Milwaukee 3 way circuit

[53Sparky]

Back when I was working as a sparky, we occasionally encountered 3 way switches in residential applications that were wired using only 14-2 romex. We called them "Milwaukee's".

Basically, they would feed power to one switch location, run a 2 wire as the travelers to the second 3 way switch and then use whatever neutral they felt like to complete the circuit for the switched load. Sometimes the neutral would be on the same circuit, but not always.

I know that there are many reasons not to use this wiring method for a 3 way switch, including safety and code reasons.

Does anyone know where the term originated? Nobody in our organization knew why they were called that - that's what they were called.

 

[53Sparky]

It commonly showed up in 4 way applications where they would have only 4 conductors plus 2 grounds in the 4way switch location without any neutrals in the box.

 

[sberry]

I don't know, still got to look at the pitchurs to get it right.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Back when I was working as a sparky, we occasionally encountered 3 way switches in residential applications that were wired using only 14-2 romex. We called them "Milwaukee's".

Basically, they would feed power to one switch location, run a 2 wire as the travelers to the second 3 way switch and then use whatever neutral they felt like to complete the circuit for the switched load. Sometimes the neutral would be on the same circuit, but not always.

I know that there are many reasons not to use this wiring method for a 3 way switch, including safety and code reasons.

Does anyone know where the term originated? Nobody in our organization knew why they were called that - that's what they were called.

Sounds like another name for a California 3 way,but not quite as cruse of a way of running it.

 

[rburke65]

Just sounds like a regional term.

 

[Wirepuller]

A lot of mega dollar renovations I used to do in the back bay Boston brownstones used the carter system in knob and tube wiring. Using the hot and neutral as the travelers and the common was the load having its polarity reversed. Wacky stuff.


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[frankush]

Always called them barnyard three ways around my area.