My ceiling light will not turn off. It is on a 3 way switch. 5 years ago I wired a motion sensor switch to the first switch box. I came home the other day and the light was on and the sensor was extremely hot and would not shut off via the manual switch so I removed it. Today I am installing a regular 3 way light switch. I installed it using this diagram: http://www.wikihow.com/images/9/91/W...tch-Step-9.jpg... and to my surprise the light still will still not turn off. Any ideas?

3 way switches are wired differently depending on whether the power comes through the switch or originates at the light. The setup you showed is hot through the switch. Is this how your circuit is wired?

Yes, I wired exactly as that photo shows. The power comes to the switch first.

Pull the other switch and see if it is wired the same. Any white wires with black tape?

That switch hasn't been touched since the house was built. I didn't see any tape on it. I've attached a photo of it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/88042847@N08/9387726776/

1st switch photo: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3816/9...6d1b4ea9_o.jpg

What's that yellow wire between the common and the traveler screw?

Don't know. That's the first time that 2nd switch has seen the light of day since the house was built.

Should I remove that yellow wire? I think I will and see if that corrects the issue. Stay tuned...

That fixed it! Thanks!! I don't know, maybe I added that jump wire when I added the motion sensor years ago - but I'd swear I didn't. Well, all is good now and my wife is no longer yelling at me :) Thanks!

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Originally Posted by dadjad

That fixed it! Thanks!!! I dont know, maybe I added that jump wire when I added the motion sensor years ago - but I'd swear I didnt. Well, all is good now and my wife is no longer yelling at me :) Thanks!

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Glad I suggested looking at #2. No idea why that was there but at least it was fixed. That jumper probably made the circuit on all the time, bypassing the switch, something you would want with a detector.