Three-way switches finally explained with one drawing
Difficultymedium
Two switches, one light. Power comes into switch A on its common (dark screw). The two traveler screws (brass) on A connect to the two travelers on B with a 3-wire cable. B's common goes to the light. Flipping either switch changes which traveler is live, so either one toggles the light.
The mistake: putting a traveler on the common screw. Symptom: the light only works when the other switch is in one position. Fix: identify the common on each switch (it is the one with the different color screw, and on the "power in" switch it is the wire that is always hot with the breaker on).
Smart three-ways: most need a neutral in the box and a companion switch at the other end. Read the box.
#three-way#switch#wiring#electrical
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Can confirm, the cheap part is the one that fails. Replaced mine twice before reading this.
Glad it helped.
Small addition: wear eye protection for the part where you pry it. Learned that one the hard way.
Yep, same here. The second time is always faster.
Would this work on the older model? Mine is about ten years older than the one shown.