Trying to sort out a 3-way switch system

bretai2k

I have an existing lighting system I am trying to upgrade to a 3-way system.

The system is currently set up like this: Power -> Switch -> Lights.

Is it possible for me to replace the Switch in that setup with a 3-way switch and then daisy chain from that switch to the 2nd 3-way switch?

Basically the setup would then look something like this:
Power -> 1st 3-way -> Lights
********** |
* * * * * * \/
******* 2nd 3-way

Will a setup like this work? If so how do I get it to do so. I've tried every configuration I can think of, and I've managed to get the 2nd 3-way switch to work, though the 1st 3-way no longer shuts the lights off.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

TIA

Haligonian

Power -> 1st 3-way
********** |
* * * * * * \/
******* 2nd 3-way -> Lights

Is what it needs to look like. The common screw of the first switch gets the power, the common screw of the 2nd switch gets the load. The red and the black of your 14-3 that runs between the switchs are your travelers and they attach to the other two screw terminals on the switches. The white is your neutral that just gets carried through to your 2nd switch for your lights to tie into.

AllanJ

I take it you "teed off" from the first switch to the second switch using the 3 wire cable.

Note that the hot line going up to the light may not be tied to the white coming back from the swcond switch. You would have to use the black coming back from the second switch to tie to the light and use the red and white as the travelers.

Note that "top left" or "center right" or similar terms cannot be used to describe switches. The common terminal screw is usually stained a darker color or has "C" engraved near it. For the two traveler terminals it doe snot matter which is whitch.

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a7ecorsair

Yes it is possible. You will have to pull a 3 wire cable (black, red, white), that matches your circuit wiring size, to the second switch box.
Three ways have a common and two travelers.
In the first switch box connect incoming power to the Common screw on the switch (black screw)
Connect the red and white (wrap with black tape) to the two traveler screws.
Connect the black wire from the new cable to the wire going to the light.
At the second switch:
Connect the black to the common screw
Connect the red and white to the traveler screws.

bretai2k

Thank you all for the replies.

To a7ecorsair: Based on what your saying, the way I am understanding it in the box with the first switch, I do not connect the black wire from the second switch or the black wire going to the light to the first switch at all, I just connect them to each other?

bretai2k

I just tried the way I assumed you were talking about and it did indeed work. Thank you all so much for your help!