Here is the way that I think of this. The hot wire from the panel (black wire) connects to the odd terminal on switch #1. The hot (black) wire that goes to the light fixture, connects to the odd terminal on switch #2. There are 2 wires that simply connect between the other 2 terminals on the switches. These are called the travelers and they should be any color except green or white, since they are on the hot side of the circuit. You do need to ground the switches with the green, or bare wires. The neutral (white) wires simply get connected from the panel to the light fixture.
Have fun! ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Howell To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 5:00 AM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] hello and 3-way switches Hello all, THanks for taking time to explain this in detail. THe information was very helpful as far as clearing a few points up. I think what I need to do to really understand is not just sit and think about it, but just do it. I think what I should do is setup a simple circuit with a battery and bulb or something like that and I imagine the same princeples would apply and rig up the switch arrangement. Of course I could just dive in and you can bet if I got things wrong, the breakers will either tell the story or the switches won't work properly. I think I have the idea, but sometimes I just have to figure it out by doing it. I did this once when converting a pull-chain light to a switch because my sighted wife can't see worth a damn in the dark and couldn't always find the string. So, I jus removed the fixture, found the correct wire, installed the switch, found that did work, replaced the fixture, and then went wild and then added in another fixture on the same circuit. This was to put light over in the other half of the room so she could see stuff on the shelf. Of course not wanting to toss the light, I put the pull-chain fixture in a little store room in the basement where we keep the games and such and added that in by just cutting into an existing line. So, like I said, I generally figure stuff out by doing it, but 3-way switches seem simple on the surface, but it can be confusing. grin Thanks again to all for the info. Scott [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.6/568 - Release Date: 12/4/2006 ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.6/568 - Release Date: 12/4/2006 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
