Im trying to replace a 3 cluster of light switches and they are all 3 way.When i took the switches out of the wall there was 1 wire connecting all 3 switches.Is this the common wire or one of the travelers?
Also how do i identify which wire is the common since the old switches have no marks to tell you whats what?
Thanks for the help.....How do i replace a 3 way light switch if the old switches im replacing dont identify which wire is the common?Three way switches have three screws and one of them is a color. (Black,red usually) this is your common wire it is either the hot wire or the switch leg and common. The one wire you are referring to in this question is the hot and yes it is the common wire and should go to all three switches on the colored screw.
The same way you took them off or are wired. The other two wires do not make a difference on where they go as long as you do one switch at a time you should be fine. One hot two travelers to each switch. If this makes sense to you then you should be able to handle it.How do i replace a 3 way light switch if the old switches im replacing dont identify which wire is the common?A three way switch will have a pair. One at one end and one at a different location.
At one switch the common should be the constant power. At the other end the common will be the feed out to the light.
If you don't know how to use a meter you really wont be able to figure it out.
There are dozens of ways to wire a three switch. If your house uses the most common way at your switch you will have a 14-3 and a 14-2. In this case the black of the 14-2 is the common.
*** The electricity does not know what color the wire is if the last guy didn't follow the rules any wire could be doing anything regardless of color.
There are dozens of different legal ways to configure a three-way switch loop
And dozens more of illegal ways
If you don't understand the way a three-way switch works then you are going ot have a very difficult time if the person who installed the wiring didn't know what he was doing
Just call a pro it will cost you about $50-$125 and will take the electrician about 15 minutes. Most have a 1 hour minimum so maybe think of 45 minutes of other work witch will not cost you any extra. You house will be safer and you will be less frustratedHow do i replace a 3 way light switch if the old switches im replacing dont identify which wire is the common?When looking at switch from back the power screw is the single screw
[- | | -] traveler screw
| -] power
Shut power remove wires and turn power on the one that is hot is the power.
