We are finishing our basement and want to put a switch for shop lights at the bottom of our stairs and one on the outside of two already finished rooms.We are using 12/3 wire and have come to a standstill.All is wired but no power to the receptacles for the shop lights.HELP!! what have we done wrong and is there a fix.?Thank you.Rozey.

bones252100

Make one switch work first. Bring wire to the switch at the bottom of the stairs as an input to the switch. Wire the output of that switch to the shop light. Once you have the light working, the other switches can be wired as parallel circuits to that switch. A junction box is recommended to bring all 3 switch lines together then run the output of the junction box to the light. Keep the color codes consistent:
black = hot
white = common, neutral
green or bare = ground

If you want all 3 switches to interact with each other, that begins a whole new engineering scheme.

Rozey

thanks for the info.and we will be using the switches to turn lights on/off at one end of the basement and the same at the other end.Is there any thing else that I may have to do?As you can tell I'm 'electric-illiterate' thanks again ;Rozey

sarnian

I assume that the switch near the outside of two already finished rooms is one single switch. If otherwise your installation becomes much more difficult, something for an expert.

For switching from two different points you have to use 'hotel' switches, which are switches that can make a connection in both positions.

You have to rewire in so far that you require only two switching wires between both switches.
Wiring : Take an unswitched hot wire (black) to one side of the lightfitting. The other side of the light fitting goes to the common of the first 'hotel' switch. The common is the connection that makes either contact with in/output 1 or 2.
Wire one wire between in/output 1 of both switches, and one wire between in/output 2 of both switches.
The common of the second 'hotel' switch goes to neutral (white).

How does this work?
If switch 1 is switched to wire one, and switch 2 is switched to wire 2, than the lightfitting has no connection to neutral, so the lights are off.
If any of the switches is flipped, there is a connection, and the lights are on.
No matter the position of any switch, the other switch can switch on or off the lights.

Note : do not use standard switches : purchase two 'hotel' switches. Only these will function properly.
Let me please know how this worked out!

sarnian

As I posted elsewhere : I assume that the switch near the outside of two already finished rooms is one single switch. If otherwise your installation becomes much more difficult, something for an expert.

For switching from two different points you have to use 'hotel' switches, which are switches that can make a connection in both positions.

You have to rewire in so far that you require only two switching wires between both switches.
Wiring : Take an unswitched hot wire (black) to one side of the lightfitting. The other side of the light fitting goes to the common of the first 'hotel' switch. The common is the connection that makes either contact with in/output 1 or 2.
Wire one wire between in/output 1 of both switches, and one wire between in/output 2 of both switches.
The common of the second 'hotel' switch goes to neutral (white).

How does this work?
If switch 1 is switched to wire one, and switch 2 is switched to wire 2, than the lightfitting has no connection to neutral, so the lights are off.
If any of the switches is flipped, there is a connection, and the lights are on.
No matter the position of any switch, the other switch can switch on or off the lights.

Note : do not use standard switches : purchase two 'hotel' switches. Only these will function properly.
Let me please know how this worked out!

And no : if you wire as I suggested, there is nothing else you have to do.
You could help the environment by installing fluorescent saving or LED lamps, though !

Rozey

power in; 3 way switch,receptacle,receptacle,receptacle,3 way switch.I apologize for the continuing saga on this subject but my husband has just informed me that I am not asking in enough detail.he was unaware that I am going to an outside source.thanks again....Rozey

sarnian

Rozey

please see follow-up posts on your other topics on the same for detailed info.
The one that refers to two circuits, one of which has a hotel-switch arrangement.
If you still have querries, just let me know what they are.

Rozey

we are putting in a drop ceiling using shop lights and frosted panels as covers;etc.the issue is we have a plan to put a switch at the entrance of the room to control one half of the large 'family room' and a switch for the other half{double switch}there are 5 lights in total that plug into receptacles;via the shop lights;then at the other end of the room as to go into the other rooms we want a way to shut off the lights without crossing back to the other end of the room to do so.I hope this is more detailed and again this is me trying to help my husband and not succeeding.thanks again.Rozey

Perito

I've never heard the term "hotel switches". We always called them "three-way switches", even though there are only two switches on the circuit.

Three-way switches have a 'unique' terminal and two "traveling" terminals. A pair of wires runs between the "traveling" terminals. The unique terminal on one switch connects to the "line" (usually black wire) and the unique terminal of the other switch connects to the light. The travelers switch the power between the switches.

Rozey

we are putting in a drop ceiling using shop lights and frosted panels as covers;etc.the issue is we have a plan to put a switch at the entrance of the room to control one half of the large 'family room' and a switch for the other half{double switch}there are 5 lights in total that plug into receptacles;via the shop lights;then at the other end of the room as to go into the other rooms we want a way to shut off the lights without crossing back to the other end of the room to do so.I hope this is more detailed and again this is me trying to help my husband and not succeeding.thanks again.Rozey..PS wasn't sure if this came in as a question or an answer {unfamiliar with how to use this site so I thought I'd try to post it as a new question sorry for any inconvenience .}