Electrical, light switch wiring
 

Before I waste any more time and fry myself.

Hall light controlled by two switches.

Had to replace a switch so went with a smart switch.

Turns out it's single pole.

Now the thing is the 2nd switch, don't ask why but the wife does not like it and actually had it taped in the off position because the cleaners keep flipping it and that annoys her.

Installed the smart switch and with the 2nd switch in the on position the lights just cycle on/off/on/off....

Turn 2nd switch off and naturally smart switch won't work.

How do I wire the 2nd switch so it's either single pole or just eliminate it all together?

When you have a lighting circuit controlled by two switches, the switches at each end are what is called a three-way switch. I suspect the smart switch you bought is not capable of being used in that fashion. Look at the paperwork that came with it.

Not a real smart switch is it?

Really why not install a pair of 3 way smart switches? They do make them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559433156.gif

Above is the way many 3 way switches are wired. This is the simplest. If you have all the white wires (neutrals)tied together, the power is fed to one box, usually by a black wire. Light fed by the other box. The switch chooses between the two ""traveler" wires, which are usually red and black.

Unfortunately not all are wired that way, and if any of the whites were connected to the switches, we really need pics to figure it out.

Below is a simplified view:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1559433156.jpg

Thanks.

Tossed the old switch back for now.

Too many other things to deal with so I'll get back to it another day.

You wouldn’t believe how many times I have to call electricians back to fix a 3 way switch. Carelessness or stupidity.