Home Automation - Kool Operator fan

How do I by-pass a three way switch and wire it straight? The problem is I can't identify the hot and ground w/out clipping off the plug. I'll put an in-line switch at the cord.

You're making us guess here, and we aren't going to guess. Cords and plugs have nothing to do with 3 way switches. A 3-way switch system is two switches that control one light or outlet (additional lites or outlets MAY be run off of that.) Please be more specific and we can help you. <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gparham:
How do I by-pass a three way switch and wire it straight? The problem is I can't identify the hot and ground w/out clipping off the plug. I'll put an in-line switch at the cord.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you ar talkin about a tri-light lamp,
just turn the knob on the socket to the brightness you want, then turn the knob
backwards to take the knob off, and hide it someplace.

To put a switch in the cord, the smooth wire
is hot, the ribbed one neutral. You will install the switch in the hot line.

From the topic, he may be talking about a 3-speed fan switch. In that case, Gary's advice seems to work best. Set the switch where you want it and take off the knob.

Ranck,You are correct in your assumption.It is a 3-way fan switch. The fan does not work and that is why I want to by-pass it so as to find out what the problem through the process of elimination.I simply want to route power to the motor.

In that case, it is really hard to tell without seeing the fan/switch. In general, there should be one wire from the power cord going to a "common" on the switch and three other wire coming out of the switch. Jumping from the common to any one of the others should power up the motor on one of its speeds. Now, I can think of at least one other way a 3-speed fan switch could be wired, so the above info is a pure guess, and may not work for your specific fan. I would also guess that if none of the speeds work, your fan motor is shot not the switch.

A blue,red,white,and black are coming off the motor.Two bigger grey wires are coming in from power(now that I've taken a better look).Which of those are the hot?(it was said previously but I can't bring it up on recall)One is stranded and one is smooth.I assume I take the hot(stranded or smooth) and one of the speed wires and combine w/the ground(the other grey)to complete the circuit.

hello gparham,
the nutural is allways the identified wire. from the info contained in your post im asuming that whin u say stranded u r refering to ridges on the wire covering, this would be the nutural.

First, I am guessing, so if you electrocute yourself or set something on fire, please don't blame me. In fact, I recommend you throw everything out and buy a new fan. But, with that said, I would guess that the white wire from the motor is neutral and the red/blue/black are the various speeds. It is possible that the black is neutral depending on age and manufacturer of the motor. In fact, on a really old fan the colors may be anything so be very careful if you continue.