Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together.
3 Way Switches Explained How To Wire 3 Way Light Switch
How to wire a 3 way switch diagram. This method might be used when power is available in the ceiling but switch boxes are on opposite wallsit is often easier to run the cable up into the ceiling light box instead of. The source hot neutral and ground are spliced to a 2 wire cable that runs to the new outlet. Here a receptacle is added to the 3 way circuit before the first switch. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. Fixture between two three way switches. 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.
Knowing how to wire a three way lighting switch comes down to understanding the operation of this contraption. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. It is not controlled with the switches but is instead always hot. 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. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch.
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. The ground wire is pigtailed with a wire connector at the switch boxes and the ceiling box. In the above 3 way switch wiring diagram at each switch the black wire gets connected to the copper or black screw. 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. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch.
Diagram to add an outlet to a 3 way circuit. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram depicting all wires in the ceiling junction box. Traveler wires are interchangeable. 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.
In this 3 way switch wiring diagram the power in line enters the light box but 3 rope cables are then installed between the light box and each switch box. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
Gallery of How To Wire A 3 Way Switch Diagram
