You must completely forget about the notion of a switch being a simple openclosed circuit and look at the diagram of the circuitry of this modern alternative. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable.
Travelers How To Wire A Light Switch
3 way switch circuit diagram. Diagram to add an outlet to a 3 way circuit. 3 way switch schematic wiring diagram. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. This wire diagram shows the wiring for source power into the first three way switch then 3 wire cable to the next 3 way light switch and then on to the light or light fixtures. For example they can be arranged so that the feed cable runs to the first three way switch then to the light fixture box then to the second three way switch. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step. The goal is to place two switches at separate locations which control the exact same device. If you have any problems with these switches it may be best to call an electrician. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. It is not controlled with the switches but is instead always hot. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Here a receptacle is added to the 3 way circuit before the first switch. See alternate 3 way switch wiring configuration for another way 3 way switches may be wired. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.
This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Unfortunately not all 3 way switches are wired the conventional way. Traveler wires are interchangeable. 3 way switch wiring diagram. The first step in any electrical project is to make sure there is no power going to the circuit you plan to be working on. The diagrams below show the conventional wiring for 3 way switches.
Two very old three way switches are depicted in the photo above. The source hot neutral and ground are spliced to a 2 wire cable that runs to the new outlet. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram. Wiring a 3 way light switch. The basic 3 way switch wiring diagram this is the most common and the easiest wiring diagram to follow of any of the wiring diagrams for a 3 way switch circuit. Two very old three way switches.
Turn the power off at circuit breaker. This is only a wiring schematic and not the actual wiring method used for 3 way switch installations. Three way switches can be wired in a number of different ways depending on where they are located relative to the light fixture in the circuit cable runs. Below is a simple 3 way schematic that can be applied to all three way electrical light switch connections.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch Circuit Diagram
