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Mon 4 Apr, 2016 12:20 pm
Hello,
I have an electrical issue I want to fix myself if possible (I have limited wiring knowledge). I have a light in my bathroom that is controlled by two different switches, one outside each door to the bathroom. However, when I turn the light on with one switch, the other switch does not recognize it and I can't use the other switch to turn the light off. Each light switch is controlling the light independently.
Any idea how to fix this? Thanks!
@engineer,
Also, pull off the cover plate and see if the switches are three way or simple two way switches. Three way switches will have a ground and three screws to put wires on (ground + one screw on one side, two screws on the other). Two way switches will just have two screws on one side and a ground connection on the other.
@zkap,
You should have 1 wire with power into the first switch, another with power out ( these are both usually black in normal 3 way switch wiring), your white wires will just be wire nutted together, ground wire on the green screw, and a traveler wire ( usually red in normal 3 way wiring.) the red just jumps between the two switches. And on the second switch will be wired the same just one side will be power out to the light. Sounds like your missing your traveler. If there is no red wire you will need to pull a 3 wire between the 2 switches. Hopefully if your lucky you have the right available wires and just have single pole switches put in. In which case you just need to go grab a couple 3 way switches for s few bucks and wire them how I described. Ground on ground screws. Both blacks on top 2 screws, traveling red wire bottom screw and all neutrals ( white wires) wire nutted together. Hope this helps
@zkap,
You have one wire power into the 1st switch and other one is with power out. these are usually in 3 way switch wiring.
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