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-   -   3 way Lamp rotary switch wiring (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=806911)

  • Jan 11, 2015, 05:56 PM
    Woodbob
    3 way Lamp rotary switch wiring
    Rewiring a table lamp with a 3-Way rotary switch in base. Original sw. has 3 wires - Red #2 /Black #L and Brown 1

    New switch as 3 wires Black #L Red #1 and Blue #2

    Lamp bulb socket is Red for Small connection, Blue is Long center tab, White to neutral outside blub connection.

    I wired this: 110 Volt neural to White
    Red Sw to Red Lamp
    Blue sw to Blue lamp
    110 Volt hot to Black Sw.

    Plug is not polarized but I marked the hot side and the lamp goes on then off. turned sw. one position light goes on then off .

    Found that this burned out the filaments in the bulb.

    A regular non 3-way bulb lights and stays on OK.

    Ohmmeter says no shorts.

    What am I doing wrong?

    Thanks Bob
  • Jan 12, 2015, 09:09 AM
    InfoJunkie4Life
    The wiring seems OK, it could be a defective switch. Have you tested the positions for continuity?

    For a three way switch there should be 4 positions, First Red to Black Continuous, Second Blue to Black Continuous, Third Black and Blue and Red all Continuous, Fourth None continuous.
  • Jan 12, 2015, 09:51 AM
    Woodbob
    Hi,

    Thanks for your reply. As info, yes I did checked the switch on all positions and all OK. I purchased two switches from same source, both checked same and good. I also checked the lamp itself and no shorts or open circuits. I purchased two more 3-way bulbs, rechecked wiring and put in new bulb. All working on all positions. Guessing it was two defective bulbs. This threw me off a little when two bulbs burned out the same way. Thanks again for your answer. I'll be trying her other lamp when I return this one.

    Bob
  • Jan 13, 2015, 11:20 AM
    InfoJunkie4Life
    Thanks for the reply Bob, and good luck.

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