Why are my 3-way switches not working like they used to?
Asked by SillySocks92
I've got two switches at the top and bottom of my staircase that control a light at the top. Recently, though, the bottom switch only works when the top one is on. A few months ago it was working fine, and I even swapped the switches out for new ones, but that didn't fix the issue. I'm not super great with electrical stuff, so I'm hesitant to call an electrician, but I'm starting to think I might need one. Any advice on what could be wrong?
Answers
It sounds like you're dealing with 3-way switches, not 2-way ones. Did you replace the old switches with proper 3-way switches? These are different from standard light switches, and there are various ways they can be wired. If you're not familiar with electrical wiring, it may be best to get an electrician to help figure it out, as diagnosing 3-way circuits can get pretty complicated. You might want to check out some diagrams online for common setups if you want to learn more. Here's a site that might help: [Build My Own Cabin - 3-way Switches](https://www.buildmyowncabin.com/electrical/wire-3-way-switches.html).
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LightBulbBrain: I frogot I meant 3-way not two, I was just confused with the terminology.