Replies

1. 
   Gunner | May 21, 2003 04:31am | #1

   It has nothing to do with how you wire the lights. It's all in how you wire the switch.

   Who Dares Wins.

2. 
   Fireball | May 21, 2003 04:42am | #2

   st,

   One switch gets the hot wire,and then two "travellers" to the other switch.From the other side of the other switch comes the "switch leg" up to all five lights.The circuit neutral goes to the other side of all five lights.The neutral isn't needed at a simple 3 way switch.

   b.

3. 
   JeffBuck | May 21, 2003 04:47am | #3

   so ya want all 5 to turn off and on at the same time...right?

   Sounds like time to stop squeezing that penny and call the electrician.

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

4. 
   shadetree | May 21, 2003 05:17am | #4

   I understand the dynamics of the straight three way switch it is the other 4 lights (out of 5) thet get me. The Red goes through in all of them. The neutral is what gets me.

1. 
   PeteKoski | May 21, 2003 03:16pm | #6

   Done the easiest way, the travelers do not go thru the lights.  The travelers go from switch to switch.  Doesnt sound like you are on the right track after all.

   Feed one of your switches hot.  Run 3 wire cable (black white red WITH ground) from that switch to the other switch.  From the last switch run two wire cable up to your lights and connect black to black, white to white, ground to ground.  Follow instructions on box for wiring switches. 

   give 'er the smoke test. 

    

    

1. 
   benraymond | May 23, 2003 07:29pm | #7

   What Pete said.  You just have to use the 3-conductor cable to connect the two switches, not the lights.  Use 2-conductor to string up the cable.

   You can also connect the lights to the first switch (the one with power) in Pete's scheme.  So in the first box, the black live wire goes under the bottom screw of the 3-way; the white neutral goes to the lights connected in series.  The top two screws go to the red and black from the 3-conductor to the other switch, and connect there to the top two screws of the other 3-way switch.  Then tape the white wire of the 3-conductor with a piece of black tape to indicate it's hot, attach it to the bottom screw of the second switch, and attach the OTHER END in the first box to the black of the lights in series, also taping it to indicate that it's hot.  Simple, huh?  Try these diagrams if it isn't.

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

1. 
   shadetree | May 26, 2003 04:57am | #8

   you guys rock. If I knew how to upload a picture I would. The lights look great and two switches!!! Thanks to all that posted.

5. 
   goldhiller | May 21, 2003 05:20am | #5

   See if this helps.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.