Terry's iced it, but I want to make it a little clearer. Once you've figured
out and rewired the first switch, and turned the power back on: One of the
three wires on the other end will be live. Now flip the installed switch to
the opposite position. You'll now find a different wire at the other end is
live. Those two that became live are the travelers and the last wire goes on
the "black" terminal



"Terry" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jan 1, 4:01 pm, wrote:
Can anyone help me make sense of a 3 way wall switch controling a
ceiling fixture?? The power is through the switch.

Right now I have the switches connected and the light works, but
something is wrong. When I toggle one switch on and then try the
other, the light functions properly, but then if I toggle the switch
again, the lights will not go on. I must have something crossed, but
for the life of me I can't figure it out.

Any insight or wisdom would be appreciated. I know, I know........
call an electrician.


The easiest way is to turn the power off and take loose both switches.

Only one wire of the 6 will be hot when you turn the power back on.
(This is the switch leg feed)

Turn the power back off, and tie this wire to the screw terminal of the
switch that is marked black. Connect the other two wires to the
remaining two screws.

Turn the power back on and check the 3 wires at the other switch box.
Two of these wires will be hot depending on the position of the other
switch. When you find these two, the wire that never energized when
you flipped the switch is the "return"

Turn the power back off and tie the "return" to the black colored screw
of the switch. Then connect the other two wires to the other two
terminals on the switch.