If the wires are stabbed into the back of the switch insert a small flat head into the slot above the wire to release. You dont need the other terminal on the three way switch so its fine to cover it over with electrical tape to ensure the terminals dont get mixed up.
How To Wire A Three Way And Four Way Switch Configuration
How to wire a three wire switch. Strip all three wires with wire strippers. You should have three remaining wires in each box. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Tape the wire nut to the wires with electrical tape. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. Remember the black wire that you wrapped around the traveler wires is the common.
There will be an additional wire needed often red to connect the switches together to a dedicated screw or input on the switch that. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Wrap the tape around the wire nut and onto the wires. Knowing how to wire a three way lighting switch comes down to understanding the operation of this contraption. To use a three way switch as a single pole one connect the hot wires to the common terminal and the traveler on the same side of the switch body. Twist all four black wires together with a yellow wire nut.
A loose or broken wire could explain why the switch doesnt work. Take your three way switch. There is only one such terminal on a 3 way switch and it is usually identified as the one having a different color terminal screw often significantly darker from the other two. Connect the black wire from the power supply to all three of the black pigtails. When disconnecting the wires mark the wire on the black or dark colored screw as common. You will see a black screw and two gold screws on the switch.
The 2 wire cable feed from the power source enters the bottom of the switch box and the hot black wire connects to the common or shunt terminal on the 3 way switch. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 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 diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. The power supply wire is the wire that connects directly to the breaker panel. Therefore the 2 switches the light 3 way.
A three way light switch is one where you have two switches that have the ability to control the same light or set of lights. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. Two black and one red. If you are having problems simply cut the wire. How to wire a three way light switch. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch.
This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch.
Gallery of How To Wire A Three Wire Switch
