Got a mystery switch? This can be a good thing, presenting an opportunity to add control of stair/hallway lighting from both ends of the hall or stairwell, or the ability to switch a receptacle outlet (or bypass a switch to eliminate mystery outages at the outlet).
A properly wired 3way or multi-way switch coordinates with other switches to control a light fixture or lighting zone (group of fixtures or recessed lights), or any other switched load.
In Philadelphia shotgun row houses, first floor 3way switches are often mis-wired to have no function (on the first floor) and only compromised function on a remote stair landing or other location closest to the lighting fixture. Using only the proper switch component and an understanding of multi-way switch wiring systems, we can often restore the original, coordinated multi-location switching configuration to control 2nd floor lighting (or other locations remote from your mystery switch) so that you can turn it on (or off before leaving the house) without climbing stairs or traversing rooms in darkness.
How can I tell if my switch is a coordinating type switch (part of a multi-way switch system)?
Simple single-location, standard ‘toggle’ style light switches have ‘on’ and ‘off’ embossed at the visible fulcrum of the lever, whereas switches designed to participate in a multi-way switching system may be ‘on’ or ‘off’ in either position, depending on the position of other switches in the system. Therefore, 3way and 4way switches have no ‘on’ or ‘off’ designation. So if your mystery switch is of the latter sort, you may have a miswired multi-way switching system. If your switch does have on/off embossing, it may be properly wired to control a lighting fixture or plug-in receptacle load (for floor lamps) from only one location, OR, it could be that an unskilled installer updated switch and receptacle devices in the home but ignored, lost track of, or abandoned a coordinating switch wiring system, turning a very useful switch location into a cloying mystery.
Multi-way switch systems often suffer from a mis-wired location that disables the other switches when that bad switch is thrown to the up or down position. 90% of the time, the original wiring is good but someone installed a wrong switch or installed the right switch incorrectly. Occasionally, the wiring system itself is deficient and the only fix is new cable runs between switch locations and/or the switched light fixture.
Licensed Electrician Robert Monk Light switch mysteries solved! Copyright Robert Monk, 2012
Source: http://www.phillylicensedelectrician.com/light-switch-mysteries-solved/
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