How do you turn on a lightbulb from downstairs and upstairs?

Question

How does it work? plz help!

Answer 1

You must have two- 3 way swiches. Start by running a 14/3 from 1switch box to the other, the power supply going into 1 switch box. and from the other run a 2 conductor wire to the light.  Power going to the 1st switch. only the hot (black)going to the s***w located on the end of the 2-way. (may have a black or copper s***w head). The common wire (white) going to the other 2 way,same s***w as sw#1. from the 14/3 connect the red to the other s***w on the same side as the power in(black) attach the other end of red to the opposing s***w of sw#2. The black (14/3) will attach to the remaining 2 screws. Then attach the 14/2 (white wire to light)at switch and other end to light. Attach the (black wire to light) to the red wire of switch. Install switches in boxes, s***w in bulb, turn either switch and........ majic you now have light!

It may help if you draw a picture as you read explaination. The additional wires are jumpers that puts power to both switches.

Answer 2

What you have is a 3 way switch. There is a extra wire that runs from one switch to the other. The switch actually has two sets of contacts. When one is open the other is closed. Say you shut the light off downstairs. The switch cuts the power off to the light and sends it to the switch upstairs. When you turn the switch on upstairs the light will come on.

Answer 3

A long string on the pull chain,

.... or a pair of three way switches.

The circuit power 1 Hot (Blk.), and the neutral (Wht.),

is brought to the first (downstairs) switch.

The Blk. is connected to the Com. terminal of the

switch, the Wht. is connected to the Wht. of a three

wire run, (Wht. Rd. Blk.) to the next (upstairs) switch.

The Rd. & Blk. of this run are connected to the

'A' &' B' terminals of both switches.

At the upstairs switch, the Wht. wire is tied to the

Wht. of a two wire run to the lamp (Fixture).

The Blk. of this run is connected to the common

terminal of the upstairs switch.

All thats left now is to wire the lamp.

All those wiring runs contain a bare ground wire.

These wires are all tied to each-other where they meet.

How it works is that the the first switch shunts the

power to one of the two wires between switches.

If the second switch is turned to the same wire the

light goes on. If it's on the other wire, the light is off

until one of the switches is flipped.

It's that simple.

Answer 4

You need a three way switch.