I recently got a new garage built and I am doing the wiring myself. I am pretty good with this but I have little to no experience with 3way switches. I found these directions on the handyman site -


Wiring 4 Lights on 2 Switches

I want to wire four lights to two (2) switches, one on each end of the storage building. I would like to be able to turn the lights on or off from either end. Suggestions?

The way I see it, you will be bringing in power from one end and it makes sense to wire a switch at each end of the circuit. To do it you will want to use a 3 way switch at either end. Bringing power into the first switch, you will run 3 wire to the first light and then run 4 wire between all the lights to the last light. Then run 3 wire from the last light to the switch at the end of the circuit.

Lets see if I can describe this wiring.

At the first switch, the power supplying black wire is attached to the dark screw on the 3 way switch. The whites are connected to each other. Black and red from the two light colored screws.

At the first light fixture, the black and red pass right through, attach the white to the white from the light and the white from the 4 wire. Attach the black wire of the light to the 4th wire of the 4 wire. (this is the hot wire coming back from the other switch)

At the next two fixtures, the red and black pass right through. Again attach the white to the white of the light and the white of the 4 -wire. And the black of the light to the 4th wire. (Hot line)

At the last fixture, again, red and white pass right through. The white wire attaches to the white of the light. (and ends here) The black of the light again attaches the the 4th wire coming from the 3rd light and the black going to the end switch.

Finally at the end switch, you have 3 wire coming in. Attach the red and white to the light colored screws and the black to the dark.


I am confused with the second to last paragraph where it says again the red and white wire passes through. On all of the other fixtures the black and red passed through. Do you think this was a typo? If someone can answer this then I have more to add.

Given that it's power, get someone who knows electrics to come take a look. Doesn't have to be an electrician, just someone with a good understanding of the basics.

This is an area you don't want to mess up.

I absolutely second this recommendation. If you are an amateur, bring in a pro. It might cost a few bucks initially, but if there were an electrical fire and your insurance company found out you did this alone- goodbye coveage.

Bring in a pro, keep the receipt somewhere safe, and cover you a--. Just a suggestion.

Keep it simple. Run the power in (14/2) to the first switch, run the 14/3 directly to your second switch from the first(Don't pass through the lights inbetween the switches). Then run another 14/2 to your first light from the second switch. See link below for connection points. Last you will "daisy chain" the other three lights off the first in parallel. I'm an electrician and that is how I would do it. Be concious to snug every connection nice and tight, loose connections can generate heat and start a fire.


http://www.electrical-online.com/extra-gra...3wayswitch.htm#

I did it the way directions I posted showed and for the last fixture I had the red and black pass through just like with the other fixtures. I thought they might have had a typo in the second to last paragraph. I can turn on the lights with the first switch. If I leave the lights on and go to the second switch it will turn the lights off. But if I didn't turn the lights on using the first switch and try to turn them on with the second, nothing happens. Hopefully I explained what is going on.

While I personally wouldn't do it the way you described, it sounds like one of the travelers is mixed up with the hot that is supposed to be going to the light.

The way I explained it above is the way most electricians I know would do it.

What color are the wires that are actually going into your second switch the way it is? If it is two black and one red, perhaps you need to reverse the two black wires. On your second switch the black going to the light should be on the copper colored terminal. The black and red from the first switch should be on the light colored terminals.

You were correct in your assumption that the red & black conductors pass through the last fixture just like the first three. I believe your problem to be that the first switch ( and possibly the second) is wired incorrectly. It's a simple mistake but would create the situation you describe. The common terminal will be a different color than the two switched terminals. If you wired the incoming hot to a switched terminal and the travellers to the common & the other switched terminal it would work as you described. You basically end up with a standard switch instead of a 3-way and would require the first switch to be in a specific position to get power to the second. In a typical 3-way the common is on the side with two screws & the switched terminals are opposite each other.

I normally just lurk here but since you are in Manitowoc I couldn't leave you hanging. I lived there until I was 12. We lived on Green street near Lincoln High. The house isn't there anymore as it was demolished to make room for a parking lot.

Thanks Bodhi!! I believe I know right where you used to live!! I will look at the switches maybe tomorrow. Tuesday I found out I have H1N1 and I have been feeling like crap. Hopefully I am on the mends.

Thanks Bodhi you were right! I had 2 wires switched in the second switch. Is there a standard height for the outside light I want to put on either side of the big garage door?

There is not really any standard height but typically I will usually rough-in the center of the box at 12" below the top of a garage door opening. It's more of a personnal preference but it can also depend on the style of light you want to use. Some fixture like coach lanterns which are re-lamped from the top may need more room so you may need the rough-in to be lower. If you already have the fixtures have someone hold one up & eye-ball the location. What looks good to you is the best answer.