Parrothead

Pretty sure Joe nailed it. I am thinking the electrician screwed it up. If you need to get a different electrician, then have him send the bill to the first one. He should never have left the house with them working like that.

Sparky723

Joe,
They can be wired in series. Your diagram shows you taking your line neutral to the last light.
Why not wire it like normal?

Blue Jay

This picture shows the lights wired in series and is really going to confuse some people on here.

Fireguy5674

I cannot quote code but my questions are:

1. Code allows wiring lights in series?

2. Why would you want to wire them in series?


The only advantage I see towiring that way would be the ability to run 1 three wire cable as apposed to 2 two wire cables. I would never wire them in series if I was doing it.

Original poster, was not trying to hijack your post. I believe Joe is correct in his diagnosis.

JoeD

Did you not read the note in caps below the drawing.

NOTE THIS DRAWING WRONG AND WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. It is for information only.

Someone asked how this could be done wrong and I provided a diagram of the most common mistake made when wiring three ways switches with more than one light between them.
I have editted the font size and colour to make it more clear.

Fireguy5674

Sorry Joe I was actually quoting Sparky. He seemed to be saying it was appropriate to wire them in series if you so choose. Maybe I mistook his meaning. I understand that you are not suggesting to wire in series and the diagram posted was how NOT to do it.

Sparky723

Ok.
Yes I'm an electrical contractor and yes, I know the difference between series and parallel ( to whoever asked).

Lights in general can be wired in series, however, can light housings nowadays usually come equipped with a termination block that automatically makes them wired in parallel.

I was stating in that diagram that the 12/3 wasn't ran correctly between switch boxes. That's all.
I saw all text informing the reader it was incorrect.

A lot of times flicker on can lights, especially between 2 3ways is due to not having the correct switches. Lurton Maestro is a good series of switches that can be used.

bolsaboy

Thanks for all the help guys. Had electrician come back and fix problem. Fireguy was correct in what he had done. Using one three wire and not two two wires.

Sparky723

Glad it's fixed but if wired right, a 12/3 (3 wire) could've been used instead of 2 12/2's (2-2 wires) and been legal. The 2-2 wires just uses more wire.