3 way light switch not working right?

It is a very typical error when installing a 3 way switch.

There is only a hot at one of the two switches and at the other is the load. The other two wires are called 'travelers' that attach directly to the switch without any polarity.

The problem that you are having is the connection of the load and line wires. There is 3 screws on the switch, two of which are black in color and the third is typically brass. The two black screws take the travelers while the brass screw ALWAYS takes the load or line (the hot or the wire going to the light).

I am quite sure that if you investigate this you will find your error. It is a mistake that anyone can make so you are quite normal!

Good luck!

This morning, I replaced two 3-way switches that control a hallway ceiling light, and now it works on only one position. Both switches had one black wire connected to the common and then red and white connected to the travelers. When I replaced, I didn't care much about the travelers as I read in several DIY sites that it didn't matter. Unfortunately that doesn't look like the case. Now the switch works only when one of the switches is on the OFF position, but not when its on ON position. After consulting some wiring diagrams, I can't make sense of the way this circuit is wired nor why it is not working. One three way switch is by itself and the other is in a 4 gang box.

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3 way light switch not working right?

Both switches turn the light on, but I have to flip on switch to get other to work then the other wont work. Also, one of the switches has no "hot" wires coming from the electrical box, it only get a hot wire when the one switch is on. I think there is a wiring issue since I have tried...

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That 'lighted switch is a single pole single throw switch. (That 3rd terminal was for the lighted part.) You need a 3 way (single pole double throw), switch to make that 3 way system work. What you wired in is incorrect and maybe dangerous depending on how you did it. A good rule with home wiring is : 'If you don't know what you're doing, *** DON'T! *** ". We design those systems to be as idiot proof as possible but: It is impossible to idiot proof everything. - Idiots are just so damned creative!

There are wiring diagrams on the box for 3 way switches. The problem you have is a reversal of a traveler and a load or the line lead in a switch. First identify the line and the load conductors. Then connect the neutral through to the light fixture. Follow the drawing on the box and you should have the problem resolved. If you are still having problems contact a local qualified professional electrician to do the work.

3 Way Switch Troubleshooting

You've screwed up the wiring to those switches.

There's one 'hot' at one switch, two 'travelers' between them,

and the feed to the lights coming off the second switch.

Those are double throw switches and sift the connection from one wire to the other.

Use the OHMs function on your meter as a continuity check and find the common poles.

The main reason amateurs can't legally do mains wiring in the UK is Safety, the other is that they get it wrong.

If you own a property where installation work is done, this work should be certified as having been done by a registered electrician. If you want to sell the property and it doesn't have evidence that all the wiring is ok, prospective buyers will want to knock the price down.

If any wiring is amateur, insurance companies may refuse to pay a claim for, say a fire where house wiring is a possible cause.

3 way switches work by one switch connecting to the 'hot' feed and connecting it to one of two 'traveler' wires. The second switch connects one of the 'traveler' wires to the supply to the fixture. When both switches are connected to the same traveler, the circuit is 'on'. When they are connected to opposite travelers, the circuit is 'off'. If one of the travelers is broken, the results would be similar to what you describe.

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