Electrical Light Switch Question
I am replacing all the old light switches with new white ones because the old ones look so bad. There is one switch which is a double switch (2 in a standard size outlet box covered by an outlet cover). This particular set of switches is 1 standard single pole switch and one 3 way switch.
On the old switch there were 2 connections on the side marked "Line." On the new replacement switch there is only one connection on the side marked "Line." However, on the opposite side there are 2 connections vs. the single on the old one. I tried just reversing the wires and hooking the 2 that used to be connected to "line" to the 2 screws on the opposite side of the new one. In this configuration the 2nd wall switch has no effect on the light bulb. The switch I am working on works fine. No matter what I try the 2nd light switch on the other wall will not work with this new switch.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Do I need to keep looking and find a switch that has the 2 connections on the "Line" side?
Thanks.
It seems you have the switch wired wrong. Old 3 way switches look different than the new ones. They both operate the same though.
One of the three way switches will have a wire that goes directly to the light. Find it. That wire should be on the common terminal of the switch. The other switch will receive primary power for the light circuit. The hot should be wired to the common terminal of that switch. The neutral (white) should go from the light and wired all the way back to the system neutral. The neutral is never switched. The black and red wires are used to switch power alternately to the light.
Check or just replace the other 3 way switch. It may be bad. Make sure the red and black wires are on the same terminals of each switch...upper or lower.
ok, i finally figured out my problem. two words... "breakoff tab."
thanks.