Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
3 way switch
I have 2 3 way swithces off from a 75 year old house. All three wires are
black, and I don't know which one is the common wire. Is there any way to find out? And does it matter which screws the other 2 wires are attached to if you have the correct common wire? Right now I have it hooked up and it works on both switches, sometimes.. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
If you disconnect all six wires, at one of the locations you will have one
hot wire. It is the common on that side and the two travelers go to either of the other screws. After you connect the wires on that switch, check the three wires at the second location. One will now be hot. It is a traveler. Flip the installed switch to the other position. You will now have a different wire that is hot at the second location. It is your second traveler. The remaining wire is the common which goes to the light "Steve" wrote in message . 142... I have 2 3 way swithces off from a 75 year old house. All three wires are black, and I don't know which one is the common wire. Is there any way to find out? And does it matter which screws the other 2 wires are attached to if you have the correct common wire? Right now I have it hooked up and it works on both switches, sometimes.. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Do you have an ohm/voltmeter?
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Good explanation: I thought about that before reading your post
and couldn't figure out how to describe it other than provide a link to a diyer site; which I also can't remember! G Good post. Pop "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message ... : If you disconnect all six wires, at one of the locations you will have one : hot wire. It is the common on that side and the two travelers go to either : of the other screws. After you connect the wires on that switch, check the : three wires at the second location. One will now be hot. It is a traveler. : Flip the installed switch to the other position. You will now have a : different wire that is hot at the second location. It is your second : traveler. The remaining wire is the common which goes to the light : : : : "Steve" wrote in message : . 142... : I have 2 3 way swithces off from a 75 year old house. All three wires are : black, and I don't know which one is the common wire. Is there any way to : find out? And does it matter which screws the other 2 wires are attached : to if you have the correct common wire? Right now I have it hooked up and : it works on both switches, sometimes.. : : |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Re-Post for Wall Switch | Home Repair | |||
3 way switch disaster (long but interesting) | Home Repair | |||
kenmore 90 series washer - lid switch removal secrets (for changing it)? | Home Repair | |||
Two switch stairway light wiring question | Home Repair | |||
Duplex Switch Wiring Help | Home Repair |