My switches keep blowing... I do have the 3 strand wire, a 3-way switch at door, a 3 way dimmer at window/sink, & 3 separate pendants. Is the problem the way I have wired in the ceiling? I followed the colors-only white & black in the fixture. I twisted the 2 black 14-g wires together & wrapped the stranded wire & capped & taped---then I did the same with the white stranded wire - I twisted the 14-g white wires & wrapped the white stranded white etc. Looking at elec books I think I have a hot white wire problem going here.

The attached has the 3-way by the door // dimmer switch // pendant light

Note that I have a GFCI at the lead of the circuit. Shouldn't this fire Before the whole circuit pops?

A GFCI fires only if there's a ground fault -- not if there's a short circuit.

Does it blow immediately when you throw the breaker or throw the switch? I suspect you have a dead short through the switch. The attachment shows how the circuit should be wired. I can't tell from your pictures if you've done it this way or not. In your case, you have three lights, not two like I've shown.

In the first pic you are using the red and white as your travelers (gold screws) and in the second pic you are using red and black. In the attic :eek: you are spliced color for color. You are creating a dead short this way.

First things first. PUT THAT SPLICE IN A BOX! Open air splices like that are very illegal and extremely dangerous!
Is that also the wire right from the light to that flying splice?? That is also an extreme no-no. Fixture wire cannot leave the box. You must use cable between boxes.

Second, follow this diagram. Just note that your switches are different, but make sure you know which is the "common" terminal.

http://www.do-it-yourself-help.com/images/3way_switch_mid.jpg

Ditto on getting thoses splices in a junction box and cover.

Can always tell a DIY'er work, the cable sheathing is not removed form the cable inside the box. Not a safety issue, just a workmanship issue.

I see the bare grounds in the second picture down on left, just twisted. This connection needs to be made up with a wire nut, not just twist them together like that.

If wires are stripped and twisted properly, thencapped with a wirenut, tape is not necessary.