3-way switches

[lsanderson]

I was unaware that 3-way switches included a bad fail system. The one (or both) of the hallway switches started going south some time ago. I blew a circuit once, but thought a bulb might have burned out when I flipped the switch and didn't think much more about it. Then, the downstairs switch stopped working when the upstairs switch was mid-throw (where it seemed to stick). Last night, one of them locked in an untenable position and shorted out the circuit. Down went the computers and the hall lights. It was late and dark, so after throwing the circuit breaker once or twice to a resounding crackle as it rethrew itself, I gave up and went to bed.

This morning on the way to Cub Foods, we stopped at Menards to pick up two new switches. This time there was no fireworks when I reset the breaker. Well, yet anyway.