[Helioscribe]

I am having difficulty trouble shooting a new 3 way circuit. I have wired it as shown in the diagram attached and must have checked it 5 times to make sure. The problem is that when I turn the circuit on there is power at all the wires, including the neutral, no matter which position each switch is in. The light in the circuit does not illuminate in any switch position.

Just to check, I disconnected the hot on the common leg of switch 1. As expected, there was no power anywhere in the circuit.

Ground wiring not shown for clarity

 

[frenchelectrican]

Did you test with the voltmeter or neon test light ?? to verify the incomming power you will need both black et white { netural } to actually have power there if so then you may have bad connection at one of the wirenuts at any one of the juction boxes { downstream to the luminaire }

If do not light up or show actual voltage with good working voltmeter as I describe above then you need to back track where you did hook up the new cable at other location.

One of most common cuprit is useally a loose connection will cause all the issue you have there.

So recheck the wirenuts and all the screw is tight.

And what circuit you add this to the exsting circuit ?

Merci,
Marc

 

[joed]

It could be a loose neutral wire. It might be further back in the circuit.
The hot reading could be false.

 

[AllanJ]

Your description suggests that there is a problem with the neutral to the left of S1 in the diagram (further back towards the panel).

Each voltage measurement is always between a pair of points. Where did you make your measurements?

 

[Helioscribe]

I have not taken specific voltage measurements, just using a voltage detector. I will check the connections further back because this is connected to the start of another lighting circuit. It sound like the neutral is the likely problem. Thanks.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Do not trust solely on a volt stick !
Voltage testers with a high impedance,
can give false readings.
Check with a low impedance tester,
such as an anologue meter or test lamp.

If there is power available,
then it can only be a bad/loose conecttion,
as the wiring diagram is correct.

Check power is available with a test lamp,
then check and double check all your connections,

It will be something so simple,
you will probably want to kick yourself.

 

[Helioscribe]

On closer inspection the circuit was connected to another three way circuit in a strange way. I pulled the wiring back and connected at a different location on the same circuit where I could be sure of the path back to the breaker box. Works fine now. Thanks.

 

[joed]

Switch loop tap no neutral. Common mistake for DIYers.