|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 777
Veteran CEG\'er
|
OP
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 777 |
I am bored so I started thinking about something that I can't quite make sense in my head. I have a light in my house which is operated by two seperate switches across the room from eachother. What I dont understand is how both can operate the light independently even though they are still on the same circuit. I understand how one switch can open and close the circuit, but how can the other switch then open the already closed circuit and vice versa? Like when switch one is "off", switch 2 can turn the light on, but switch one can be flipped to turn it off again.  
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,454
Learned patience the hard way
|
|
Learned patience the hard way
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,454 |
It's called a 3 way circuit. Basically the switches share a common wire so they can both operate the light independently of each other. Usually it's found where you have the need to turn a light on when entering one place and off when exiting in another place.
I'll be wiring at least one in when I get my basement remodel done since there will be a guest room down there. Basically, you turn on the light to go down the stairs and then turn it off when you leave that room to go to the bedroom after you've gotten safely down the stairs.
Rick
Owner of 00 #1611 Silver (Totalled) 98.5 T-Red SVT #6180
Buckshot77@msn.com
Misc 3L parts for sale
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,738
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,738 |
Line -----------------o------------------------------------
| |
O (triple and earth cable) O
Switch A \________________________________/ Switch B
O O
| |
Lamp -----------------o------------------------------------
i hope that shows up right...
~Andrew
edit, nope  . im gonna take the easy way out and print screen it:
Last edited by Pimpalicious316; 07/31/06 06:32 PM.
2001 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition
20 valves of fury
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,770
Smurfette
|
|
Smurfette
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,770 |
I like when switches in a hallway or stairway work like that.
We have a funky one in our house that doesn't quite work that way.
You have to switch the light on with one switch, and can only shut it off by using the same switch or the other switch.
However, if you forgot which one you last used to shut the light off, then you forget which one to use later to switch the light back on.
When we first moved in, we thought the lightbulb was burned out.
Then we discovered the other switch also goes to that light.
It's useful most of the time, but pretty frustrating when the light doesn't always switch on and you gotta walk down the hallway in the dark to get to the correct switch. lol!
Kim
1995 Contour GL
Needs less "needs more"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
And if one of the switches is not fully on or fully off (i.e., it is in the middle), the other switch will not turn on the light at all.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 777
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
OP
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 777 |
I am starting to see here. I was guessing that it was a parallel type circuit, but I guess what I am missing is the "triple". What exactly is that?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431
Hard-core CEG'er
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431 |
Originally posted by frenchblueC2:
I like when switches in a hallway or stairway work like that.
We have a funky one in our house that doesn't quite work that way.
You have to switch the light on with one switch, and can only shut it off by using the same switch or the other switch.
However, if you forgot which one you last used to shut the light off, then you forget which one to use later to switch the light back on.
When we first moved in, we thought the lightbulb was burned out.
Then we discovered the other switch also goes to that light.
It's useful most of the time, but pretty frustrating when the light doesn't always switch on and you gotta walk down the hallway in the dark to get to the correct switch. lol!
Oy someone didn't wire your house correctly. You'd just need to convert the serial circuit to a parallel one and buy 3-way switches. It's not that hard to fix if you're not afraid of playing with wires or small holes in your wall.
My dad (a very capable do-it-yourselfer) installed more than his fair share of 3-ways in our 1960s home. Off the top of my head I count six (garage, foyer, downstairs hall, upstairs hall, kitchen, basement room). There might be more. Our house is quite small too - there's more than a 50% chance that a switch you find anywhere in the house is part of a 3-way.
When I was much younger I was obsessed with making sure they were all pointed down when off, until I realized that it was impossible the way two of the circuits had been physically installed (and I'm just too darn lazy to take the faceplate off and turn the switch around!)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,770
Smurfette
|
|
Smurfette
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,770 |
Originally posted by Rouar:
When I was much younger I was obsessed with making sure they were all pointed down when off
pet peeve of mine as well.
I always seem to be one step behind Cobra fixing all his upside down switches. You'd think out of all people, he'd be the one with the switch hangup, but I guess that's just how we complete each other, or some lame hokey crap like that.
Kim
1995 Contour GL
Needs less "needs more"
|
|
|
|
|
