I've messed up my 3-way switch...

[Anonymous]

I apologize in advance if I'm making some obvious/ridiculous mistake--I'm a complete novice so it's entirely possible. Thank you so very much in advance for any help!

I unhooked my stairwell 3-way switches with the intention of replacing them with SmartHome ToggleLinc X10 switches. Stupid me did not properly mark locations of the wires on the original switches in case I had to go back to them. Of course, that turns out to be the case. After talking to SmartHome tech support it turns, out their slave ("companion") switch won't work for me so I need to order an "X10 receiver/dimmer"

In the meantme, I wanted to return everything to it's original state, but I can't seem to get things right. I've been staring at 3 way diagrams on the web and comparing them to my wiring all day. I'm convinced this diagram matches my wiring:

http://www.homewiringandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/3waypwswthrufx.html

When I connect up the wires according to the diagram (at least I think I am), however, my light only comes on if both switches are in the UP position.

Here's my connections as they currently stand (note: other than the acutal connections to the switch, these descriptions are of course just what I *think* I have. I could be misunderstanding the whole thing)...

Switch #1:

Two separate sheaths of wire. Sheath "A" has 1 black, 1 white and 1 bare. My assumption is this is the power from box. Sheath "B" has one black, one white, one red, one bare. My assumption is this goes on to the fixture (and then to switch #2).

Here are the current connections:

- Black (hot) from sheath A is connected to "common" terminal on switch. On the leviton 3 way this appears to be the bottom-right of the 3 terminals (according to the label in spanish "COMMUN"!?).

- White from sheath A is connected to white from sheath B

- Bare from sheath A is connected to bare from sheath B and ground screw on switch

- Red from sheath B is connected to upper-right terminal (below the ground screw)

- Black from sheath B is connected to upper-left terminal

Switch #2 has one sheath coming to it with: 1 white, 1 black, 1 red and 1 bare.

The current connections:

- Black to lower-right "COMMON" terminal.
- Red to upper-left terminal (below ground screw)
- White to upper-right terminal
- Bare to ground screw

Once again, any help you can give me will be SO MUCH appreciated. I think I'm going to break down and have an electrician install the X10 switches when the new one comes in but (a) I'd like to have a working switch until then and (b) I'd really like to get this right and just understand what I did wrong :)

Thanks!
Nicholas.

[Wgoodrich]

If you have a 12/2 and a 12/3 in one switch being two cables but only one 12/3 cable in the second switch then chances are you have power going to your light fixture then to the switches.

Check to see if you have two cables each having a red wire in each cable inside the light box. If so you are correct in your wiring.

I suspect you will not find red wires in your light fixture. If this is the case then your 12/3 cable containing that red wire in that first switch runs directly to the second switch. The 12/2 black white only calbe is coming from your light box as a switch leg only and no grounded leg aka neutral wire in either switch box.

Check to confirm no red wires in light box. If so then connect the white wire of hte 12/2 cable in the first switch to the black [common] screw of hte first switch. then connect the black wire of the 12/2 cable to the black wire of the 12/3 cable. Then connect the remaining red and white wires of hte 12/3 cable to the to brass colored screws still remaining on the first three way switch.

In the second switch connect the black wire to the common screw of that second switch and the red and white wires to the remaining two screws of the three way switch.

See if this solves your problem if I second guessed your wiring style correctly.

Let us know if this helps

Wg