Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Light switch is backward
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tonykwong
08-02-08, 06:41 PM
I think I'm having an OCD issue with the light switch :-). I have a ceiling light that is controled by two switches; in the living room (switch A) and in the entrance, which I don't use (switch B). Normally, I turned (switch A) on the lights by flipping up and to turn off flipping down. Somehow it got switched around. Now flipping up is off and flipping down is on. Now the switch B is up (on) and down (off). How do I switch or "reset" them back? I had played with it for days now. I can't get it back the way it was. Any help would be great. It is driving me crazy.
rich3236
08-02-08, 07:00 PM
flip switch A down ( light on) then go to B and flip that one (that will shut light off) . Next time you flip A up, light will turn on
tonykwong
08-02-08, 10:21 PM
rich3236 -Thank you for you reply. When I flip switch A down (down position), it comes ON. Then I flip switch B - it stays ON instead of going OFF. It "blinks" or "flickers" once like it wants to go off but stays ON. Is one of my switch bad? How would I know which one?
Wirepuller38
08-03-08, 03:46 PM
Up or down does not matter on three-way switches. Look at the switch. You will not see "On" or "Off" imprinted on a three-way switch.
tonykwong
08-04-08, 07:51 PM
You are right, it is a three way switch wirepuller38. But still don't know how to switch it around the other way.
John Nelson
08-05-08, 01:01 PM
Rich's advice should have worked. If it didn't, then your current switches are incorrectly wired.
Nevertheless, you can get what you want simply by turning switch B upside down.
Nevertheless, you can get what you want simply by turning switch B upside down.
Gunguy45
08-05-08, 01:56 PM
Sorry guys, I know everyone else is busier than I am (semi-retired) but isn't this post pertinent?
rich3236 -Thank you for you reply. When I flip switch A down (down position), it comes ON. Then I flip switch B - it stays ON instead of going OFF. It "blinks" or "flickers" once like it wants to go off but stays ON. Is one of my switch bad? How would I know which one?
(bold is mine)
And I infer that it used to work ok before?
Bad connection, bad switch?
rich3236 -Thank you for you reply. When I flip switch A down (down position), it comes ON. Then I flip switch B - it stays ON instead of going OFF. It "blinks" or "flickers" once like it wants to go off but stays ON. Is one of my switch bad? How would I know which one?
(bold is mine)
And I infer that it used to work ok before?
Bad connection, bad switch?
John Nelson
08-05-08, 03:36 PM
Okay, see if this summarizes it correctly:
A down & B down: light ON
A down & B up: light ON
A up & B down: light ON
A up & B up: light OFF
Is that correct? Please go test to verify. If it's not correct, then please tell us the state of the light in each of the four conditions as I just did above.
Did it used to work correctly?
Did anybody do anything anywhere that might have affected the operation?
A down & B down: light ON
A down & B up: light ON
A up & B down: light ON
A up & B up: light OFF
Is that correct? Please go test to verify. If it's not correct, then please tell us the state of the light in each of the four conditions as I just did above.
Did it used to work correctly?
Did anybody do anything anywhere that might have affected the operation?