I've uploaded a picture of what I'm dealing with. #1 and #2 are the AC source. When I connect a Voltmeter to #1 and # 2 I get 118 V. Here's where things look funny to me. When I Connect a voltmeter to #2 (yes 2 that is not a typo) and then to ground I get 118 V.
When I connect to #1 and Ground I get no voltage. When I connect to #2 and #4 I get 118 V also when the two wires are touched together then the light that is the problem comes on.
Now this looks to me like someone made the #2 wire the hot wire even though it is white. Does that sound right to anyone else?
Thanks,
William
A three-way situation. Changes the name of the game a bit.
Lets get clear on the use of the white conductor. White is usually considered to have a ground or neutral potential, in most cases.
The exception is if its used for 3 way switching.
If a 3 conductor cable with a white, black and red conductor were to be used, the white in some applications could used for power.
In your case it appears that you do not have a red conductor, so perhaps it was wired using 2, two conductor cables instead.
This is not usual, but is legal. Maybe the electrician ran out of 3 conductor cable, so substituted a pair of two conductor cable.
In this case, the power lead would be bridged to all the switches. including the identified terminal of the 3 way switch.
The white neutral lead would be connected to the white of the cable connected to the left switch, the white of the cable connected to the middle switch and to one of the other white wires.
This where it gets tricky. The question is? Which one!
You will have to figure out which of the two cables will be used as switch legs.
This will entail opening up the other 3 way switch location and examining how it was connected. It could be that they used a black from each cable or the black and white of one cable.
Another fly in the ointment, would be if the switch legs were run via fixture box. This would require a somewhat different method.
I would suggest that you would draw all this out on a piece of paper or confusion will reign.
i Googled 3 way switch and found this site [
http://www.thecircuitdetective.com/3and4wyinfo.htm ] perhaps this will help you with your problem.