Xjyuk

I apologise if there is an answer to my question in one of the other multiple 3 way switch questions, but if there is I couldn't find it.

I just bought an old house, built in 1967. I'm replacing the outlets and switches (for looks; everything worked fine but was filthy, had broken ceramic, etc.) and I've run into a problem.

There are two 3-way switches (one inside the front door and one at the end of the hallway) that should control two of the outlets in the living room. There is no overhead light. There were two candle-holder looking lights mounted to the wall above the fire place that were plugged into the outlet there. These switches were used to turn the lights on and off. There is another outlet in the room that also was controlled by these.

I replaced all of the outlets and switches in the room (except the old clock outlet) and the power all works. The problem is that the outlets that should be controlled by the switches are powered all the time no matter the positions of the switches. I've tested the terminals on the switches and they are doing their job (flicking the switch transfers power) so I'm assuming the problem is in the outlet wiring, although I've been known to be wrong before.

I'm no artist but I made this diagram and wrote it all out to try to help explain:

1. 
   Box with 5 switches
   
   
   • 3-ea 2-way switches and 2-ea 3-way switches
   
   
   • Power feed from panel enters room here:
     
     
     • 1 black wire: split to 4-ea black wires and 1-ea white wire (which appears to be the hot, white-with-black-tape wire in 6)
     
     
     • 1 white wire: spliced to 5-ea white wires
     
     
   
   
   • Switch 1: 3-way switch.
     
     
     • This switch should control outlets 4 & 5 along with the 3-way switch at 6.
     
     
     • This is the only switch in the box that doesn't have one of the black wires from the panel attached to it
     
     
     • 1-ea red and 1-ea black traveller from 6 are connected to either side of the switch (red on right, black on left).
     
     
     • 1-ea red wire running out of the box toward 2 is connected to the black screw.
     
     
   
   
   • Switch 2: 3-way switch. This switch and another 3-way in the basement control the lights on the post in the driveway.
     
     
     • 1-ea black from the panel is connected to the black screw
     
     
     • 1-ea black and 1-ea red travellers run from the switch out of the box
     
     
   
   
   • Switches 3 - 5: 2-way switches that control different things (porch lights, etc.)
     
     
     • All 2-way switches have 1-ea black from the panel and 1-ea black travelling from each switch out of the box
     
     
   
   


2. 
   Duplex outlet
   
   
   • Box has 2-ea 3-wire cables (white, black, red) running in/out of it.
   
   
   • White wires are connected to the left side.
   
   
   • Black wires are spliced together then connected to the bottom right
   
   
   • Red wires are spliced together then connected to the top right
   
   


3. 
   Duplex outlet
   
   
   • Box has 2-ea 3-wire cables (white, black, red) running in/out of it
   
   
   • White wires are connected to the left side.
   
   
   • Black wires are spliced together then connected to the bottom right
   
   
   • Red wires are spliced together then connected to the top right
   
   


4. 
   Duplex outlet
   
   
   • This outlet should be controlled by the first switch in 1 and the switch at 6.
   
   
   • Box has 2-ea 3-wire cables (white, black, red) running in/out of it
   
   
   • White wires are spliced together then connected to the bottom left screw
   
   
   • Black wires are spliced together then connected to the bottom right
   
   
   • Red wires are spliced together then connected to the top right
   
   


5. 
   Duplex outlet
   
   
   • This outlet should be controlled by the first switch in 1 and the switch at 6.
   
   
   • White wires are connected on the left
   
   
   • Black wires are spliced together and connected to the top right
   
   
   • Red wires are spliced together and connected to the bottom right
   
   


6. 
   3-way switch
   
   
   • This switch should control outlets 4 & 5 along with Switch 1 at 1.
   
   
   • 1-ea 3-wire cable running in/out of the box
   
   
   • White wire with black tape (which I'm assuming is the single white wire spliced to the rest of the black hots from the panel in 1) is connected to the black screw
   
   
   • Black wire is connected to the left screw
   
   
   • Red wire is connected to the right screw
   
   
   • I assume the red and black wires are the travellers connected to Switch 1 in 1.
   
   


7. 
   Duplex outlet
   
   
   • 1-ea 2-wire cable (white & black) runs into this box
   
   
   • White is connected on bottom left
   
   
   • Black is connected on bottom right
   
   


8. 
   Single 2-prong outlet
   
   
   • Outlet is recessed into the wall. Apparently this is what they used to do before most clocks ran on batteries.
   
   
   • I haven't opened this up...
   
   

I'm definitely missing something. Will someone please help me figure out what it is?

My understanding from the description (very good by the way) is that you have two duplex receptacles that have the two upper outlets both simultaneously controlled by the three way switches. The lower outlets should be on all the time.

If that assumption is correct, then the solution is very simple. Turn off the power, unmount the receptacles, but leave wires connected, and snap off the tab between the screws on the hot side (red and black). This will electrically disconnect the upper circuit (switched) from the lower (always on).