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    marlon71's Avatar
    marlon71 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Apr 7, 2011, 01:56 PM
    Dual switch one light
    I have had this set up for six years and all of a sudden one of the switches doesn't work. I have switched the switch out and the same problem. I made sure that the switch is a 3-way. If I turn one switch on and try to turn the light off with the other switch the light blinks but stays on. When I do it the other way around the second switch does nothing at all. Is this the wiring, the switches, or is it the light help me please.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Apr 7, 2011, 02:09 PM

    Did you change both switches, how did you determine which switch was bad? This could just be a loose traveler. http://home.howstuffworks.com/household-appliances.htm
    marlon71's Avatar
    marlon71 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Apr 7, 2011, 03:10 PM
    Comment on ballengerb1's post
    No I didn't, but I'm going to change it now and see what happens.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #4

    Apr 7, 2011, 04:33 PM

    Check the screws on the switch and find out if one is labeled. Al wires have to match on the replacement
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #5

    Apr 7, 2011, 05:28 PM

    If wires are totally unidentified, You could remove both switches, check which or the 6 wires is hot, connect that to a common of one 3 way, connect the other 2 to the switch as travellers(same colored screws), go to other switch, see which is hot, identify it, go back to first switch and switch to other position, see what is hot at the second switch, identify that also as your second traveller, remaining wire will be what goes to your light(switch leg).
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