3-Way switch Help

oxicottin · 07-10-2008, 08:48 PM

Joed, I connected the 4 way up and everything has been working correctly untill reciently. I would go to the house and the light would be on? I thought I might have left it on but it has done it a few times. I then tried to turn the 4-way switch off and the light flickered but never turned off. I tried up and down but niether worked then I went to the top of my steps to flick that switch and it shut the light off. But here is the thing,the switch at the top of my steps " The on to the left in your diagram" if it is flicked up then the 4-way switch will work correctly but if the switch at the top of my steps is flicked down then the 4-way will just flicker and wont shut off. Any ideas on what is wrong? I tried all the switches whe it was hooked up but I guss I must have missed this issue...

Thanks,
Chad

joed · 07-10-2008, 09:01 PM

Sounds like a switch could be defective. The 4way would be a good guess. Also make sure are connecting it up properly. On the 4way there are two set of terminals. The sets are different colours.

oxicottin · 07-10-2008, 09:37 PM

I will have to return the 4-Way one then and see if that was it. When I connected it up I went over the wireing several times to make sure it was right but I will do it again to be sure.... I will post back the results...

joed · 07-10-2008, 09:40 PM

You could just remove the 4way and connect the travelers straight through. This will confirm the operation of the rest of the switches at least.

oxicottin · 07-10-2008, 09:52 PM

Joed, are you saying just connect the black with the black and the white with the white at the 4-way? Thanks!

joed · 07-10-2008, 10:33 PM

Yes that will bypass the 4 way.

oxicottin · 07-11-2008, 09:04 PM

Well Joed, I got it to work so far... I had asked a friend of my dads who is a retired master electrician and he changed a few things. The funny thing is I told him I could finish by putting the switches back in and putting the covers on and so he left. I then put it all back together and wouldnt ya know it... "It was doing the same thing" I then started to mess with and try diferent things thinking a wire wasnt connected right or something. I found out that one of my 3-Ways must have been touching something or something because if I let it dangle out of the box then everything worked perfectly but if I put it in the box then the switches didnt work correctly. It is in a metal box in the garage but I couldnt figure out why it was doing this. I moved it to the other side because its a double box and everything works correctly? I dont know what it was

Thanks,
Chad

Yoyizit · 07-11-2008, 09:14 PM

Troubleshooting this you will find voltages of 60v or 120v that cannot deliver enough current to light a 4w bulb. Very confusing!
These conductors are floating, and each of the travelers will float at one time or another.