[APisano17]

Hi everybody. I have a weird situation that I'm hoping someone can help me with...

I have a hallway light that is connected to a pair of 3 way switches. However, the light will only turn on when the switches are in certain position. For example:

switch 1 = down & switch 2 = down: light is off

switch 1 = up & switch 2 = down: light is off

switch 1 = up & switch 2 = up: light is off

switch 1 = down & switch 2 = up: light is on

These are pictures of the wiring in switch 1:




And these are pictures of switch 2:


(this picture is upside down)



I don't have a voltage detector to determine which wires are which... so I'm hoping one of you will be able to tell me how to switch them around to get things working the right way. Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[brric]

The black screw on the switch is the common. Which wire from the old switch was connected to the common on the old switch? If you don't know, experimenting by interchanging different wires on the common should resolve the issue. The other wires can go to either of the other two screws once the correct wire is connected to the common.

 

[sirsparksalot]

On switch 2, try swapping the Black and the Red (on the side with the two terminals), so that the Black is on the dareker colored screw.

 

[Jim Port]

When you make the connections the wires should loop clockwise around the screw. Yours are CCW.

 

[APisano17]

Thanks guys! Problem solved. I made sure the wires were correctly wrapped around the screws too. Just curious - what is the rationale for that?

 

[SD515]

That when the screw is tightened, it will pull the wire onto the screw instead of pushing it off the screw, which can cause a loose connection.