Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - 3-Way switch troubleshooting

I installed new can lights inmy kitchen on 3-way switches. THe power comes into the first switch and then to the first can light. From there it is distributed to the rest of the can lights and the other 3-way switch.

The second switch works fine as long as the first switch (closest to the power source) is in the on position. If the first switch is off then nothing works. Obviuously I have the power source attached to the wrong terminal on the first switch. My question is; does it matter which of the other two terminal I attach it to?

David J

David: probably a classic situation. Your incoming hot wire should be hooked to the black or andonized screw on the first switch. Your "load" black wire should be hooked to the black or andonized screw on the second switch. The two runners don't care which way you hook them up. Check that out and let us know what you find. Generally, not always, you can only pick up a 3 way switch with your fingers on two screws, then those are your runners, and the third screw is either line or load. Hope this helps.

Could you please tell the number of and colors at the switches and the lights?

You may not have enough conductors the way it sounds like you ran the wiring.

I switched the incoming hot wire to the correct terminal and it works fine.

Thanks,
David J