Electrical problem rant

[jkroner659]

Here is the deal. I had 2 switches go bad in my bathroom. Both were 3 way switches that controls 2 light fixtures. So...I go to home depot, buy 2 "3 way" rocker switches. To get to the point, I spent 6 hours yesterday by myself trying to get them working, and another 3 hours today with a retired industrial electrician(friend of the family), no good.

The problem is, before when it was working properly, if one switch was completely off, the other switch could turn the lights on. But after I installed the new switches, if one switch last turned off the 2 light fixtures, the other switch does nothing. However if you leave the light on, by one of the switches, the other switch can have control of on and off, but if you turn it off with the 2nd switch, the first switch can't turn it on.

Listen, I spent so much time on this in the past 2 days, I expected it to be a simple drop in replacement of 2 "3 way" rocker switches, it is a brain racking experience, we both are out of idea's, it's time to call in some electricians I think. But here is the thing, I don't understand how they would be able to fix it, there are only so many combinations one can do.

When I took them out originally, there were 2 hot wires on each switch, and both were on the brass colored screws, and I kept the same sequence on each switch as I replaced them, so it should have been working my first time around. I am out of idea's. I tried so many combinations of changing around the hot wires, I tried them all, I am so frustrated.

PS: And yes we tested the new switches to make sure they were good by a continuity test.

[TcRoc]

Sound to me like you have one of your travelers crossed onto your common
I'd have to look at it to see what you have going on.. I could try and explain but I'd be typing forever,,I can look at it for you

[jkroner659]

Don't come out of your way to look at it, only if you know you'll be in the area. For the next 2-3 days i'm gonna read up on 3 way lighting diagrams and make sense of it. But why I am so confused is, I replaced the switches one at a time and put the wires on the same screws...that's whats so frustrating, and I tried so many combinations. There are only so many combinations you can do when the 2 hot colored wires are both on the brass screws, all you can do is change them around on each switch(one at a time, both at the same time, change both and then try one at a time) I am stuck like BS on Hillary:)

[jkroner659]

Oh, and the only thing I changed which I did not mention because I did/do not think it matters(but could be wrong I guess...) is that the original switches had the wires going into the switch, none of them were on the terminal screws, they were installed with the wires going directly into the switch from behind. But I hate when people do that because sometimes unless you have the right small screw driver, they can be a pita so remove so I changed them both to using the terminal screws...but that can't make a difference can it?

[CBnL]

JK, try looking out on http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/
so basically you have your ground going to your light, then your hot entering into one of your 3 way switches, then the two 3 way switches are wired together, and the hot exits out of the other 3 way and goes up to the light.
Just unhook all your wires and identify them as
HOT
Ground
switch to switch jumper A
switch to switch jumper B
and connect as outlined in the material that came with the switches or as indicated on that little web site.
Use a volt meter to first identiry your hot, then your ground.
Normally with an ohm meter you could identify the two jumper wires but if they have some something strange between the switch boxes, you could blow your ohm meter if you touch hot/power so just be aware of that...

[jkroner659]

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/jkroner659/rock-1.gif Thanks everyone, I finally completed my repair http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/jkroner659/rock-1.gif.

2 things screwed me up. One was I rushed the "easy" repair since it was gonna be "simple" and did not look real close at the wires/colored screws they were wired to. Then I "thought" I remembered how they were wired up, which really screwed me since I did not even think about putting the source from the breaker on the black screw(I was tought the brass colored screws were always hot, but I guess that does not apply to 3 way). And the 2nd thing that screwed me up is a lack of exp. in residential 3 way wiring, since I did not know the black terminal on the first switch the power comes too is supposed to be the hot from the breaker, and the black terminal on the 2nd switch is supposed to be the hot wire to the light fixtures...yaaaaaaaaaa:)