Skip to main content
Home Improvement

Return to Question

Post Timeline

Became Hot Network Question
added 82 characters in body
Source Link
Rudy
Rudy
  • 65
  • 2
  • 7

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). enter image description here Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?

Edit: here’s the back of the original switch. H=hot (black screw), J=jumper to 2nd switch (brass screw), and R=red (brass screw) enter image description here

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). enter image description here Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). enter image description here Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?

Edit: here’s the back of the original switch. H=hot (black screw), J=jumper to 2nd switch (brass screw), and R=red (brass screw) enter image description here

added 82 characters in body
Source Link
Rudy
Rudy
  • 65
  • 2
  • 7

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). Powerenter image description here Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). enter image description here Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?

Source Link
Rudy
Rudy
  • 65
  • 2
  • 7

Replacing 3-way switches that have non-standard wiring

DIYer here. I have basic electrical knowledge, but non-standard stuff confuses me. I am replacing standard light switches with Legrand Adorne sofTap switches. I’ve have used these to replace multiple switches throughout my house with no issues, but am having problems with a 3-way installation to control lights in the garage.

Here’s what I have:

  • 15A circuit from panel, switches are rated 15A
  • Switch box in garage: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R). Power comes into the box on black (FYI, The 3 way switch also uses a jumper to power another switch). I assume the red acts as a traveler that powers the light itself (though I am not certain of this) because it carries power when the switch is on. All neutrals are tied together in the switch box. All grounds are tied together in the box as well. This box is pretty standard, so I don’t think I have any issues here.
  • Switch box at bottom of stairs: standard Romex 14/3 (B/W/R), grounded to the Adorne faceplate as per installation instructions. Here’s where it gets interesting. Power comes in on both the white and red wires (nothing on black). However, this only happens when power is coming into the garage switch. In other words, if I disconnect the black hot wire from the switch in the garage, no power comes into the switch at the bottom of the stairs at all. Also, there is no enter electrical tape to indicate that any wire is a switched hot.

So, I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking at. I’m not great with a multimeter, so I haven’t explored that yet at all. Any suggestions? In the box at the bottom of the stairs do I treat the white wire as a hot, the red as a traveler, and the black as a load?