Hi,

The light switch in my hallway houses two switches, one for the porch light and one for the indoor hall light.

The switch for the indoor hall light was cracking and when I opened everything up to replace it, I see this:



3 sets of wires (black and white). As you can see, the white wires from two sets are connected with a nut. I've got the black wires from the left hand and middle set going to the left switch, a pigtail going from the left switch to the right and the black and white from the right hand set going to the right hand switch.

The first thing I noticed is the absence of ground wires???

I've looked up 3 way switches and still not totally sure what's going on in the box. I do have 2 other light switches that control the hall light (but not the porch light).

Thoughts, suggestions??

Thanks.

 

Not sure about why you appear to be missing the grounds.

Sounds like you are replacing a 3 way switch. Just move the wire from the odd colored screw over to the odd screw on the new switch.

 

Correct, I am replacing a 3 way switch. If you are referring to the green ground screws, there's no wire attached to either switch.

 

No, the green screw is ground. PCboss was referring to the common screw on a three way switch. It is usually dark gray. If there are only two screws on the switch they are not 3-way. A 3-way switch has to same colored screws and on odd colored screw not including the ground screw.


Actual position of terminals will vary with manufacturers.

 

Gotcha. It is a 3 way switch with the odd colored screw.

Thank you for clarifying.

Do I need to ground the switches to the metal box?

 

If the box isn't grounded then connecting the switches to the box would not be grounding them and therefor serve no purpose. If the box id grounded it is optional unless you use a metal cover plate.

 

Thanks for the help with this.

 

I wired the new switch according to what I've found online and now it will not turn the light on unless the switch down the hall is turned on.

I've researched 3 way switches and can't find a setup that resembles mine.

This is what I'm dealing with:



Any idea why these two would be connected together? (The RED wire is actually black in the box). One is for the porch light (a two way switch that is the only switch for this light) while the other is for the hall light (1 of 3 switches).

Suggestions how the new switch should be wired?


Thanks.