Electric Circuit Problem

[autoist]

In the new cathedral ceiling entry to my garage, I've made a "boo-boo". My 3-way light circuit operates in only one way. Lemme explain.

I have a switch at the door from the breezeway connecting the garage to the house and another where you leave the entry/pantry & enter the garage; they are the 3-way circuit. When the switch neatest the breezeway is turned on, the lights work. Then, I can walk to the garage and turn the lights off or on.

Problem is, if the switch at the breezeway is in the 'off' position, and I come into the breezeway/pantry from the garage side, the switch there won't turn the lights on. The switch at the breezeway is controlling the circuit even though power comes to the circuit from the switch nearest the garage door.

If I switch the black & white wires at the switch nearest the breezeway, the lights won't work from either switch. A continuity check from the garage door switch to the breezeway door switch shows that the black wire exiting the garage door switch to the lights ends up as a white wire at the breezeway switch.

I thought I have the circuit hooked up just like all my other 3-ways: power - switch - light - light - switch w/'traveler' connecting both switches.

Both light boxes are in the rafters; I can get to the first light from above without removing shingles because there's another set of rafters 3' right above it; however, I can't get to the 2nd light because the rafters it is in are the actual roof rafters. If that confuses, there's a roofline change right at the 1st light:

This photo shows the change in roofline during construction:

Finished area:

Is it possible to correct the circuit without tearing out my new sheetrock or without ripping the shingles and OSB off the roof at the 2nd light? In other words, can I fix the problem at the 1st light?

 

[swgray]

Here's a link to various wiring diagrams for lighting. I believe you're talking about variation #6.

Colors don't mean as much on 3 and 4 way switch circuit compared to using the proper terminals. Its easy to get confused and miswire one.

 

[e21]

Autoist,

You need another traveler. You probably shouls have run 2 14-2 wires instead of one 14-3. I don't think you can remedy the stuation unless you run more wire.

 

[autoist]

Oh, ****! That's gonna be costly!

Well, tomorrow I'll go ahead & open the area above the 1st light & examine its wiring....I can't remember what I did between lights, wiring-wise. I may have used a 4th wire, I hope.

In which case, my problem may still be at the breezeway switch & how I wired it.

 

[2LTim]

Autoist:
I hope you haven't torn out too much sheetrock yet. You can check the wiring to your can lights without opening up the ceiling or roof. Just take out the three little 1/4" hex screws just inside the rim of the cans. Then work the guts of the can down through the metal bracket. If the junction box is mounted to the top of the can, you have it. If the box is mounted to the bracket, they usually have an acess door on the can side of it so you can get to the wiring without any major rock or roof work.
Good luck!
Tim

 

[PAToyota]

Too late now, but always be sure everything with the electrical, plumbing, and such is working properly before buttoning things up with drywall.

 

[kbs2244]

That is one of the advantages of useing pipe.
You can pull another wire through it behind the wall.
But you are right.
The best way is to test it out before you seal it up.

 

[nate379]

Drywall is cheap and easy... not that much work to rip it out, re wire and re-rock.

Too late now, but always be sure everything with the electrical, plumbing, and such is working properly before buttoning things up with drywall.

 

[PAToyota]

Drywall is cheap and easy... not that much work to rip it out, re wire and re-rock.

Still a whole lot easier to make sure everything is right first - saves time and money.

 

[trainer]

Are you allowed to legally enclose a box inside a wall or ceiling there?

That'll fail every time here.