Confused on three way wiring...

[inline five]

Ok my parents have two switch boxes that control their kitchen lighting.

They have on switch that switches on/off like normal.

I replaced another switch from an old dimmer (see pic). I thought I wired it correctly but aren't totally familiar with three-ways.

So what happens is with the switch I replaced (and took pictures of) when it's flipped it "off", the other outlet doesn't control on/off...it stops working (basically the switch I replaced now serves as a master on/off).

I labeled what I thought was the neutral (it's black but I taped a white piece of tape to it).

Good news...it works enough to get them through and the switch box is no longer so hot it's glowing from those old dimmers!!

 

[PCustoms]

I think you've got a while lot of wrong going on there....

To start, please go back and edit your post. You are talking about outlets and switches. I assume you only changed a dimmer?

Is there a 2nd switch that controls the circuit? If so, you had a 3 way. 3 way uses hot, ground and a traveler. Neutrals do not get connected to switches*.



*unless it is a newer timer, lighted or otherwuse powered switch.

 

[klassenl]

I think you've got a while lot of wrong going on there....

3 way uses hot, ground and a traveler.

Perhaps hot, traveller, traveller.

 

[inline five]

I think you've got a while lot of wrong going on there....

To start, please go back and edit your post. You are talking about outlets and switches. I assume you only changed a dimmer?

Is there a 2nd switch that controls the circuit? If so, you had a 3 way. 3 way uses hot, ground and a traveler. Neutrals do not get connected to switches*.



*unless it is a newer timer, lighted or otherwuse powered switch.

The dimmer did have a light on it. So I guess that is why it had the neutral/additional black wire?

Sorry this stuff isn't easy for me. I edited my post.

Ok yes i have another switch

Here it is

 

[Slowgsr]

I always say, want to confuse a diyer / handman, let them hookup/wire 3 way switching. I remember as an apprentice once I understood this, felt amazing. Lol.

 

[The Cobbler]

I think the red & black would be the travelers, (on the brass screws) and the white (hot) on the dark screw
there is no neutral on the switch

 

[inline five]

I think the red & black would be the travelers, (on the brass screws) and the white (hot) on the dark screw
there is no neutral on the switch

You got it thank you! That fixed it!

 

[The Cobbler]

great

 

[Inabox85]

I just learned about 3 way myself. My basement pot lights are 3 way. The switch on 1 end of the room was a 3 way switch, the on the other end of the room was a single pull dimmer that was rigged up. They put a traveler with the load.

When I would turn on the lights with the switch it would not turn off with the dimmer switch and vice versa. So what ever switch was used to turn on the light must be used to turn off the lights.

So I got a leviton zwave + dimmer and the remote switch. Now everything works as it should. Took me about an hour.