Time, here is another one by Dale.
Good description except remember that where there is a double switch there
will be a red wire in the light box as well, actually two red wires. Three
conductors, black, red and white are connected to each switch in addition to
the non-insulated ground. As another poster said I think it was Max, there
are three terminals on the switch of a two switch system. For convenience I
attach the white and black on one side of the switch and the red on the side
with a single terminal so that it works the same each time. The red only
serves to connect the two switches together so that what ever position one
switch is in, there is a connection straight through one side of it and the
other switch will be open. Both of these three core cables are brought to
one of the light boxes. In that box there will be the two three core cables
and the power feed cable of two cores and the two conductors of the fixture.
There may be another pair of conductors if there are one or more additional
lights or plugs in that circuit.
Power in a lighting system generally arrives at the fixture then down to the
switch and back to the fixture so there really isn't a hot in the usual
sense. Traditionally you brake the hot (black side) of the circuit and will
bring the power down to the switch along the black wire but then it must
return along the white one. It gets a little less obvious in a two switch
system. If you really want to have some fun I have a four switch system here
which took me a couple of weeks to figure out! The secret is that there is a
third type of switch with four terminals on it. You need two of those and
two three terminal switches. Further, they operate three lights, there is a
lot of spaghetti in some of those boxes.
I almost guarantee there is a loose connection in one of your boxes. I lived
in a rental unit in Dawson Creek in British Columbia several years ago now
and for years one light at the bottom of the stairs did not work
consistently. When it did it buzzed radio equipment and I think though I do
not remember certainly, it probably made noise too. Electricians were sent
in by the landlord without success. Eventually and by accident, I wanted to
drop an electrical outlet into the basement of this town house, I had
occasion to go into an outlet box under a window. To my surprise there was
an extra pair of wires which turned out to be used to carry power to the
light at the bottom of the stairs and thence to the switch. One was loose.
So far as I know the light continues to work reliably since. My point here
is that the problem is not always obvious and neither myself or the
professionals had been able to work out where the power feed came from, just
a white and black wire appearing in a box and assumed to be reliable.
I would check the light fixture first, the mars connectors or wire nuts
particularly those connecting the fixture. If the switch is causing noise
then the switch is probably conducting.
The bulb may not be fully seated too.
Good luck and keep us informed.
Dale Leavens, Cochrane Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Home of the Polar Bear Express!
----- Original Message -----
From: "David & Patricia Ferrin" <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
To: <
[email protected]
>
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: [blindhandyman] wiring a light fixture
I LEARNED IT LIKE THIS. BLACK IS HOT WHITE IS NOT GREEN IS GROUND ALL YEAR
ROUND. BLACK GOES TO BRASS SILVER GOES TO WHITE AND GREEN TO GROUND. SO
FAR AS TWO SWITCHES ARE CONCERNED IT SHOULDN'T MNATTER BECAUSE YOUR LIGHT
BOX SHOULD ONLY HAVE THE AFOR MENTIONED THREE WIRES.
Dave
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To listen to the show archives go to link
http://acbradio.org/handyman.html
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/
To listen to the show archives go to link
http://acbradio.org/handyman.html
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/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Timothy Ford" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:19 AM
Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Three way House Electrical Circuits
> HI All,
>
> I have a project to figure out why one of our three way house electrical
> circuits does not work right. The lights come on, but you have to keep
> one
> of the switches in the same position, and use the other switch for the
> on/off.
>
> It has been this way for awhile, and goes back to when I replaced one of
> the
> switches on that circuit. I apparently got the wires wrong, and I want to
> know how to put it back the way it should be.
>
> If there is something in the list file archives on three way house
> circuits,
> please let me know, and hopefully include a short reminder on how to
> access
> those files. A basic explanation of house wiring would also be handy,
> since
> I am also vague on the basic principles, that black and white wire thing
> is
> something that I learn, then forget since it comes up so seldom.
>
> Sincerely,
> Tim Ford
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To listen to the show archives go to link
> http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=33&MMN_position=47:29
> 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
>
> Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various
> List Members At The Following address:
> http://www.jaws-users.com/JAWS/handyman/
>
> Visit the archives page at the following address
> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
>
> If you would like to join the JAWS Users List, then visit the following
> address for more information:
> http://www.jaws-users.com/
> For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man
> list just send a blank message to:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] Groups Links
>
>
>
>
