Hi! Need help to a simple wiring problem. Just installed a new ceiling light with 2 wall switches. Both fixture bulbs have a black and white wire. The ceiling outlet has 2 red , white and black wires, and a ground. The previous fixture did not use the red wires. I connect the fixture black to the ceiling black wire, and the fixture white to the ceiling white wire. One wall switch does not work at all, and the other wall switch only lights one bulb. Both bulbs are new. Thoughts please! Thanx- juron [email protected]

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Originally Posted by juron

2 red , white and black wires, and a ground.

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Does that mean 2 red, 2 black and 2 white?

Yes, 2 red that I believe were not used previously, 2 black, 2 white and a ground. Thanks for the reply.

One of the white wires will be the neutral. Because the light works, you must have already connected it to the white of the light.

The black and red wires in the cable with the neutral will be the traveler wires from the first switch.
In the other cable, two of the wires will be the traveler wires to the second switch. The third wire in that cable will the switch leg returning power from the second switch. The problem is that right now we don't know which is which.

Pull the second switch (the one that doesn't work). See which wire is connected to the common screw. Connect that wire to the black (hot ) of the light.

Connect the other two wires in that cable to the red and black wires of the cable from the first switch. It does not matter which connects to the red and which connects to the black.

Well, thank you very much! It will be a week or so before I try it as it is at my daughters home.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

One of the white wires will be the neutral. Because the light works, you must have already connected it to the white of the light.

The black and red wires in the cable with the neutral will be the traveler wires from the first switch.
In the other cable, two of the wires will be the traveler wires to the second switch. The third wire in that cable will the switch leg returning power from the second switch. The problem is that right now we don't know which is which.

Pull the second switch (the one that doesn't work). See which wire is connected to the common screw. Connect that wire to the black (hot ) of the light.

Connect the other two wires in that cable to the red and black wires of the cable from the first switch. It does not matter which connects to the red and which connects to the black.

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A bit more clarification needed please. Does your reply cover 1 or 2 bulbs in my fixture?My fixture has 2 light bulbs, each with a white and black wire. Since 1 fixture bulb lights, this bulb must be connected to the white neutral. Can I connect both white wires from the fixture to the white neutral? Where do I connect both black fixture wires? Thanks again-

Both black fixture wires are connected to the hot wire from the common screw of the second switch. Both white fixture wires are connected to the neutral.

Thank you:-)) This should solve the problem.

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Originally Posted by juron

Thank you:-)) This should solve the problem.

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Walla! :-)) Thanks for the help.