Disconnect all wires from both of the 3 way switches but do not unwrap or un nut. Turn off the breaker controlling this light.
Learn How A 3 Way Light Switch Works
3 way switch both travelers hot. If there is a bare ground wire attach that to the ground lug of the switch. Heres a fail safe process to fix a three way setup that isnt working. The common terminals of each s3 are connected together and to nothing else. The hot and switch leg are extended over to the traveler terminals on the dead end 3way. Replace one of your traditional 3 way switch with our treatlife 3 way smart switch or use 2 treatlife 3 way switches to control the light from 2 locations such as at the top and bottom of a staircase at the ends of a long hallway for large rooms with multiple entrances from house to garage etc. 4 go to the other box without a hot wire.
Between each three way switch is a pair of travelers that are connected to the common terminals. Attach the other two wires the travelers to the other two terminals of the switch. 3 install the first 3 way switch in the box with the hot wire attaching the hot wire to the common terminal of the switch. On one of the 3 way switches a line or hot wire gets connected to the copper or black screw terminal. I took a look at the original switches and one is a standard 3 way. In down both white and black are hot.
Unwire second switch and test wires and over there white is hot in first switch up position. Hotness voltage enters into the system at one three way type switch which we will call the hot end according to the position of its handle hotness travels on to the next switch on one of the two traveler wires. If this next switch is the only other switch it is also of the 3 way type and can be called the leg end. Description power and switch leg at one end dead end of a 3 wire at the other. The other though has two slots marked common along with the two traveler slots. You may also need to cut additional breakers if either or both of the 3 ways are in multi gang.
2 traveler terminals one from each s3 are connected together and connected to the hot. The three way switch is a variation of the standard single pole switch which controls a light only from one locationa third type is the four way switch which is used in conjunction with two three way switches to control lighting from more than two locationsthis configuration may be used in open plan homes or in large kitchens or great rooms where a central bank of lighting fixtures might. Flip the switch and y and z are hot. Connected to power y connects to power and is the common terminal and x and z are travelers to the other switch.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch Both Travelers Hot
