Need electrical help!

[fj1200]

It was working this morning, and now it's not...

Then you didn't rewire properly my guess. But there's a gazillion different ways that a 3-way can go... okay, maybe 9.

http://www.easy-do-it-yourself-home-...g-diagram.html

[jimnyc]

Then you didn't rewire properly my guess. But there's a gazillion different ways that a 3-way can go... okay, maybe 9.

http://www.easy-do-it-yourself-home-...g-diagram.html

Keep in mind, the issue started before I wired anything. And actually, other than those 2 connections up top, I still haven't really wired anything. It's hard to go wrong by connecting black/blue to black, and white to white. Other than reconnecting the neutral and hot/black, no other wiring took place. These 3 way switches were always here and working up until this morning, when my wife hit the one switch to turn it off, and apparently it all self destructed!

[Gunny]

That's why I need an electrician for sure then... I just "assumed" that the black wire out of the ceiling was always hot unless the breaker was off. Plus I replaced both switches. It was working this morning, and now it's not, and hitting that switch was the last time any action occurred. At least an electrician will have proper meters and can at least properly test all connections, and not rely on some 10 dollar beeping thing! Still pisses me off, as this shouldn't have been so damn hard.

Waiting a couple of days is the answer. A good coincidence that I have a pro coming already, I just hope he has a little time to set aside for this.

You replaced both switches? Yeah, get an electrician. You didn't do something right, and like I said, it's something I would have to see. I wouldn't know where to begin telling someone how to wire a three-way on a message board. Installing one from scratch is easier.

[fj1200]

... it all self destructed!

Unpossible. Of course even the "experts" get it wrong sometimes. I have a 3-way in the upstairs hall and the switch on the end has the light on when it's both "on" and "off." The only time the switch worked to turn the light actually off was when it was stuck in the middle. The electrician was upset with whoever ran the wire that particular day. I just know it wasn't me, the stuff I ran works.

[jimnyc]

You replaced both switches? Yeah, get an electrician. You didn't do something right, and like I said, it's something I would have to see. I wouldn't know where to begin telling someone how to wire a three-way on a message board. Installing one from scratch is easier.

But it wasn't working prior to me swapping the switches either. I moved the 3 wires, one at a time, from prong to prong, to make sure they went back identically as it was before. This entire problem existed BEFORE I touched anything, no light and no fan - I got a new one thinking that was the issue - but the problem existed before I even unscrewed a single thing today.

[jimnyc]

Unpossible. Of course even the "experts" get it wrong sometimes. I have a 3-way in the upstairs hall and the switch on the end has the light on when it's both "on" and "off." The only time the switch worked to turn the light actually off was when it was stuck in the middle. The electrician was upset with whoever ran the wire that particular day. I just know it wasn't me, the stuff I ran works.

I get obsessed with stuff like this, worse when I'm working on computers. I don't know when to stop. This time I'm giving in though, this shit gave me a headache.

[Gunny]

I get obsessed with stuff like this, worse when I'm working on computers. I don't know when to stop. This time I'm giving in though, this shit gave me a headache.

It's "when to stop" time.

[fj1200]

I get obsessed with stuff like this, worse when I'm working on computers. I don't know when to stop. This time I'm giving in though, this shit gave me a headache.

Dude, it's just a puzzle.....










THAT CAN KILL!!!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Sir Evil]

That's why I need an electrician for sure then... I just "assumed" that the black wire out of the ceiling was always hot unless the breaker was off. Plus I replaced both switches. It was working this morning, and now it's not, and hitting that switch was the last time any action occurred. At least an electrician will have proper meters and can at least properly test all connections, and not rely on some 10 dollar beeping thing! Still pisses me off, as this shouldn't have been so damn hard.

Waiting a couple of days is the answer. A good coincidence that I have a pro coming already, I just hope he has a little time to set aside for this.

If what you told me is correct that when unhooking the ceiling fan the light popped on when lowering the unit you are going to find that you have an exposed wire within the box or possibly somewhere between the ceiling fax and the switch. And Gunny is dead on when stating color means nothing of any certainty with older romex. Bet you find that there is a short, likely exposed wire where wires enter the ceiling box.

[jimnyc]

It's "when to stop" time.

Yeah, my wife just put a halt to all operations. I know I'm bipolar, I just "feel" like I've got some OCD in me too. I think I had a few more ideas too! But I get all worked up, angry, sweaty and shaky if I push it, and then feel sick. Sometimes just stopping is easier said than done, sometimes not even an option. I don't like "failure", and that's what it feels like.

But then I think of the time I got zapped by the cap inside a monitor, and became a human light bulb, and figured this battle ain't worth fighting.

[jimnyc]

If what you told me is correct that when unhooking the ceiling fan the light popped on when lowering the unit you are going to find that you have an exposed wire within the box or possibly somewhere between the ceiling fax and the switch. And Gunny is dead on when stating color means nothing of any certainty with older romex. Bet you find that there is a short, likely exposed wire where wires enter the ceiling box.

Yeah, not sure if the others read that part, that the light on the other fan magically turned back on as I lowered the motor housing from the ceiling bracket.

But I wave the white flag. Damn wires all look the same right now (that's right, I'm racist against them little fuckers right now). Not to mention, the unit came awfully close to going out the 2nd floor window a few times.

Time to gear up and get ready for some good 'ol fashioned Nascar now! 7:46pm EST - boogit boogity boogity, let's go racing boys! <--- Do I get redneck points?

[Sir Evil]

Yeah, my wife just put a halt to all operations. I know I'm bipolar, I just "feel" like I've got some OCD in me too. I think I had a few more ideas too! But I get all worked up, angry, sweaty and shaky if I push it, and then feel sick. Sometimes just stopping is easier said than done, sometimes not even an option. I don't like "failure", and that's what it feels like.

But then I think of the time I got zapped by the cap inside a monitor, and became a human light bulb, and figured this battle ain't worth fighting.

Best to walk away once you have tried all that you are capable of before you start second guessing things and really screw something up.

[Gunny]

Yeah, not sure if the others read that part, that the light on the other fan magically turned back on as I lowered the motor housing from the ceiling bracket.

But I wave the white flag. Damn wires all look the same right now (that's right, I'm racist against them little fuckers right now). Not to mention, the unit came awfully close to going out the 2nd floor window a few times.

Time to gear up and get ready for some good 'ol fashioned Nascar now! 7:46pm EST - boogit boogity boogity, let's go racing boys! <--- Do I get redneck points?

Dude, I do it for a living and know what I'm doing and it STILL drives me nuts.

[jimnyc]

Best to walk away once you have tried all that you are capable of before you start second guessing things and really screw something up.

I hear ya, and that's why I'm in here now, staying away from it. Besides, I'm tired of going up and down to the basement and hitting that damn breaker box. I feel like Mr. Miyago - "power on, power off, power on, power off..."

Dude, I do it for a living and know what I'm doing and it STILL drives me nuts.

Yeah, and I should know better, as that's how I am with computers. 20+ years after my schooling and such and I still get stumped, need to do research, call someone. There were a few teams when I worked in NYC, where if they had windows in that building, a computer or 2 would have landed on 5th avenue or Madison Ave. I need to take a breather when I get stumped, otherwise I get angry, at people AND physical objects! LOL

[Gunny]

I hear ya, and that's why I'm in here now, staying away from it. Besides, I'm tired of going up and down to the basement and hitting that damn breaker box. I feel like Mr. Miyago - "power on, power off, power on, power off..."



Yeah, and I should know better, as that's how I am with computers. 20+ years after my schooling and such and I still get stumped, need to do research, call someone. There were a few teams when I worked in NYC, where if they had windows in that building, a computer or 2 would have landed on 5th avenue or Madison Ave. I need to take a breather when I get stumped, otherwise I get angry, at people AND physical objects! LOL

I hear ya. If I'm troubleshooting wiring, EVERYONE stays away from me.