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enter image description here

I currently have two lights in my porch at either end that are both controlled by separate 3 way switch circuits. At the middle door it a double box with the supply and two 3-way switches, from each switch is a 14-3 wire to another box on opposite ends of the porch with another 3-way switch. From those switches is a 14-2 to each individual light.

How would I go about only having 3 switches and turning both lights on at the same time, or in other words i want to tie the two lights together and be able to turn them on/off from any one of 3 switches. I can easily go into the attic and add a wire between the two lights, adding a wire between boxes gets into drywall work.

Similar to the image but the light would have to be off either one of the 3-way switches in the diagram.

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  • Can you post photos of the insides of the existing boxes?
    – ThreePhaseEel
    Feb 23, 2017 at 3:35
  • I have created an illustration that I believe matches your descriptive text. Please let me know if I'm wrong.
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Feb 23, 2017 at 6:38
  • Yes That is the way it is wired now, the answer below is exactly what i was thinking will work. I found the original picture I linked and knew it was close, once I slept on it I realized how to do it by wiring the 3-way switch that supplies the light the "normal" way or same way it is now and by using the white wire to supply power to the other 3-way switch first. Once I woke up I thought i had it figured out but it is always great to have someone else agree and especially to see it in picture form. Thank you very much.
    – M. Blyth
    Feb 23, 2017 at 12:47

1 Answer 1

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Making the connection in the attic saves you

Here's what you can do with existing cables in wall.

enter image description here

The black-red grouped pairs are messengers. On 3-way switches, "C" marks the common.

Smart switches

That's the sure way to do this thing, but it's a little complicated. In this case you re-task red as a signal line (as needed by the smart switches).

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3
  • Yes the picture you edited in is the way it is wired now, your answer below is exactly what i was thinking will work. I found the original picture I linked and knew it was close, once I slept on it I realized how to do it by wiring the 3-way switch that supplies the light the "normal" way or same way it is now and by using the white wire to supply power to the other 3-way switch first. Once I woke up I thought i had it figured out but it is always great to have someone else agree and especially to see it in picture form. Thank you very much.
    – M. Blyth
    Feb 23, 2017 at 12:49
  • Is there a program or website you used to create that image or is it a "Paint" type drawing?
    – M. Blyth
    Feb 23, 2017 at 14:02
  • @M.Blyth Adobe Illustrator CS5 and some clip art I had laying around. For what I do, CS2 would suffice.
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Feb 23, 2017 at 14:39

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