Im doing my least favorite thing…following up a MIA contractor.Ruffed in wiring in this case.
He has a two outside lites wired for 3 ways from downstairs and upstairs.The feed/source is feeding the the upstairs switch then he has run 14/3/ w grd from the switch box to the upper lite and another to the lower lite and then a 14/3 w/gnd from lower lite to lower switch.My lil crib sheet i keep for wiring 3ways only shows situations where the 14/3 runs between lites.Can I wire this up with the wires ive got or am i gonna have to snake another wire between the fixtures.Thanks. A clear schematic would help greatly. Im thinkin there a way of doing this in the upper switch box but im not clear enuf yet.
Replies
http://thecircuitdetective.com/3and4wyinfo.htm
But I'm a plumber so take it with a grain of salt
This attachment is from a book called Basic Wiring from Creative Homeowner Press.
Has done wonders for me, especially with 3-way switches.
Good luck.
Look at these links.
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/index.htm
As I understand it you have one cable run for the upper light as if it was this way.
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/3waysame.htm
And the lower one if it was this way.
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/3waypwswthrufx.htm
Both of them are OK, but you can only have one at a time.
As I understand it you can either run a cable between the 2 lights.
Then you can either wire it like #1 and then parallel the lower light and the lower light box will just be a junction box between the 2 cables.
Or you can wire it the 2nd way and the upper like will be paralleled to the lower and the cable between the upper light and switch will be abonded.
Or you can run a new 3 wire cable between the switches. The 3 wire from the lower light to the lower switch will be abonded. Then it will be wired like #1, with with the two separate lights paralleled at the top switch.
Or you can run a new 2 wire between the upper switch and lower light.
The lower light junction box then will be a junction for the 2 3 wires between the switches and the lower light will be feed from the upper switch as in #1.
Bill,
isn't there a feed AND a three wire at the top switch,if that's the case , then all treetalk, should need is a 2w between the lights ,or did I read it wrong ?"