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Need some assistance from the braintrust...

I recently replaced a couple light switches. I thought they were 3-way, which means two switch control a set of lights, right? It seemed to be working fine but now all the sudden it doesn't and another set of switches doesn't work which I didn't touch. I now think it may have been a 4-way switch, which is 3 separate switches controlling a set of lights, right? If I messed up and and replaced a 4-way with a 3-way, could that cause this behavior?

It's frustrating because I completely tested it before I finished up. But now the lights just don't come on. Of course I did check the breaker as well.

Thanks!
 
Posts: 1188 | Registered: January 04, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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If only 2 switches control one light, then two 3 way switches are used.

If 3 switches control one light, the circuit requires two 3 way switches and one 4 way.

http://www.handymanwire.com/articles/3wayswitch.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_0onKhaZrY


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A Veteran is someone who wrote a blank check Made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'Up to and including their life'.
That is Honor. Unfortunately there are way too many people in this Country who no longer understand that.
 
Posts: 2306 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: November 29, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Did you wrap the wires around the screws or use the stab ins? Use the screws always.

Did your white (nuetral) come loose?
 
Posts: 3694 | Location: PA | Registered: November 15, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ammoholic
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quote:
Originally posted by matai:
Need some assistance from the braintrust...

I recently replaced a couple light switches. I thought they were 3-way, which means two switch control a set of lights, right? It seemed to be working fine but now all the sudden it doesn't and another set of switches doesn't work which I didn't touch. I now think it may have been a 4-way switch, which is 3 separate switches controlling a set of lights, right? If I messed up and and replaced a 4-way with a 3-way, could that cause this behavior?

It's frustrating because I completely tested it before I finished up. But now the lights just don't come on. Of course I did check the breaker as well.

Thanks!


Most likely you messed up a feed through in the switch box.

If you took before pictures, post them along with pictures of after pictures of the wiring and I can tell you how to fix.



Jesse

Sic Semper Tyrannis
 
Posts: 21340 | Location: Loudoun County, Virginia | Registered: December 27, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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