Need wiring help for weird 3-Way. Neutral in one box, but jury rigged 2nd box wired through the bulb

[Bry]

@skarden

BTW, we know it was a jury rig as the other light switches in my condo are all in metal boxes with conduit and neutral wires, while you see one is in a blue plastic box without a neutral wire. Plus the other two 3 ways in my condo are a “standard” line in 1 box and load in the other.

You and I must have different definitions of jury rigging, It’s not uncommon to add on to electrical circuits to make it more convenient. The plastic box you see is an “old work” box. It’s designed to be put in after the sheetrock is up. So whoever added that box after the house was built did it correctly.

Also, in a 3-way switch leg, you’re not going always going to have a neutral in both boxes, and in what I think is your wiring configuration, you shouldn’t have a neutral in the far box. So if the diagram is correct, there is nothing wrong with your wiring. It wired in a very common configuration.

@skarden

I found an Inovelli 3 way non-neutral solution at the link below (it was the very last one on that page), but it doesn’t look like your diagram. In your diagram there is power to both switches from the light. In the Inovelli diagram they only show powere to one light from the switch.

You don’t want a non-neutral configuration as you have a neutral in Box 1, where the Inovelli will go, presuming the diagram I suggested is correct. And you don’t have a power in the 2nd box. You have power that is switched via the travelers, but that’s it. That is what is expected.

The Inovelli diagram below is the proper one based on the diagram I suggested. Bear in mind that I can’t say for sure it’s proper without testing. I encourage you to continue to seek your electrician’s help. Given the diagram, he ought to quickly be able to confirm if it’s correct. We can work with him just as easily.

Please don’t take this wrong, but you may not have as much electrical knowledge as you think you do. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you have to know when to seek qualified help. No one wants to see you get hurt, start blowing up Inovelli switches because they’re installed incorrectly, etc.