3-way switch problem

put new 3-way switches in both boxes, same problem, red/black are on the copper screws, white is on silver

hoping its not a broken wire inside the wall, advice please.

I believe 3 way sitches have and identified way. This screw is usually a darker color. Find which wire is hot and which wire goes to the load. Put those wires on the identified way and put the travellers on the other screws. Have fun.

steveormary

Since you have hot white wires they should have black on them - this is what the original installer probably tried to do.

black was indeed hot from breaker and hot to outlet, red was traveler like it should be

installer used available white as hot between the 2 switch boxes, previous owner put in a 3-way dimmer and likely didn't keep track of the wires

I sure appreciate all the help

When one uses a multi wire branch circuit (2 hots with a common neutral plus an equipment ground) its possible to remove the tie on the hot/line side of a duplex receptacle and serve one outlet with phase A and the other Phase B and it would be further possible (if all wired correct) to have the one switched by a wall switch, single or 3 way.

I didnt like to specify them to much (specified double pole/ tied circuit breakers if I did) cuz if there were a lot of non linear loads such as transformers, ballast, DC Power Supples etc it may be possible to overcurrent the common Neutral. Also when they are used theres 240 volts available (line to line) inside that box versus only 120.

best wishes n yall keep safe

Ol John T and all

took all wires off both switches, found one hot black, jumpered hot to red/white to make sure color stayed true

tied hot+loose black to silver, red/white to copper and found joy

thank you

Sounds to me like you don't have 3-way switches. If you had white wire hooked to a 3-way switch. You would trip the braker as soon as you fliped the switch. This is how 3-way switches would be wired.

if switch A is up, outlet has power and Switch B can turn it off

if switch A is down, outlet is dead and Switch B has no effect

cannot find any other switches involved

That being said, sounds like you either dont have 3 way switches or else they are simply wired wrong. A 3 way switch has 3 terminals and its basically a single Pole double throw SPDT switch.

You tie the 2 (1 on each switch) throws together,,,,, ,one Pole receives hot input line voltage,,,,,the other pole serves the light fixture or outlet or whatever.

Piece of cake to wire

best wishes n happy New year

Ol John T and all

John T

We are talking about (3) seperate switches, and (1) switched outlet.

As follows:

You have (2) 3-way switches that are controlling an outlet, and also have another switch. When that 'other' switch is 'on' everything works ok.. but when that 'other' switch is off... neither of the 3-way's work. This sounds like what you have typed.

If so.. i'd say that 'other' switch is inline and upstream, and when 'off', is cutting the power feed to both 3-way switches..e tc.

Soundguy

Dusty

Soundguy