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dennypower · Apr 16, 2008, 06:46 PM

I have 14/2 on both ends of 2- 3 way swtiches. Does anyone know of a way to wire these switches without changing it out to 14-3? THANK YOU!

Stratmando · Apr 16, 2008, 06:54 PM

Have the 14-2 be the travellers. Then hook lights to closest 3 way, The Black/(light wire) goes to common on this three way, and hook up the lights neutral to neutral in box.
Now you need to get a constant hot to the other 3 way common screw.

stanfortyman · Apr 16, 2008, 07:02 PM

There is NO Legal or safe way to make a 3-way work with only a "2-wire" between the switches.
You CANNOT have the neutral come from one box and the hot from another.

What does this mean?:

I have 14/2 on both ends of 2- 3 way swtiches.

MOWERMAN2468 · Apr 16, 2008, 07:11 PM

No.

rygags · Jul 11, 2010, 05:50 PM

This does not make any sense! Please explain.

baseball239 · Apr 12, 2011, 10:24 AM

Had a so called electrician come out and do some wiring for me for 2 3 way switches. He did not use 14/3. what he did was this, a total of 5 wires, 2 switch legs ( for two separate lights) and then 3 14/2 lines from one box over to the other box. I have tried to call hm out to redo this correctly with 14/3 but has not returned my calls, any way to make this work so I can finish my kitchen up?

Stratmando · Apr 12, 2011, 10:43 AM

Yes, can you provide some type of diagram showing the boxes involved and the wires between each of those boxes?

baseball239 · Apr 12, 2011, 11:00 AM

I'm sure I can draw up something.
How do I get this to you?

Again thank you for your help

Stratmando · Apr 12, 2011, 11:22 AM

If you can draw it up, and scan it, then when you reply, attach the image by clicking on the mountain/sun Icon, it should show up.
Or take a picture of your drawing, then attach the photo(s)

baseball239 · Apr 12, 2011, 02:30 PM

Here you go! Not the best but hope it makes sense!

Again thank you for your help

baseball239 · Apr 12, 2011, 02:36 PM

I know just enough about eletrical to get me in trouble.
But it seems it should have been 1 14/2 wire going from one box to the next. Then instead of the other 2 14/2 wires they should have been 14/3, seems like I need to try and get another 14/2 pulled box to box or rip all drywall out and redo it the correct way.

Stratmando · Apr 12, 2011, 02:53 PM

Identify the 3 pairs of 14-2(different colored tape, numbers or letters)
Then hook #1 14-2 to the same colored screws on each end of the cable.
Then hook 2 more 3 ways on each end of cable 2, These 2 pairs are your travellers.
The 3rd cable will connect to the power from the receptacle on the bottom box and the black will also need to have 2 short pigtails(black wires), each pigtail will connect to the common on each of the 3 ways. You are done with the bottom box. This was the "Hot End" of the 3 ways.
Now back to the Top Box in the Picture, Connect the whites from the lights to the white on cable #3, And the each black from the 2 sets of lights connects the common of each 3 way(dark screw), this is the "Switched End. The black from cable 3 will get capped off, or that black and white and a ground, can be run to an additional receptacle.

Stratmando · Apr 12, 2011, 02:56 PM

I see you posted and left, while I was writing, hope you didn't rip the walls out. Maybe 14-2 is what was available.
It will work, I will see if I can get a chance to draw this out. Have to go now. Good Luck.

baseball239 · Apr 12, 2011, 03:26 PM

No I haven't ripped the walls out yet! But I will try what you wrote. A drawing would be great if you can.

Again thank you for your help

Don

Stratmando · Apr 12, 2011, 06:51 PM

Trying to get you the drawing, It says I have to accept scripted windows, I do and it still won't do squat?

Stratmando · Apr 13, 2011, 08:48 AM

[IMG]C:\Users\stratmando\Pictures\4-12-2011 9;44;58 PM14-2,3way.JPG[/IMG]

baseball239 · Apr 13, 2011, 10:22 AM

Little confused stratmando. Wire #1 both white and black go to same colored screws? On one switch?

baseball239 · Apr 13, 2011, 10:35 AM

Whatever u posted I can't open

hkstroud · Apr 13, 2011, 11:57 AM

This is what Strat is telling you do do. It will work but I'm not sure that it is legal. Plus that's a lot of wires in one box.

Stratmando · Apr 13, 2011, 12:29 PM

HK, can you tell me how to post a picture, I had it in electrical, it has been moved to forums, I want to post a scanned image. Thanks
Why wouldn't it be Legal?
HK, here is a link to my problem:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum-...es-570037.html Thanks
All the Grounds get tied together, we left this out thinking it is understood, if not they need to be connected.