How to Diagnose and Repair Three-Way Switch Problems | All About Lights | Ask This Old House
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Ask This Old House master electrician Scott Caron looks at a three-way switch issue and fixes the problem.
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Tools:
Pliers
Screwdriver
Shopping List:
None
Steps:
1. Scott first gives an explanation of the three-way switch- two switches that control one light fixture.
2. There are many ways that a three-way switch can be wired, but usually power or the light fixture connect to the load side of the switch and traveler wires run between traveler screws on both switches.
3. In this case, the traveler wire and load wire were swapped and repairing the circuit involved switching them back.
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How to Diagnose and Repair Three-Way Switch Problems | All About Lights | Ask This Old House
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I like the animation how it shows the inside of the switch. Great job!
Dude thank you so much. I was about to have a melt down trying to figure out where the error was in a 3 switch set. After several other videos with pictures and drawings, your real life actual demo was spot on. Its like the bulb went on haha. Thanks again.
I wish relaxing music started playing when i fixed stuff....
Lady has absolutely no idea what's happening lol
Or her husband.....
Or if you have the Internet and this thing called GOOGLE (and not the Big Number)
stirlingfromla
What was that thing called again? I need to write it down.
Nicola Tesla invented the electron.
Edward vp He had a lot of trouble getting all of them to fit into wires.
Many thanks for a sampled explanation. I now understand the wiring and repaired out switch at home.
Yes! This was so extremely helpful. Exactly what I was looking for!
Please have more explanations like the animation one. Very helpful in understanding for those us learning to be self-sufficient homeowners.
Every time I watch this guy in the back of my mind I'm like so this is what you'd get if you cross Vin Diesel with Tim The Tool-man Taylor.
Great segment! The animated diagram was a perfect example of how this works. 👍👍
Your cut away of the switch was perfect. I've seen many diagrams but seeing the actual contacts make it "real" for me. Many thanks.
Agreed, this made me understand the wiring and how it works
I have this problem too. He said that two wires were probably just mixed up. How did that happen? One day mine were working fine, the next they weren't. I understand how the wires and switches work just fine. He explained well. I am confused as to which one of my switches are bad or if they're both bad and most importantly who mixed up my wires.
Thank Youuuuu......all other 3 way switch fix videos on youtube should be deleted now and this one saved....wasted hours watching nonsense videos and the confusing use of voltage meters and purchasing one even still being clueless to use it.....and your knowledge and explanation of where each wire inside the box should go is all i needed in under 6 minutes, i learned the connection route inside a switch even thanks to you. Great work!
Thanks! This video fixed my light! SUBSCRIBED!
Y, but how about using a two way switch to have multi location on a smart switch?
This 3 way switch worked and nobody do any wire replacement why all sudenly all the wires hook up wrong
Best troubleshooting tips and super clear explanation. As always, I can always count on Ask This Old House videos when I ran into a problem. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Great tutorial - probably the best 3 way switch explanation ever!
I really like this guy... the way how he explain stuff making the viewer understand what’s going on .. thank you men...
As someone coming at this problem for the first time, this was very helpful!
This stumps me because what happens if the problem JUST happened. This is sayin someone wired it wrong. What if it was workin fine and then it all of a sudden malfunctions in the same way as this video???
So she is needing a 3-way, is this correct?!
Great explination, 2 points , 1. did not explain how to determine Load wire vs Line wire. 2. Very inportant why did it work yesturday and not today?
Great tutorial video! I followed your instruction, testing each wire and 3-way switches, checking wire connection. They're all good, but the working-light is still not on. Appreciate all your help.
Awesome video!!! I’ve been putting up with a hallway light that did exactly the same thing. Tried to fix it myself a few times to no avail. FINALLY!!! With this wiring digram, I was able to figure out both switches were wired wrong and it works now!
Best video
Every switch like this in my house has this issue...
Dear Ask This Old House, I just got done fixing the same problem, having to replace a faulty, temperamental 3-way switch. Thank you so much for making my day! The only difference was that my main power wire with the bare copper ground was white. If anything else needs done to the house, I know now where I will go to.
Thank you for this video. After watching it I found the paired wires, identified the common wire, switched the two that were wired backward and my problem was fixed. So much easier than any other explanation that I read or watched.
No electrician has ever explained my problem. I have two 3 way switches controlling one light. Call them switch A and switch B. There are four combinations. Switch A can be up or down. Switch B can be up or down. Of the 4 combinations the light is on in 3 of them. How is that possible ? Nobody can explain it. The wiring looks correct.
Huh?
Just be because it LOOKS correct, doesn't mean it IS correct. You either have a bad switch or bad/incorrect wiring.
I know someone who had this problem showed in the video. To fix it, i did the same thing as the video: turned off the power, removed both 3 way switches from the wall boxes, switched one of the traveller wires with the common wire on one of the switches, put both switches back together, and restored power. It fixed the problem!
This helped me figure out what was wrong in my hallway, thank you!!!
My three-way switches behave the same way. I've lived here 15 years and I haven't gone any rewiring. This just started happening Two weeks ago. Can the switches go bad?
Brey W yes
This is the only video you need to watch to repair your 3-way switch. Short, informative, concise. PERFECT!
Yes indeed!🙏🩵😁
I recently had this issue with a light in my stairwell. Found a few videos that honed in on the issue, but lost them. A quick search led me directly to this one and the explanation was exactly what I needed to fix the issue. Took less than 5 minutes to shut everything down, reverse two wires, and get everything back in place and working correctly. Explaining the wiring principle, colors, and routing was the perfect piece to help me understand and get it done easily. Many, many thanks!
Great video and he didn't tell us we needed some pricey tool to fix the problem, Thanks for sharing
Now that the three-way switch is fixed, how about a three-way?
Yup, that fixed it! Thank you! Anyone else struggle with working 12-ga wires? So rigid.
I've watched plenty of 3-way switch diagnosis videos but this one is only 5ish minutes and explains it perfectly. The inside schematics and cutout did the trick. Thank you so much for an insightful video!
I can't believe it was a wire misplacement this whole time!! I would try to make a habit of keeping one swith on before I leave the house and turn the other one off. But many times I forgot and wasn't able to turn the light on at the entryway. I always thought it was just how three-way switches worked. Geeez. Thanks for the video!
I am sick of every dang source of information about switches. They all talk about understanding the wiring by referring to the screws, but my Lutron switches don't have screws. They have just a black plastic box on the back of the switch with wires coming out! This is true for *both* the new LED-capable switch I want to install *and* the old switch that was in the house (when I bought it several years ago). Worse, the old Lutron's have two red wires along with a black and the green wires. Of course, it doesn't help the home wiring is also not color-consistent. The salt in the wound of all this is that Lutron's suck-butt instructions refer to a non-existent old switch design with screws. Really, Lutron?! Since the house I bought several years had Lutrons with no screws, clearly Lutron has had YEARS to fix the instructions. Any company that is so disinterested in its own products (with instructions not matching the product) can't be trusted. Don't buy Lutron. Lowes should STOP selling them!
Wahddayaknow!
TIL that the guy I bought my house from wasn't an electrician!
This was the most informative yet simple explanation that I am pleased to have found. I changed my switches yesterday and after about an hour and a trip to hardware store thinking that I reconnected it wrong, I figured out that the garbage disposal and sink light still worked but not at the same time. This morning when my range hood didn't work with the kitchen light I thought I did something wrong but they're wired the same as well.Thank you for the illustration!
Now i can fix my mom's light switch. She has three light switches for the hallway. Haven't visited in over 5 yrs so who knows when that happened
I talk like this guy on my first dates. Wonder why these girls don't call me back
This video was very helpful, and I was able to fix my hallway (2 3 wat switches) with the correct wiring.
I have always had trouble visualizing this in my head. the animation was amazing thank you very much!!!
You did not show the variants such as Chicago also called Carter three way which although outlawed 100 years ago still was used in wiring in the 50’s because in was a cheap way to continue a circuit and add a three way switch setup since u can pigtail off branch wires to the switch traveler terminals and the commons run to the light. which can make the screw shell or the whole inside of the socket live and because its the same polarity a tester may not pick it up.
I had a situation where the 2 switches were wired up properly but still not working, finally figured out one of the switches was connecting the common to both travelers at the same time, which would have been easy enough to figure out, but it was doing so intermittently, which made it more of a challenge.
Awesome video!! My 3 way is now fixed. Thank you!
Are the 3way switches different from a regular singke switch that controls one light? Need to replace mine
Thanks This Old House. This was great. Moved into a new house and the had a light that didn't work. This clearly laid out the issue and I was able to rewire the switch.
very helpful. we had the same exact problem as that homeowner. because of your video, it is now fixed! thanks!
This cleared up a very long, frustrating battle with our living room switches! Thank you!
Thanks I had thr same problem .fixed it.
I'm familiar with with that problem. It's annoying.
Her husband was probably playing electrician...
If there backwards will it cause any fires or will it just not work properly
Homeowners eyes say it all during his explanation “JUST FIX MY PROBLEM” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great to the point video. Now I think I can fix mine. Wish me luck.
That's why they called in the pros.
Scott caron is great electrician👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for the great video. Resolved same issue. :)
Super helpful video and graphics. Thanks!
The animation is such that even a "Cave Man" could understand. LOL
Thanks. Problem fixed.
Thank you. That was very helpful!!
Replace that squeaky main switch too
Just found this video. Was having this same issue at my new house, this helped me finally fix the problem.
I know nothing about electrical work, and always thought whichever wire was “hot” went into the black (common) screw. Needless to say it didn’t work. Glad I found this.
Another video(not one of yours) told me the red traveler wire goes to the black screw! I'm having the issue in this video, I'll try fixing it. Thank you!
Does 3 way switches need to be grounded ,
I have 3 black and a red wire on a super old switch. I found the hot black wire and now where do the other 2 black wires and a red one go??
I cannot tell you how many times I've shown up for a service call for a different problem. and while walking through their house troubleshooting, I came across a switch with a piece of tape holding it in one position, sometimes with a note that says "don't touch". I would fix it free of charge, even in the rare occurrence that the 5 min it took bumped into another hour of labor, I wouldn't charge them ( though I had to lie to my boss on my write ups, and take a minor hit to my paycheck). Most of the time they were more relieved by that fix than what they called me there for.
Like " Whatever, we can use our dryer again. But wait what?! We don't have to keep this light on 24/7 after Uncle Ben "fixed" it 3 years ago? And you're telling me we can turn it on and off from both ends of the hallway? And you're not going to charge us more? even though you're charging less than the estimate you gave for the work we called you for?"
At least 50% of the times I have ever gotten a tip, have been after this.
Yes, people actually do tip electricians, its still a shock to me to this day.
His mouth seems like it's wired shut, he barely moves it when he talks
Omg this video just made my day i had a light switch driving me nuts trying to figure out why I could only use one switch or the other when they are at different ends of the staircase in my house so it was very inconvenient lol finally I have working lights!!!! Great video easy to follow for sure
Then by that the problem I'm having could be similar with the exception that there are two fixtures being involved and the primary power line goes through the outside front porch fixture before going to the switches inside. These two switches control the hall light and the second switch controls the front porch light. The last time a repair was made, both inside switches have to be in the on position for the hall light to work. The electrician is the same fellow who wired out MBR Bathroom light to the Hall Bathroom switch and vice versa, what a mess. Care to explain how to get those two light fixtures to work correctly, it would be greatly appreciated. I got the house which just turned 60 years old this year. Metal lathe and plaster on walls and ceilings, tongue and groove 1"x 6" and 1" x 8" wood used in the roof with 16" centers 5 on 12 pitch with a gable looking North over the MBR.
What's the animation for 2 3-way switches and 2 light fixtures - both switches controlling both fixtures?
Makes it look so easy! I spent weeks on my 3 way switches and ended up calling an electrical guy on Craigslist who came over and did it for free. Some good people still out there.
Excellent! Just added a 3 way system and an extra light to an existing light, Had same problem, as video, when all done. My problem was the hot wire was coming from the existing light in the ceiling and that wire was purple. The other wire on the same side was black. The black wire, striped not cut, was leading to other circuits. (thought that was the hot wire at the time) Switch these 2 wires and switches work. Thanks!
Out of all the schooling I've had, that damn 3 way switch was the most confusing.. Not the math, nor the physics.
Wow really good explanation 👏 👍
This was perfect, I just fixed my hallway light. THANK YOU!!!!!
That tip of the transit wires being in the same jacket saved my bacon! Thank you!
At 2:22 that woman's mind was blown lol
I bought a house and I have this exact same problem with my kitchen lights and 2 switches!! I am really hoping this fixes it. lol I can't wait to try it out. My mom and step-dad have the same problem also!
Excellent explanation along with the animation... although the look on the woman's face led to think she was totally mystified.
Look lady….off means off and on…walla…light turns on😂😂😂😂
and shes like oh
this helped me, thank you!
Now, if only the electrician would start dancing the two-step when the music starts, this video would be over the top! :)
So I have the same issue and it worked both ways before except I only have a black wire and a white wire where both switches are. There was no issue before changing the switches and now with new switches I have this issue.
Thank you for the video. Very good troubleshooting tips and clear explanation. Had the same issue and did not know where to start.
Great job breaking this down. I replaced two very old three-way switches and now have the problem you address here. However, each switch (at opposite ends of a hallway) was wired with a white, black, and red wire. The white was on the side with only one screw (it wasn't black back then I guess). I tried to replicate what was there but now it has the problem you corrected. I'm not sure how to correct this. Help!
Black should still go on the common screw. The white can be used as a traveler. So the white goes on a brass screw and the red goes on the brass screw. But that only if the the splice was done correctly at the first switch.
Have the same issue in my house . I also have one that they added a dimmer switch ( which can’t function in this situation). Thanks for the tip! Hoping to get mine fixed soon.
i wonder if they make a 3-way light switch that has the on-off printed on it. hmmmmmm. my system is jacked up
Thank you for explaining this for those of us electrically challenged!! 🙂
The bald guy is my favorite of these shows, the other guy with the accent seems kinda impatient
Sweet after watching several other videos this is the one that helped me figure out what was going on with my wire! Thank you! After 9 years of bugging us it's working now!!!
Didn’t help 😅
best 3 way video, The explaining at that the two wires in the same wrapping are the traveler wires made it very easy.
I had to fix this issue twice when I replaced almost all the switches and outlets in my home that where worn out.
Very good video. It helpedme solve my 3-way switch problem. Thanks
This video was a life saver. After two hours of fighting to figure out an issue I came across this video and was done in five minutes. Thanks so much for posting it.