Electrical conection?

Question

is there some sort of thing to keep a electrical current going in one direction, i have a light that gets controled from two seperate power sources simaltainiously and i need to keep the current from traveling back

Answer 1

The usual way to "keep a current from traveling back" is to break the circuit (usually with a switch). If you indeed have 2 separate power sources, you would have to break each circuit.

(If this is a circuit board problem where you indeed want current to travel only one way, then there are diodes that rectify AC (alternating current) and permit it to go only one way. Their application to residential wiring is pretty limited tho, in my opinion.)

Typical residential wiring uses AC, which travels first one way then the other. If you're talking abt a single light that has switches in 2 different places, then there really is only 1 power source under the control of either switch (if they're correctly wired). A more detailed description of the problem would help us trying to answer.

Answer 2

If your light is fed from two different power sources then you better get an electrician over right away. If it is supplied buy two different sources then you would probaly be blowing fuses or triping breakers like crazy. In order to answer your question though I need more detail.

By two separate souces do you mean a backup power supply that will keep it running in case of a power failure. If this is the case then there you need to instal a power transfer switch which will prevent the light form recieving power from both sources at once.
If you have a three way switch then the light will function normally as this is how the circuit was designed.

From the way you asked the question I feel that you do not have the expertise to handle what ever repairs that might be required. Hire a licenced electrictian to check out the problem. Or have the local power athority inspection office check it out, (in Ontario its the Electrical Safety Authority) After all isn't your family's life worth the cost of a service call.

PS AC dose travel in two directions

Answer 3

Your house is supplied with 220 v ac.
the 220 v is made up of 2 sources (or legs(L1 and L2)) of 110v .
Some appliances run on 110 v ac and use a breaker tied to 1 leg and 220 appliances (like electric stoves and central air) are tied both legs L1 and L2 . thats why those appliances have double breakers or 2 fuses.
It sounds like your problem is one switch is supplied by L1 and the other switch is supplied by L2
when 1 is turned on it's ok but when both are turned on you get a dead short of 220v and pops 2 breakers at the same time. One day(tomorrow or 30 years from now) someone, Maby one of your kids, your wife the new owner or an electrician, will turn off 1 breaker and end up dead from getting electricuted from the other source. You must rewire 1 if the switches so they come from the same breaker(and not just the same leg),then put in a 3 way switch. If you can't afford an electrician right away then disable the least used switch by removing 1 of the wires from it and putting a marr connecter on it.
Just remember to turn off both breakers and check for power with a meter or the one getting zapped might be you

Answer 4

Check to see if it is a three way switch when one is off can you still turn the light on? If so the circuit is wired in a series and you will need to shut off the breaker and pull the switch out and see how they are wired if usually there is a pigtail of wires two three wires in one circuit two going in and one going out. would be the primary switch. if there is only three going to the switch this would be the secondary. You cannot just unhook them because when you turned the breaker back on that would leave live wires in you wall. Best bet would be to call an electrician and have them change the set from a three way to a single, usually involving removing some wire for the series.

Answer 5

You need to reformulate your question. Any answer you might get will just be a guess becuase electric current only flows one direction and just where would the current be travelling back to?

Answer 6

there is a device that does that called a diode, but that will not help you here. you just need it wired correctly. make sure you have the correct types of switches and that your connections are correct. the link below is awesome and shows you exactly how it should be wired.

Answer 7

sounds like your light is controlled by 3-way switch, go to homerepairforum.com and search 3-way switch wiring diagram

Answer 8

electricity is like a river --- it flows in one direction --- the path of least resistance.

Answer 9

no its not it haves a swh lug your black (hot wire) is going to the swh and white wire goes back to the lamp

i know be cuz i am a electron

Answer 10

if it is connected to a 3-wa switch, then ou would have to change to a (s.p.s.t) single pole, single throw switch..