The answer to how it works is to have an extra hot wire that runs between the two switch boxes. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches.
How To Know If I Need A Special Switch For A 3 Way Light
How to wire a 3 way switch with multiple lights. 3 way switch diagram multiple light between switches 2 pdf 79kb back to wiring diagrams home. 3 way switch diagrams for multiple light fixtures. It is true that there are several wiring configurations for wiring 3 way light switches and all of the wiring configurations will depend on where the incoming circuit power is located and once that is identified the rest of the three way wiring connections are straight forward. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Here the source is at the first switch sw1 and 3 wire cable runs from there to the first light l1.
Wiring a 3 way light switch. In this diagram two 3 way switches control a wall receptacle outlet that may be used to control a lamp from two entrances to a room. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Wiring a 3 way switch with multiple lights. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 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. The electrical calc elite is designed to solve many of your common code based electrical calculations like wire sizes voltage drop conduit sizing etc. This circuit is wired the same way as the 3 way lights at this link. In this circuit two light fixtures are shown but more can be added by duplicating the wiring arrangement between the fixtures for each additional light. The most important rationale is that there are several ways that a three way switch can be wired. Wiring a 3 way switch isnt that difficult.
3 way switched outlet wiring. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Wiring multiple lights on a 3 way switch. If you intend to add multiple lights with a 3 way switch use the 3 way switch for multiple lights diagram. Three wire cable runs between the switches and the outlet. In other words a 3 way switch is made up of one light thats controlled by two separate switches.
Click the icons below to get our nec compliant electrical calc elite or electric toolkit available for android and ios. The steps above describe installing a 3 way switch and provide a 3 way switch diagram utilizing one light fixture.