I probably read your comment wrong. The circuit from Intermatic
Connecting only to the the traveler terminals would be mystifying. But there is
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The problem is, it's not the same at all. I agree the above diagram shows the 3-way used as a regular on/off switch. That other diagram shows something very different. First it shows a typical 3 way switch diagram with a 3-way switch on the left connected to power. Two traveler wires go from that to the 3-way switch on the right. Coming out the other side of the far switch, the wire goes to the light. With me so far, right?
Then then show how to use the timer 3-way switch. They use it to replace the 3-way switch on the power side. Then they show two wires going from this new switch to THE TERMINALS ON THE FAR SWITCH THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE TRAVELERS. Nothing is connected to the pole/common terminal that previously went to the light. In other words, that switch is doing nothing.
He should wire it per the Intermatic diagram above.
SUCCESS !!!! Ok, I took several pieces of advice here and here's what I did. I took off the timer and the switch from both ends of the 3 way circuit so I had just loose wires. Then I tested each end to find the hot wire. The hot wire was in the garage (makes sense since the circuit box is in the garage too). Then I switched the timer and switch locations so now I have the 3 way switch in the kitchen and the timer in the garage. I tested it and it works now from both ends. I did notice that when I put the timer into manual mode and it was on, the 3 way switch in the kitchen worked fine. However if I shut the timer off in manual mode, the 3 way switch in the kitchen no longer worked. I presume the timer will control the circuit when it is in a timed situation too but I haven't gotten that far yet. As I said earlier, I don't like the timer in the garage but that's another story.
I want to THANK ALL who replied since I couldn't have done this fast for sure without your help !!! A big THANKS .
ps-- This timer has good reviews but from my experience, the mfgr does not give good support or let me say it this way... that when I left a question on their site as instructed if you have questions, they never got back to me and it's almost a week later.
used
The waterheatertimer link worked fine today.
I see what your objection is. They don't draw the switch consistently. They use black as the color for the "common" 3-way terminal. If you use the black screw as the "common" the diagrams are all OK. But they move the black screw on the diagram you object to - it is the "common" on that diagram, on all the others it is a traveler. Changing the way the switch is drawn on a wiring diagram is a real bad idea, a major flaw in what otherwise look like a good diagrams. I wonder how many people had trouble wiring the timer because of the diagram.
The timer has a lot bigger battery than I expected.
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