Wiring trouble with 3-way x10

htsource

Active Member
I'm trying to wire a 3-way circuit with x10 and a companion switch, but I popped the breaker!

Basically I identified where the 120V is coming from, I connected the companion switch. The companion switch has 3 wires - Traveller (yellow), Neutral (white), and Black (hot). However, the switch I pulled has 3 wires connected to it - black (hot), red (??) and white (??).

So for the companion switch, I connected the neutral and hot, but not sure what to do with the red and white wires from the gang box? I suppose one should be the traveller?

Now the master switch has all 4 wires (red, white, black and neutrual), so I can set it up the normal way. I was checking continuitity between these red and white wires between switches, and they are okay. So which one is the traveller wire? What about the left over wire, just put a cap?

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
 
I would guess red is the traveler and white is almost always unless marked otherwise neutral.

Put the compansion switch where the incoming hot is NOT.
 
Hi Collin,

Thanks for your reply, I've checked the manual and slave switch goes where the HOT comes in. I think the red/white wires are both travellers? I put back the original 3-way switch (say switch A) where power comes in, I go to the other switch and measure 120V depending on the switch position from switch A.

Since I popped the breaker, are the x10 switches okay to use?

Thanks again.
 
Search for "3-way" or "neutral wire" and you'll find many helpful posts on this subject. You are about to learn more about electrical wiring than you ever wanted to know. :lol:
 
Not much luck though in the last day or so searching around. I found one thread about hooking up one traveller wire along with HOT - bascially where power comes in, put the x10 slave switch and put one traveller wire, HOT and x10 slave switch wire identified as HOT together.

Then the other traveller wire will be connected to the switch's traveller wire.

I've yet to confirm if this is how it works. Looks similar from the SmartLinc manual.

I'll post back if I have any success.
 
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