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Author Topic: Problem with 3 way switches  (Read 3373 times)

mderemick

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Problem with 3 way switches
« on: December 18, 2007, 12:38:37 PM »

I am new to the X10 thing, but technically adept. 

Anyway, I wired in a set of three way lights to control my 2nd floor hallway in an 1800 s/f house.  I am using the AHP Pro CM15A interface.  The light switches are WS4777.

With the remote, I can turn the light on, off and dim.  With the master switch (the one I set the HC and UC on), I can also send the on & off commands and they work.

My problem is that my slave switch doesn't turn the lights on anymore.  It worked for about a week when I installed it, then stopped.  Playing with the remote and the slave switch, I can turn the lights on with the remote and off with the switch.  Sometimes, the switch works for on as well, but only once or twice before going back to not working.

Now, here's what I think is wrong:  my house's wiring was pretty bad.  No tape on ANYTHING, sometimes no caps, loose wires, etc.  The wiring is so old I couldn't identify the 'common' wire for the 3 way switch (at least for the slave), and it's entirely possible that I fudged it up. 

If that is the case, would I encounter problems like what I am describing (the switch worked for a bit, then either shorted out, or just shouldnt have worked in the first place and now is being picky)?  If so, I'll go and try to rewire it tonight but I'd like to be sure that I'm to blame first. 

I've done a search on here as well, but couldn't come up with anything but 100's of threads with mentions that someone used a 3 way switch installation - and didnt find any problems with any of the posts. 

Thanks in advance... 

Edited because I'm still sleeping apparently.... 
« Last Edit: December 18, 2007, 12:45:50 PM by mderemick »
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Re: Problem with 3 way switches
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2007, 04:45:24 PM »


With the remote, I can turn the light on, off and dim.  With the master switch (the one I set the HC and UC on), I can also send the on & off commands and they work.

My problem is that my slave switch doesn't turn the lights on anymore.  It worked for about a week when I installed it, then stopped.  Playing with the remote and the slave switch, I can turn the lights on with the remote and off with the switch.  Sometimes, the switch works for on as well, but only once or twice before going back to not working.

Now, here's what I think is wrong:  my house's wiring was pretty bad.  No tape on ANYTHING, sometimes no caps, loose wires, etc.  The wiring is so old I couldn't identify the "common" wire for the 3 way switch (at least for the slave), and it's entirely possible that I fudged it up. 


I think you should open up your installation and tighten up all the connections related to the companion (slave) switch both at its location and at the WS4777's location.  If it worked at first and is now intermittent that is the most obvious answer to your problem.  When I converted our attic fan to X10 control last summer a loose connection gave me a lot of grief until I found it.

Let us know how you make out.

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gbholzer

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Re: Problem with 3 way switches
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2007, 09:48:20 AM »

I am having the same kinda problem with my 3way switch.  My master works fine but the slave only turns the light off not on.  I tried different wiring configurations but it is always the same.
Oh yeah...it never worked.
Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Gary
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Re: Problem with 3 way switches
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2007, 03:46:13 PM »


I am having the same kinda problem with my 3way switch.  My master works fine but the slave only turns the light off not on.  I tried different wiring configurations but it is always the same.
Oh yeah...it never worked.


It sounds like you have the black wires on the companion switch inserted into the line to the light that is turned ON and OFF by the master switch.  They have to be connected to a line that has power all the time.  You didn't say what kind switches you're using.  If this doesn't make sense give us the  model numbers and we'll take it from there
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