With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. 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.
Wire A Three Way Switch Icreatables Com
How to wire a 3 way light switch diagram. Two wire cable runs from the light to sw1 and 3 wire cable runs between sw1 and sw2. 3 way switch wiring with light first. Turn the power off at circuit breaker. In the above 3 way switch wiring diagram at each switch the black wire gets connected to the copper or black screw. In this diagram the source for the circuit is at the light fixture and the two switches come after. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
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. 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. To wire a 3 way light switch youll need 2 3 way light switches 2 2 wire non metallic cables 1 3 wire non metallic cable and 2 6 inch grounding wires. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. The hot source wire is spliced at the light box to the white cable wire running to the first switch box. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch.
Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Knowing how to wire a three way lighting switch comes down to understanding the operation of this contraption. 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. 3 way switch wiring diagram depicting all wires in the ceiling junction box.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. 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. Traveler wires are interchangeable. Be sure to identify the electrical circuit correctly youll be wiring into and turn off the.
Wiring a 3 way light switch. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step.
Gallery of How To Wire A 3 Way Light Switch Diagram
