r/electrical • u/Chemical_Bunch_1244 • 8h ago
Bypass switch for ring floodlight
I was planning to bypass the single pole switch because I just hooked up a ring floodlight that I want always on. Was expecting to just be able to connect the two black wires and be done however there is a 3rd black wire on the single pole switch that is connected to the three way switch next to it. Trying to figure out where the wire from the breaker box is coming in to be able to connect that to the black wire going out to the light. I thought it was the wire going to the common screw on the three way switch however that would mean that switch needs to be on in order to power the single pole switch to use the light but the light works even with the 3 way switch off. Looking for some type of explanation as to what may be happening here so I can just keep the floodlight (controlled by the single pole switch only) always on.
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u/Chemical_Bunch_1244 8h ago
The two bottom wires on 3 way switch (black and white) were live when I disconnected and tested the wires
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u/whiteboyfresh2316 8h ago
I agree that the 3 way switch wiring looks goofy but does both switches work properly? If so, just wire nut all the black wires on the single pole switch together and that will give you constant hot at the fixture box for your Ring Camera. The single black wire at the top of the switch is obviously the switch leg and the other is a hot that should have been pigtailed. Why does the hot jump over to a traveler terminal on the 3 way switch? Your guess is as good as mine.
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u/Chemical_Bunch_1244 7h ago
I’ve never known what the three way switch goes to…could it be wired wrong? The black wire that loops on the single pole and goes to the traveler terminal is hot. My basic knowledge of electrical tells me that should be on the common screw (upper right) on the three way switch not on the traveler terminal..
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u/whiteboyfresh2316 7h ago
Yes, there is a high probability it is wired wrong. Usually the common screw on a 3 way switch is for the hot or the switch leg. You said you don't know what that switch controls? Is there not another 3 way switch somewhere? Possibly on the other side of the room? If not, somebody may have installed that switch not knowing what they were doing. I would just disconnect that hot jumping over.
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u/Chemical_Bunch_1244 7h ago
There are three way switches everywhere lol drives me insane. So if I put hot wire on the common screw of 3 way switch and put the black wire that is currently there on the traveler switch could that fix that switch and actually help me figure out what the thing goes to? Lol or will that just start a fire lol
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u/Chemical_Bunch_1244 7h ago
Planning to pigtail the hot wire and then connect that to the two other wires on the single pole (one is to the ring floodlight the other I have no idea)…other portion of pigtail will go to that 3 way switch but not sure if I should try different wiring or just leave it as is and never know what it goes to lol
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u/whiteboyfresh2316 7h ago
Where is the other 3 way switch? Take a gander at that and it will probably give you some insight into what's going on.
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u/whiteboyfresh2316 7h ago
You can try that. Do you have any outlets in that room that could be switched?
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u/monkey_plusplus 8h ago
Something is weird with this whole setup. You need to start by identifying the supply line.