the
> common...and besides, it worked before and the only wiring we redid
> was at the light (where the power enters as well). Any clues?
First off, you don't install two - 3 way dimmers on the same system, unless
it's a master slave type, which aren't connected like a three way switch.
If you have your switch travelers in one of the lighting boxes, as the
diagram shows, you transposed a common and a traveler.
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Posted by JIMMIE on July 3, 2009, 7:00 pm
> >I helped a friend with his 3-way switches today. =A0He has two 3-way
> > dimmers that used to work to dim one light. =A0He removed the one light
> > and added six recessed lights, but all should work the same.
> > Unfortunately now neither of the dimmers work, and each light switch
> > only functions if the other is in the opposite position (e.g., switch1
> > only functions if switch2 is down, and switch2 only works if switch1
> > is up). =A0I followed the following diagram at:
> >http://www.homeimprovementweb.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch...
> > and it is wired accordingly. The only difference is that it is an old
> > house and there are no ground wires. =A0The switches also aren't labele=
d
> > with "common", but it seems obvious that the odd-colored screw is the
> > common...and besides, it worked before and the only wiring we redid
> > was at the light (where the power enters as well). =A0Any clues?
> First off, you don't install two - 3 way dimmers on the same system, unle=
ss
> it's a master slave type, which aren't =A0connected like a three way swit=
ch.
> If you have your switch travelers in one of the lighting boxes, as the
> diagram shows, you transposed a common and a traveler.
KIll the power to the circuit, remove the dimmers. With the wires
safely hanging out of their boxes, no shorts, turn the circuit back on
at the breaker panel. Using some sort of test find the wire that has
voltage on it. Turn the circuit off at the breaker panel and connect a
swtch there the hot wire you located goes to the common the other two
are the travelers. switch the breaker ON and check for voltage at the
other switch position. The hot wire here will be a traveler, change
the state of the switch you already installed and check the voltage a
gain at the other switch location. The hot wire should be the other
traveler and the remaining wire will be the common. Install the switch
accordingly. Yes the silver screw is the common, I still always check
using my ohmmeter to make sure. Make sure the dimmer will handle the
total wattage of the lamps.
Some dimmers must work with a switch on the other side. The ones in my
house are like that. Once you get things working with the switches
again install a dimmer. Let a couple of people review my instructions,
sometimes I dont alway write what Im thinking.
Jimmie
Jimmie
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Posted by Metspitzer on July 3, 2009, 7:30 pm
On Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:00:54 -0700 (PDT), JIMMIE
>> >I helped a friend with his 3-way switches today. He has two 3-way
>> > dimmers that used to work to dim one light. He removed the one light
>> > and added six recessed lights, but all should work the same.
>> > Unfortunately now neither of the dimmers work, and each light switch
>> > only functions if the other is in the opposite position (e.g., switch1
>> > only functions if switch2 is down, and switch2 only works if switch1
>> > is up). I followed the following diagram at:
>> >http://www.homeimprovementweb.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch...
>> > and it is wired accordingly. The only difference is that it is an old
>> > house and there are no ground wires. The switches also aren't labeled
>> > with "common", but it seems obvious that the odd-colored screw is the
>> > common...and besides, it worked before and the only wiring we redid
>> > was at the light (where the power enters as well). Any clues?
>> First off, you don't install two - 3 way dimmers on the same system, unless
>> it's a master slave type, which aren't connected like a three way switch.
>> If you have your switch travelers in one of the lighting boxes, as the
>> diagram shows, you transposed a common and a traveler.
>KIll the power to the circuit, remove the dimmers. With the wires
>safely hanging out of their boxes, no shorts, turn the circuit back on
>at the breaker panel. Using some sort of test find the wire that has
If the dimmers were working before the light change and he never
removed the switches, it would be pointless to remove them now.
It has to be the taps crossed in the box.
>voltage on it. Turn the circuit off at the breaker panel and connect a
>swtch there the hot wire you located goes to the common the other two
>are the travelers. switch the breaker ON and check for voltage at the
>other switch position. The hot wire here will be a traveler, change
>the state of the switch you already installed and check the voltage a
>gain at the other switch location. The hot wire should be the other
>traveler and the remaining wire will be the common. Install the switch
>accordingly. Yes the silver screw is the common, I still always check
>using my ohmmeter to make sure. Make sure the dimmer will handle the
>total wattage of the lamps.
>Some dimmers must work with a switch on the other side. The ones in my
>house are like that. Once you get things working with the switches
>again install a dimmer. Let a couple of people review my instructions,
>sometimes I dont alway write what Im thinking.
>Jimmie
>Jimmie
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Posted by JIMMIE on July 3, 2009, 8:47 pm
> On Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:00:54 -0700 (PDT), JIMMIE
..
> >> >I helped a friend with his 3-way switches today. =A0He has two 3-way
> >> > dimmers that used to work to dim one light. =A0He removed the one li=
ght
> >> > and added six recessed lights, but all should work the same.
> >> > Unfortunately now neither of the dimmers work, and each light switch
> >> > only functions if the other is in the opposite position (e.g., switc=
h1
> >> > only functions if switch2 is down, and switch2 only works if switch1
> >> > is up). =A0I followed the following diagram at:
> >> >http://www.homeimprovementweb.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch=
...
> >> > and it is wired accordingly. The only difference is that it is an ol=
d
> >> > house and there are no ground wires. =A0The switches also aren't lab=
eled
> >> > with "common", but it seems obvious that the odd-colored screw is th=
e
> >> > common...and besides, it worked before and the only wiring we redid
> >> > was at the light (where the power enters as well). =A0Any clues?
> >> First off, you don't install two - 3 way dimmers on the same system, u=
nless
> >> it's a master slave type, which aren't =A0connected like a three way s=
witch.
> >> If you have your switch travelers in one of the lighting boxes, as the
> >> diagram shows, you transposed a common and a traveler.
> >KIll the power to the circuit, remove the dimmers. With the wires
> >safely hanging out of their boxes, no shorts, turn the circuit back on
> >at the breaker panel. Using some sort of test find the wire that has
> If the dimmers were working before the light change and he never
> removed the switches, it would be pointless to remove them now.
> It has to be the taps crossed in the box.
> >voltage on it. Turn the circuit off at the breaker panel and connect a
> >swtch there the hot wire you located goes to the common the other two
> >are the travelers. switch the breaker =A0ON and check for voltage at the
> >other switch position. The hot wire here will be a traveler, change
> >the state of the switch you already installed and check the voltage a
> >gain at the other switch location. The hot wire should be the other
> >traveler and the remaining wire will be the common. Install the switch
> >accordingly. Yes the silver screw is the common, I still always check
> >using my ohmmeter to make sure. Make sure the dimmer will handle the
> >total wattage of the lamps.
> >Some dimmers must work with a switch on the other side. The ones in my
> >house are like that. Once you get things working with the switches
> >again install a dimmer. Let a couple of people review my instructions,
> >sometimes I dont alway write what Im thinking.
> >Jimmie
> >Jimmie- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
Yeah he probably got the wiring wrong and tied the supply into the
travelers .
Jimmie
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> dimmers that used to work to dim one light. He removed the one light
> and added six recessed lights, but all should work the same.
> Unfortunately now neither of the dimmers work, and each light switch
> only functions if the other is in the opposite position (e.g., switch1
> only functions if switch2 is down, and switch2 only works if switch1
> is up). I followed the following diagram at:
>