hello guys, i am a plumber,not a electrican. my bro inlaw wired my house, and i have a few things left over. for me todo, 3 way switches 1 in the living room
it serves 2 overhead lights. the other is in the kitchen here are some pictures of the wiring and a wiring diagram
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/031.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/030.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/028.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/027.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/025.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/024.jpg
pic #30 is kitchen
pic # 28 is kitchen
pic # 27 is living room
pic # 25 is living room
24 is 3 way iam using
31 and 36 are my lame atempt at a wiring diagram
right now, temp switches are hooked up
any help is a-pre-she-ate-ed frodo




http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/036.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/a...uff/internet/036.jpg

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Frodo,

really simple answer that may be worth every penny you paid for it...

on one side or the other between power source and lighting load, you break the hot lead. it goes to the center of the 3-way switch (different color screw in newer switches.) the other two screws use red and black wires of NM3+G as "traveller wires" to go to the same places on the far 3-way switch. black wire from the "other" screw on that switch goes to the lighting load (or power, whatever, flip the diagram upside down, it's the same.) white wire of the 3+G carries the neutral return. ground of course connects to everything metal that should be grounded throughout.

if you only have access to power and load in one place and have to run the switches, you have to recode the white wire with tape and have that the hot return from the far side. I'd use blue tape so you don't confuse it with something else. 3M 35 coding tape is my fave, in all 10 EIA color code colors.

hey man!!!?????
dummy down that answer
i'm a working stiff, not a professor
are you saying to hook up [white]
to the switch. on the "different colored"
extra screw, . and 2 blks [1 each] to the "brass" screws. and of course the ground to the ground screw
i need to buy that book you told me about.
trying to save a dime!

When the reply is "dummy down the answer" that reply turns to "time to call a pro". Electrical mistake can kill.

thanks sparky, your a lot of help
i hooked up half of all the recepticals and switches in the house
and i did the breaker box. just need a little help on the 3 way.

Here is the way I do 3-way switches: I run power into the switch box, or take power from an existing wire in a switch box. The black wire goes to the screw that is different colored on the new switch.

Then in the other switch box, I take a wire from the switch to the first light, and the black wire goes to the screw that is different colored.

Then I run a 14/3 with ground, or a 12/3 with ground (whatever matches your existing wires) and run it from switch box to switch box. The red wire and the black wire get hooked to the other two screws of the switches -- and it doesn't matter which wire goes to which screw. And all white wires get hooked to white wires.

If your power goes into the light boxes, then to the switches, it's a different hookup, and you could probably google 3-way switches and see diagrams of how to do it. I did notice I see no red wires in your photos.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Re-mdlr,

thanks..no red wires, it was wired with romax
2 romax to each box. i think i have it figured
thank you ver much, I pre-she-ate-it

Hey Frodo, If you still dont have it right, there will be a wiring diagram on the box the switch came in ( I think ) at least it did when I did it

ha. ha
i bought the cheap switches, nona
the big box full of em, on the bottom shelf.
50 cents each,
bought in bulk, no boxs..
not home right now, on the road.be back sunday
wire it monday get er done!

buy one good one for the box

Bing is your friend.
http://www.bing.com/images/sea...ch+diagram&FORM=IGRE

quote:

Originally posted by Frodo:
thanks sparky, your a lot of help
i hooked up half of all the recepticals and switches in the house
and i did the breaker box. just need a little help on the 3 way.

I get you sarcasm and that is fine, no hard feelings.
You did ask for advice and I provided what I thought was best...

quote:

Originally posted by Frodo:
thanks..no red wires, it was wired with romax
2 romax to each box. i think i have it figured
thank you ver much, I pre-she-ate-it

Romax may contain a red wire when the wire description has a 3 present. {IE, 12/3 w G}. Most often when 3 way switches are involved. But other uses as well.

brother inlaw,didnt use a red wired romax
he used 2 wire with a ground
blk/white.
he pulled 2 romax to box instead of one
now i have to figure out which he used as the red
thats why i posted the pictures. thought maybe,if a sparky looked at it.they could figure out another elec. tricks
in one pic,it looks like he used a white for a red ?

i have to figure out if power comes thru light or from panel

no sarcasim here, you havent figured out by now, after 5 years posting on these boards. that i have a REALLY weird sense of humor? and cant spell worth a crap!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Frodo,

Frodo, you DID make sure that all those romex wires have a downwards pitch of 1/4" per foot didn't you?

Since your b-i-l used a 12/2 instead of a 12/3 it's going to be almost impossible for anyone to accurately troubleshoot from pictures. You have to be right there with a tester to figure out which wire is which.

yes they are all draining
you know..plumbers are the only trade paid to put in stuff crooked!!

so i got to trace where the hots come from?
and figure out which wire he used as a red?
DAMN!!!!
ok..i can do it. i wanted to go fishing sunday
i found a pond that was stocked 5 years ago. then the guy died. and its been sitten there. nobody fishen it..i figure the catfish were bass food. but the bass got to be HUGE

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Frodo,