any electricians out there ? 3 way switch ?
 

My brother in law the ex electrician tried to install two 3 way switches, an outlet and six light fixtures in my basement with no success. He left this morning to go back home so I'm stuck trying to get this to work. We tapped into an existing light switch box to pick up power. We've run 14/3 from that switch box to an outlet in the ceiling. From that outlet we continued with the 14/3 to each individual light box and then terminated at the other 3 way switch. Nothing would make the lights come on so BIL gave up :(. Then last night he said I should run an additional white wire from one light fixture to another so this morning went and purchased some 14/2 and used the white wire in the jacket to do so. Still nothing works. My knowledge of wiring is basic so can someone walk me through this starting from one end and ending at the other ? Need basic terms and simple wire color callouts if possible. If I have to call an electrician so be it but I'd like to take a crack at it myself. Yes I have searched the net but the diagrams are too complicated or don't address multiple light fixtures. Any help is appreciated.

I am not an electrician but have wired many remodels and new construction for myself.
Three way switches can be tricky...unless you do them routinely, having a good diagram is almost necessary.
First off...
You do have three way switchs, correct?

You need 4 way wire...one for ground, one for positive, one for neutral and one for "switch".

Depending on what you are switching, the s/u will change. I assume you are switching lights only.

This site has been helpful to me on this type of thing. Look at diagram #3 and #6.
Installing A 3-way Switch With Wiring Diagrams - The Home Improvement Web Directory

When I have projects like this I will google "electrical outlet install" or something similar. The last time I found a DIY site that had every wiring diagram you could possibly need.

Sorry, I don't have the site bookmarked.

When you search this, make sure you understand that your multiplefixtures are in between the switches rather than on a "leg." It gets complicated. He was on the right track when he got the additional wire, he just needs to wire in it correctly.

What he did was he lost the neutral between the fixtures. So, IOW, the wiring will be different in the first and last can than it is in the ones in between.

Look at Option #7 in ben's link.

Sorry for the caveman drawing, but this is what you need.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290972136.jpg

Don, you nailed it. It's the 4th wire between devices that gets forgotten. I think your drawing is clearer than the link I referred to.

Won't help you now, but whenever I rough wire, I connect the light(s) to the end of the run of switches, not the center. Much easier to follow/debug.

I thought of mentioning that. Now, for 4-way switches with multiple devices. That's a test.

Speaking of tests, you know what's on the Alabama electricians' test?

"What color is a green ground wire?"

Easy...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290975300.jpg

Show off!LOL!

After working on Bosch, that should be childs-play.:D

Based on this diagram I should be able to do the entire run using just the 14/3 ( black,white,red,ground ) right ? This diagram sorta makes sense.

14/3 won't work for the entire run. Notice that there are 4 wires running between the outlet and the lights. The ground wire is not shown, but always assumed.
If you don't mind changing the wiring, I can show you an easier way using 14/3 between the switches and 14/2 between the outlet and lights.

This is how it's normally done.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290983338.jpg

Are you certain both switches are good?

My BIL the "electrician" and I spent hours trying to troubleshoot a newly wired 3 way switch pair for some hallway lights - with a 3 way switch at each end.

We swapped wires and tried several different wiring scenarios. Couldn't get it to work. Then got my meter out and determined that 1 of the 2 new switches was bad. Made a Home Depot run to swap it out and that solved the problem.

Do you know why the ground screw in an electrical box is hex shaped?

So blind electricians know where to put the green wire....

Sorry, couldn't help myself.