wired a three way switch wrong today

A three way switch in my hallway went bad today.

There were three terminals on the old one, three on the new one, I carelessly assumed they were the same and transferred the wires.

Wrong!

Nothing was marked, but it turned out the old switch had the common on the upper left and the two travelers on the right upper and lower, while the new switch had the common on the lower right and the travelers on the upper right and left.

When I put the switch in wrong and it didn't work, I put a meter on it and found how it was wired. Obviously I should have done that first.

When did switches change configuration? Or have they always had that variation?

Reply to
TimR
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The common screw is black, the other 2 are brass

Reply to
gfretwell

On the new switch, yes. The old switch had 3 brass screws.

Reply to
TimR

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There's always been a vendor-specific orientation (plus the same vendor may make different models) ime...

It's probably been since the '60s or so you could count on some marking of distinction. The common being different color is most common of course; have seen some with it marked or a little diagram stamped on case.

Reply to
dpb

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