Really good explanation of replacing a three way switch... And he doesn't talk for 15 minutes about his life before getting to the point., He gets to it right away....
Keenlistener Thanks for watching & we are happy the video helped. 15 minutes of talking about non related info is not cool. 🤣 We really enjoy making these helpful videos for our fellow DIY’ers. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Let us know if you have any questions. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Just repaired my 3 way switch in the kitchen that hasn't worked in Y!E!A!R!S!!!! Thany you for making this video. I'm a 59 year old disabled woman and I was able to do it myself. Now, how do I determine why my overhead lights in the laundry room won't work? They used to. Now they don't.
Thanks for watching & sharing this. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together! We appreciate you taking the time to share your update. Hope all is well. 😎👍🔧🔩
thank you. short and to the point unlike some other ones. and long before the end I found the answer on what my problem was after messing with existing 3 way poles in my house. I really didn't want to have to call someone and this made it so I just needed a few mins on both sides to complete everything
Thought I was wiring the new switch the same as the old one I was replacing, but it didn't work. After watching your video, I saw what I was doing wrong and was able to fix it. Thanks for the video!!
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching, we are hanging out today at the DIY Raptor headquarters watching college football answering all questions for our fellow DIY’ers. Let us know if you have any questions. 😎👍🔧🔩
Pamela Newton Thanks for watching Pamela & you are very welcome. We are happy to hear the video helped! Let us know if you have any questions. We really enjoy making these helpful videos for our fellow DIY’ers. 😀 Keep us posted on your project! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
A guy where I live in NorCal wants to charge a flat rate of $150 per outlet 🙄 I installed one today after watching this. I used a regular toggle switch and I was worried at first that the travler wires were in diff spots given it was a diff switch but after testing the switch from the other location then off/on from my install point it worked as it was supposed to. If this would still work with travler wires in the opposite spots someone should lemme know now lol
Good morning, you are very welcome. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together! Straight to the point & no nonsense is a great thing. Hopefully many stress free days ahead for you. 😎👍🔧🔩
bbfreetube Very cool & thanks for watching & we are happy the video helped. We really enjoy making these helpful videos for our fellow DIY’ers. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Let us know if you have any questions. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Guangdong Jinli Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd. So happy to help. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Please subscribe to the channel and ring your RU-vid bell 🔔 this will be very helpful to us thanks again. 😎👍🔧🔩
Good morning, just poured a cup of coffee and am sitting down to answer any and all questions for the DIY community. That’s our goal, getting you the info you need without wasting your valuable time. Thanks for watching. 😁👍
Really love your videos! You explain things so clearly that it's exceptionally easy to follow! Thank you very much indeed for your help! Have you thought about opening a Facebook page, where you post your links and especially links to new videos? That way it increases the chances that people find you! Thanks again for sharing all these, appreciate it! Thumbs up clicked!
Chen Yongshun Thanks for watching & we really appreciate that. We love reading comments like yours. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together! We already have the Facebook page & will be adding to it soon. Let us know if you have any questions, we are here to help. Please subscribe to the channel and ring your RU-vid bell 🔔 You will get a friendly notification each time we upload a video. Keep in touch! 😎👍🔧🔩
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Thanks. Always be sure to test the other switches/wires in the box. There's often more than one circuit in a single box and if you touch a live source in the box you'll know it.
I'm trying to replace one of these 3 way switches with a new overhead light in place of it instead (in an exposed basement ceiling) - is this something I can do with the existing 3 way wiring coming out of the switch box? Or do I need to have a new wire installed (with just black/white/ground)..? Thanks in advance
Thanks for watching & we appreciate you reaching out to us. Welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Enjoy your day. 😎👍🔧🔩
Great video thank you! I have two blacks and one red but no neutral. My new smart switch needs Line In and Line Out and Neutral. Per your instruction I now know which wire is for Line In. Also manufacturer said I don’t need red wire because it will be controlled thru the app. I assume the second black wire will go to Line Out? Then where can I find the neutral white wire? Thanks!
Good morning Joe, any update? Depending on the design of your smart switch, it may not require a neutral. We strongly recommend verifying that your switch is indeed a (smart switch) & the manufacturer has clearly stated in the instructions that it does not require a neutral. 😎👍🔧🔩
the traveler black on the same side as the common what happens if you forget the common and switch the black wires. Would that blow a breaker? Thanks great video..
Brian Miller Thanks for watching. You will want to make sure the power lead is properly connected & secured. This will alleviate possible electrical shortages. Let us know if you have any questions. Many more helpful videos to come. 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. Best practice is to ensure the wires reattach to the exact position screw sequence as they were prior to removing original wires from switch. Keep us posted on your project. 😎👍🔧🔩
This is what I was wondering too was curious if turning it on n off from the second switch and opposite from switch I installed would still happen if travler wires were swapped
It is a good idea to just mark the wires with a small piece of tape and a pen before you remove them from the switch. No confusion that way in case the wires get moved.
My house was built in 57. I'm replacing the switch for a light that can be controlled at 2 other switches. I took off the switch and I have 2 white and 2 black. I figured out which black is the common, and screwed that into the black screw. But I've tried the other 3 on every screw and multiple arrangements but can't get it to work. Thoughts?? Thanks
Seems to me that you may have a four way switch, check out the old switch and see if it has four terminals, if so you need to purchase a 4/w switch , Michael what are your thoughts on this one.
I’ve seen some older 3 way switches with the traveler screws not being brass. So traveler screws are always the same material? And the common is a different material?
Thanks for watching, that will really depend on the age of the outlet. Modern engineered outlets are set up as shown in this video. We recently had a viewer that mentioned an electrician stopped over and serviced their household electrical panel. While there, he realized that a specific outlet was causing a breaker to trip. After pulling outlet out of wall to inspect, they noticed one of the screws was loose and damaged. The technician went to his truck and grabbed a screw…(our viewer mentioned was a “random screw”)…and screwed it into outlet to secure wire. Our viewer classified this screw again as a “random screw” because he noticed it had purple paint on it…😁 Long story short…the outlet was fixed and the breaker never tripped moving forward…however…whoever services that outlet years from now will look at it and say…huh…🤔…where does the screw with purple paint on it go when I install my brand new outlet…😬
we have a wonderful 1978 ranch home with 3 switch setup in the hall...two are on one wall and the 3rd is around the corner near the master br door... do all three need 3 way switches? is there someything we need to do differently? Thank you for your reply
Need help on switching from a regular switch to a single pole switch left switch controls light from ceiling fan. Right switch controls fan. I got two black wires going into one screw and red wire going into one screw. Please advise
Thanks for watching & we appreciate you reaching out to us. What’s your update, have you completed project. Please keep us posted on where you are in the project so we can best assist you. 😎👍🔧🔩
Jonathan Thibeault Thanks for watching & sharing your question. Is your Red & Black traveler wires encased deeper down the line? This will allow you to verify you are using the correct wire. Keep us posted. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Michael Fields Thanks for watching, glad it helped. You are very welcome. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
You are very welcome Frank, welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. We appreciate you watching & sharing this. Hope all is well with you and your family, many more helpful videos to come! 😎👍🔧🔩
I just pulled out the old switch. There are 2 light blue wires - one attached to the black screw and the other goes into the back of the switch. There is literally a hole in the back of the switch! I don't know where that 2nd light blue wire should go on the new switch. And on the ground screw, there are no wires attached. The other two wires are yellow and are attached to the silver/brass screws. Not sure what to do!
Thanks for watching & we appreciate you reaching out to us. This will depend on your new switch. The instructions that came with your new switch should have an electrical color code wiring diagram. This will be important to follow as it will be different from single pole light switches, 3-way switches, and dimmable light switches.
I have three black and no red. This is a very old house but all I could afford that needs a lot of work I'm having to do myself. It was missing windows and copper water lines had been torn out of walls. some of the switches were missing but this is the only on that is a three way. Is there any way to tell which is which?
Thanks for watching & congrats on your new home. What’s your status on the project? If your 3-way switch doesn’t have a red traveler wire, you will need to figure out which of the 2 black wires are acting as a traveler. One black wire is the main power lead & comes all the way from your homes main circuit breaker panel to feed the switch power. The 2nd black wire in your case may be the wire acting as traveler. Please keep us posted. 😎👍🔧🔩
Had a 3 gang switch in my room. One of the switch keeps returning on, so the light keeps on. I noticed it's because of the spring of that switch.. is it time for me to replace one of the switch? How? Maybe you can help. Thanks in advance. 🇵🇭
Raul Gepiga Thanks for watching, glad to help. Since you have a 3-way switch set-up, we recommend installing a brand new 3-way switch. Following the simple steps shown in this video will help you get the DIY project completed. Keep us posted. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again. 😎👍🔧🔩
Good morning ☕️ having the wires properly positioned as to alleviate any pressure on them will help the overall operation of the wires and long term stability of the switch and electrical connections.
My old 3 way switch doesn’t have a ground because it has holes to insert the wires. The new 3way switch has the screws to attach the wires. What do I do?
I’ve noticed that on most 3 way switches that the wires have a red wire on them but how about the traveler wires, do you have to buy wire that has a red wire with it?
Thanks for watching & the red traveler wire will be connected on back side of switch. Replacing a 3-way is pretty friendly as long as the switch is properly wired to begin with. Keep us posted on your project. 😎👍🔧🔩
I’ve watched numerous videos. They all show white neutral not being used, but my 3 way switch does not have the red wire as seen in all these tutorials. I’m dealing with 2 black, 1 white, and a ground. The white was plugged into the switch.
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. Since you do not have a red wire, you will need to pinpoint which black wire is your traveler. One black wire is your main power lead & comes into the switch all the way from your main household circuit breaker panel. This Black wire feeds your switch to allow the switch to then feed electrical power out through the traveler wire.
The easiest way not to make a mistake is to move the power wire on the black screw to your new switch on the black screw. Then take off the traveler wires and move them to the new switch.
Hasan Glad to help & we appreciate you reaching out to us. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thanks for watching. Great question, and it’s important to have the screws properly secured. When electricity is traveling through the wires, there is a tiny level of vibration and overtime, it can loosen the screws if they are already loose. This can lead to an electrical short and cause a possible spark. This can unfortunately lead to the switch overheating and cause possible fire.
Thanks for watching, any update? You can carefully turn off one breaker at a time as you check to see if the breaker turned off has fully cut all electrical power to that specific switch and room it’s in. 😁👍🧰
When would you have to add the neutral to the switch? Reason I’m asking is because a dimmer was added and is acting as a master switch for the switch upstairs that can shut power and disable from light being on. I know that’s weird in text but I need some help. Is it because I possibly switch traveler wire or ???
klee77721 Thanks for watching & we hope you enjoyed the video. 3-way switches are unique & in most cases, will have the white wires capped. Dimmer switches can be different & the instructions inside box are best to follow when installing. Keep us posted on your project. Let us know if you have any questions. Many more helpful videos to come! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
trapl0rdron Thanks for watching & we hope you enjoyed the video. We are happy to hear the video helped. Let us know if you have any questions. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thank you so much for this great video. I have a question, please: there are two, completely separate, light switches that operate the lights above (one near the front door and the one I am changing your the garage door). The way it has always worked is either switch can turn the whole system on or off. Right now whatever switch was used to shut the lights off renders the other switch useless. Do I need swap my travel wire locations? Does anyone out there know what I’ve done wrong and how to fix it? Thank you so much in advance!
Thanks for watching, any update? It’s important to wire new switches the same way it was on old switch to ensure travel wires don’t lock out each other.
@@DIYwithMichaelBorders Thank you for the reply, Michael. I took pictures and really thought I did copy the travel wire locations. But, since it is not functioning as it should, should I swap travel wire locations and see if that fixes it?
@@gtrpaulj Thanks for the follow up. Without seeing it, can’t give you a confident and exact answer since wiring in homes are different depending on the time frame they were built however that would be a possible next step.
That makes complete sense to me and it’s not surprising. I’m hoping to hear back from my friend who is an electrician! Thanks again for your helpful videos and replies. Best to you!
@@gtrpaulj Good morning ☕️, we are getting back to you as we drink our morning coffee. We are looking forward to hearing back from you on what you and your friend find.
@@DIYwithMichaelBorders toggle switch has 2 screws on the left side, a green screw on top of the back side and a large screw on right side bottom. The gray wire is affixed to a place in the top of the back side, a black wire inserted in left side of back, and a red wire inserted in back in a place next to the black wire. Wish I could send a pic but that's the best I can do description-wise. Thanks!
I got myself an Eaton 3-way switch set today to replace a 20+ year old switch set in my home. I installed only one one of the new switches at the bottom of my staircase, but it didn’t work once I turned power back on to try it out 😔 I removed the three wires going to the old switch and then I placed them on the new switch in the exact same locations from which they were removed on the old switch. I then removed that new switch and taped the wires to be safe while I wait for a pro... The light still doesn’t work. 🤔
Why are there two traveler wires if it only runs between two switches. How do you do this if it currently isn't wired correctly. How do you determine which wire is which
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. This is for proper code purposes. Just how it has to be...🤔 Keep us posted on your project, enjoy your night. 😎👍🔧🔩
I have followed this but the other side will only turn the lights on/off when the side I changed is in the on position. What do you think? I have a feeling it was this way all along.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience, any update? It’s very likely that one of two things is occurring. 1. Loose or damaged wiring or connections. 2. The other switch itself has gone bad. Keep us posted. 👍🧰
@@DIYwithMichaelBorders you got it. The other switch was bad. Swapped out it with the same wiring and back in business. Thanks. Now if I can ever learn how to remove wires that are in the direct holes without having to cut them?
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. Short answer, yes. After shutting off power at the panel, we always & strongly recommend verifying power is disconnected by using the electrical tester shown in this video. That will give you the peace of mind that the power is removed from receptacle. Thanks again for watching & reaching out to us, hope all is well with you and your family. 😎👍🔧🔩
In my case there are just 3 wires from the wall. 2 blacks and 1 red. One of the black wires is common. How to install it with your switch? Thanks for quick help.
Your red and black wire that is in the box are in the same sheath, these are your traveler wires, the other wire (black) is your common and goes to the dark colored screw. This is how I wired mine and they worked well, but Michael Borders, is right about checking the wires first to find out if they are hot.
Liam Thanks for watching & we appreciate you reaching out to us. Whoever installed that drywall really must have been ready for the weekend & rushed to get done. 🤣 We hope the video helped. Please subscribe to the channel and ring your RU-vid bell 🔔 this will be very helpful to us thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Good morning ☕️ any update? You are working with a switch that has a red travel wire in it correct? Can you turn the light on in that room from two different light switches? The black wire should be ground. Please keep us posted. 👍☕️
Ryan Phillips Thanks for watching Ryan. Where are you in the project? It’s important to wire switch properly for safety purposes. The black wire that is connected to your brass screw is the travel wire. Keep us posted on your project. 😎👍🔧🔩
Thanks for watching. Are you replacing light a switch? We recommend looking at the circuit. If you’re on a 15amp circuit, most go with a 15amp switch. You will read that you can add a 20amp switch to a 15amp circuit however most will not due to the difference in price. Per code, you must always make sure the breaker is still the weak link/point. In other words, if you added a 15amp switch to a 20amp circuit, the switch itself becomes the weak link...which can lead to an electrical fire at the switch itself...which is NOT GOOD. Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any questions. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together! 😎👍🔧🔩
What happens when there’s a black power wire a red wire and then a white wire? The way I recently just wired it the switch by my front door if it’s not in the up position the new switch that I wired and replacing the old switch will not work. Do I then have to swap the red wire with the white wire for both switches to work no matter what?
Thanks for watching & the red wire is always the traveler wire & must be installed properly to allow current to flow to each switch. This will allow you to turn your room light on with one switch and walk across the room and turn that same light off with another switch. Following the exact instructions on your new light switch is best practice as it ensures proper hookup & configuration.
@@DIYwithMichaelBorders OK so I put the black wire to the black screw no problem I then switched the red and white wire and still the same thing happens. The only thing I can think of is possibly the original switch that’s at my front door is not a three-way
Thanks for watching & that’s always tough to tackle. You never really know what was done in the past with the wiring. It might be best to get a professional over to take a look at it. Keep us posted.
I have a white a black and a red. I put the white on the black screw. It works this way but is this wrong? In the old switch the white was wired in the common.
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. We appreciate you reaching out to us. Is your original switch a 3-way? There are two traveler wires in this video...one black & one red. Both traveler wires are to be wired to brass screws. The main black wire connects to black screw. In most cases, the white wires are alleviated & properly & safely wire tied separate from switch...putting them on standby for any future plans of alleviating the 3-way. We are always here to help answer questions. Hope all is well, enjoy your day. 😎👍🔧🔩
DIY With Michael Borders mine is the common in the second three way switch. There are two like this. The side where the main black is hot coming in does have two blacks and a red on the switch but not the opposite end switch which has the white in the common, one red and one black as travelers. I guess they aren’t wired up to code.
Our entire house I realize is on the wrong circuit breakers also. Lots of 14-2 wiring on 20 amp breakers. Sadly I already installed kitchen lighting branching with 12-2 before I realized 14-2 was what was wired up to the first light I branched off of. I think I need an electrician to fix some things in the breaker box.
@@Acrylicimpressions That’s no fun. We actually ran into this a few weeks back. We spent an entire afternoon reorganizing & relabeling our circuit panel. For example...when we turned off the breaker to the washing machine...it still turned on. When we turned off the breaker to the kitchen oven...the downstairs lights turned off & the kitchen stove stayed on...🤣 Yup...whoever labeled our panel back in the day must have had an “off day”. All back to normal now. 😁👍
DIY With Michael Borders my issue is the wrong breakers themselves. Many should only be 15 amp but have 20 amp breakers. The wiring in the house is 14-2 not 12-2 so I’m confused as to why the breakers don’t match.
Ok does it matter what black wire go to black screw, I think i ordered wrong switches because they all have black screw and the old ones doesn’t. So is it ok to not use black screw when installing new switches. I really want to do this myself and not hire.
Good morning ☕️ any update? Electrical switches can be confusing with the colored screws. We would recommend installing a switch that has the same screw layout as your old one. This will ensure that the switch itself remains properly wired and compatible with wiring that feeds inside wall and back to your homes breaker box.
Hi. I change my ordinary 3 way switch to a dimmer switch. I did not touch the other 3 way switch. However after I installed the dimmer 3 way switch, the lights will only turn on when i used the dimmer switch. But if i used the ordinary switch lights wont turn on or off. Hopefully somebody can help me. Thanks in advance.
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. Any update? Is the traveler wire installed on the new switch? The traveler wire is what feeds electrical power to the other switch.
Mike G Thanks for the reply. Was the previous outlet working properly? If not, you may have something wrong with the wiring. Verify all wiring is in good working condition...no signs of stress...crimped, melted, burnt wires... 😎👍🔧🔩
