With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch.
Wiring 3 Way Light Switches To Power Wiring Diagrams
3 way wiring diagram power at light. This electrical wiring diagram shows power into light switch box 1 wire to light from switch box 1 and from switch box 1 to three way light switch box 2. Now discussing 3 way light switch wiring diagram as also discussed above the color codes of the wires as having three insulated conductors as black as hot red as switch wire or called traveler and white as common wire as also shown when light is connected to both black and white wires. 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. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable.
Wiring of 3 way light switches 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. So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire. The ground wire is pigtailed with a wire connector at the switch boxes and the ceiling box. Traveler wires are interchangeable. Wiring a three way light switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram with power feed via light.
In this light switch wiring diagram the power feed joins the circuit via the light fixture where a two wire cable c2 runs from the light to the first 3 way switch sw1 and a 3 wire cable c3 joins the two switches. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram youre following youll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches. Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. With a pair of 3 way switches either switch can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.
In the ceiling light fixture electrical box one black wire from a 3 way switch gets connected to the black load wire on the light fixture. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. In the above 3 way switch wiring diagram at each switch the black wire gets connected to the copper or black screw. 3 way switch wiring diagram depicting all wires in the ceiling junction box. Wiring a 3 way light switch. Fixture between two three way switches.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. Power through switch light is controlled by two three way switches with the light between the switches and the power first going through a switch then to the light and onto the second three way switch. Wiring diagram for a 3 way switch one of the many wiring diagrams showing different methods of wiring a three way switch circuit.