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Danny Trbovich Posted on Jun 28, 2015
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Lights not working @ top of stairs

Have swtich @ bottom of stairs @ top of stairs then two light fixtures in hall and another switch @ end of hall no switchs turn on lights?

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Joe Marquardt

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  • Posted on Aug 02, 2015
Joe  Marquardt
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First, if there are two switches controlling the lights they are called "three-way" switches(due to the number of combination switch positions). Second, it would only be a "four-way" switch if there are more than two switches controlling the lights. What you have is a system which contains two "three-way" switches and one "four-way" switch, for a total of three switches. The location of the switches can be in any physical location, but the current path will always be the same; power into one of the 3 way switches(common) switched (either/or) from that 3 way thru the 4 way(also either/or) to the other 3 way(either/or)then from the common to the load(light). In a configuration like the one you described, it most times is the wires connected to the 4 way switch are on the wrong screws. The wires coming from one switch usually connect to 2 screw that are the same color on the 4 way switch. Check the drawing that came with the switch. Also check the wires connected to the 3 way switches. It could be any one of the switches or a bad connection at the first light.

Brad Brown

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  • Master 19,187 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 28, 2015
Brad Brown
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Pull the covers off the switch boxes and remove the switches but don't disconnect them. Look to see how many wires are connected to each switch. A two way switch should have 3 insulated wires connect to each switch AND a bare copper wire for ground. If you don't have that configuration, then it was not built correctly.

Testimonial: "Didn't answer my ?. should I be zeroing in on the switch @ top of stairs. would that be a 4 way switch?"

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How do I fix two three way switches where only one of them controls the light?

--------------- wire #1 ---------------------
power in --- -----power out to
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the upstairs switch is improperly wired. With the breaker off, un wire the upstairs switch. Using an inductive tester with the breaker back on (use caution not to get shocked, determine which wires get power from the downstairs switch in EACH position (there is no 'off' in a three way). when you determine which two wires bring power to the upstairs switch, the remaining wire is the light.
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You got me wondering about a fan I have with an enclosed bowl-like light fixture (I don't know how closely this resembles your model, but bulb access is not immediately obvious on it either). I looked on top of the light section and found a #2 Phillips screw on the top plate of the light fixture near the rim. It seems likely that loosening or removing it will let the bowl come out at the bottom of the fixture so you can get at the bulb. You will probably need a short-handled screwdriver to get in under the motor housing. There are also three #2 Phillips screws going into the side of the cylindrical section below the fan blades at the bottom; this section has the fan and light chain-operated switches attached to it. Those probably attach the entire light fixture to the rest of the fan.
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you type in their e-mail address and see if you get a reply
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I have power running to a 2 switch gangbox. Each

As long as the power is running from the breaker panel to the switches rather than the fixtures then it should be pretty simple.

1. Run a new 2 conductor wire from the existing box to the new box at the top of the stair.

2. Install a switch at the top of the stairs.

3. Disconnect the hot wire that is running to the two existing switches and connect it to one of the two conductors running to the top of the stairs.

4. Connect the remaining conductor on the wire going to the top of the stairs to the two existing switches.

Note that if you want to be able to use the Dimmer function from the top of the stairs this will be much more complicated. You will need to put two new switches at the top of the stairs, run more wire, the new switches will need to be 3 way dimmers and the existing switches will almost certainly need to be replaced as well. The wiring will also be much more complicated.
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2 way light switches in the hall

there are too many ways to wire a 2 way switch circuit (3 way switch) to mess with, the two most common ways, will trip out the circuit if wired to each other, (one kind at each end, hope that makes sense), the most common mistake, will put 110v to the metal plate of the switch and switch box, not good
a sparky will take 5 minutes to determine which wiring pattern is used, and install the switch


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