3 Way Switch Troubleshooting

Please click the THANKS text link above if this video saved you from paying an electrician to fix your mistake.

You don't need a voltmeter or continuity tester. You just need painter's tape and a marker aside from your screwdriver and needlenose pliers.

The simple trick is to rotate the three wires around the switch screws just like kids playing musical chairs. There are only THREE possible ways to connect the wires, and one of the three shown in the video will allow the switch to work.

[rcronin]

Thanks! This motivated me to fix the main kitchen light in my house that was incorrectly wired since I got this house 10 yrs ago.

[OrionCorsari]

This guy is the BEST! He not only nailed the circuit problem for me - but he was right on target with my domestic situation. Thank you and thank you again!

[toddglennbarrow]

After a couple of months of my wife nagging me to fix my 3 way switches, I finally did it. Watched a couple other videos that didn't help. This one did it for me. I had to rotate twice. I doubted it would work after trying and failing so many times before that, so I was pleasantly surprised that it worked. Thank you!

[williammcelhaney]

My wife and I just purchased our first home. After a couple nights I started to notice that some of the light switches seemed off. They only worked if you put in the right cheat code. I needed to to have X switch on and then switches Y and Z would then work properly. Thanks for the video. You have just earned another subscriber.

[ChiII_BiII]

I watched a bunch of other videos on this topic and never quite understood. This made it so that even I can understand! Took 10 minutes of work and now my switch works after living with it for over a year. Thank you!

[asearch]

Banged my head against the wall for about a half an hour trying to figure why a 3 way switch I installed wasn't working properly. A quick Google search landed me here...fixed in less than a minute. A fair deal indeed...I just signed up for your newsletter as requested. Thank you my friend!

[elizabethgray]

Thank you, THANK YOU for an easy to follow, no-fuss 3 way switch installation video! I watched several before coming across yours and every one of them features several meters that were confusing and, let's face it, I'm only installing ONE switch so do I really need to spend $200 on 3 different voltage testers? NO! Label the wires and test them on the switch methodically to find the right configuration and guess what? IT WORKS PERFECTLY! Hooray for you and your videos! I have subscribed and will be watching all your posted videos for tips and tricks like this one.

[WendyGolski]

Thank you. Really. I used this and your 4 way switch video to solve what was becoming a massive problem with 50 year old house wiring. Your calm and simple explanation gave me confidence to keep going. I'm subscribed.

[thomasmoline]

Weeks without my stairwell light 3-way switch not working was resolved by following this video. 1, 2, 3 musical chairs performed twice did the trick! Thanks, Tim, and meaning it by sending you a $4.99 gratuity.

[janetbradley]

Haha, I'm here because my signifigant other goofed up the wires. He's at the store and I'm fixing it lol!

[JuanRamirez-sutf]

I called 2, well 3 electrician friends, o e didn't answer. Number two hadn't practiced for yrs and couldn't remember. The 3rd said it was going to be almost impossible without a meter. I watched your video and got it and the 2nd try. thank you so much for such an easy fix and a very clear explanation on how to do it. I saw plenty of videos but I couldn't figure it out till I came across yours. Thanks again!

[its.us.chrisandgretel]

Thank you sir. I was perplexed for 2 weeks with the 3 way switch. After watching your video and using your technique I got it to work properly in 5 minutes. Now I have a happy wife again!

[tombaron]

Deal’s a deal. Tried your 3-way switch troubleshooting tip. Got it fixed the first time. Thanks! I’m a subscriber.

[soekawas]

Whew, thank you! Wife just unlocked the front door! Subscribed!

[Mattyew]

there's a reason all the comments are positive undearneath. this process works. thanks man!!
By the way, I bought a house built in the early 20th century and all the wires were very stiff, thick and all black!! Made it extra tricky feeling confident about which one I was labelling what, but this method gave me confidence. I drew out the wiring on paper as you described their arrangements and got it on the second try!

[stefzarragoitia]

For more than a YEAR my lights didn’t work.
Was about to give up and call an electrician, but was too embarrassed.
I never would’ve guessed I could fix it so quickly. THANK YOU!!

[MattSicignano]

Brilliant! I don't want to know how a 3 way switch works, or have to take out both switches, or use a continuity tester or a multimeter. This is the easiest way to fix this problem and it's genius. After I miswired 2 separate switches (because the terminals were confusingly marked on the old ones), and playing with different configurations for an hour, 15 minutes after watching this video had both switches working perfectly. Great video, and fantastic tip!

[maryloulou]

Love this video!!! No voltmeter needed, no voltage testing needed and no night schooling for a week. All is needed is a 1 cent pc of blue tape. (meets my budget and schedule perfectly:) Great video!

[ryanhowe]

So - we bought our home from someone who "flipped" it, and as we have been working on it we continue to discover VERY creative wiring. We have been fixing what is in our scope and partnering with an electrician where appropriate. This video was super helpful, and a very straight forward way to diagnose/fix the issue!

[scottzeezee]

Excellent! It worked. Thank you for providing a video that is so easy to understand and is easy to follow. I suffered with an improperly working 3-way light switch for ten years and I’m guessing that prior owners dealt with it for 50 years. My only suggestion is that if someone doesn’t want to get out the tape and label the wires, you’re really just moving them counter-clockwise one position each time. With only three wires that’s easy to keep track of without tape labels.