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    John Hancock's Avatar
    John Hancock Posts: 12, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jan 3, 2013, 01:29 PM
    Two Three Way Switches
    I Have Two Three Way Switches,One Upstairs & One Down.#8 Wire (Red, Blk & white) Runs Between Them,The Upstairs Switch Has The Three Wires Connected To It,The Switch Downstairs Has The Red & White Going To It Along With The Red From The Light,The Blk Wires Are Into A Mar Connector(Blk From Light & # 8 BlkWire).Therefore The Switches Are Different.. Upstairs Has (Red,Blk & White).. Downstairs Has (Two Red & One White}.. The Connections Work ,But If The Switch Downstairs Is Turned Of I Have No Power On The Top Switch.The Switch Downstairs Must Be On In Order For The Upstairs Switch To Operate On & Off.. The Switch Operated Right,Before I Moved It To Put On New Drywall.. Now I'm Not Sure If The Connections Are The Same ( I Only Moved The Downstairs One}.. I Always Thought I Could Turn The Light On & Off Either Up Or Down; But Not Now.. Hoping U Can Help Me.. Thanks.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Jan 3, 2013, 01:53 PM
    #8 Wire (Red, Blk & white) Runs Between Them,
    I doubt that. Wire would not fit the switch and be way over sized. Probably #12 wire.

    There are three terminals on a 3-way switch. Two travelers and a common. The travelers will be a different color than the common, probably brass. Common is probably black.

    The two wires that are on the travelers on the upstairs switch must be on the travelers on the downstairs switch. The wire that is on the common of the upstairs switch should be connected to the hot conductor going to the light in the downstairs box.

    The common of the downstairs switch will be connected to the hot of power coming into the box. From your description I can't tell which one it is.

    Try describing the wires in the downstairs box again.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #3

    Jan 3, 2013, 06:07 PM
    ( I Only Moved The Downstairs One}.. Tell us why you changed anything? What did you change, the switch or some of the wires?

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