Dont put up with old three way light switches like this. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.
Leviton Presents How To Install A Three Way Switch
Old 3 way switch wiring diagram. 2 go to david e. The other 2 wires just transfer power back and forth so that each switch can turn the light on and off at the opposite intervals. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. The other 2 make no difference. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together.
In this diagram the source for the circuit is at the light fixture and the two switches come after. 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. Below is a simple 3 way schematic that can be applied to all three way electrical light switch connections. 3 way switches are normally wired with power on one switch to that odd screw and the other 3 way gets the light connected to the odd screw. Traveler wires are interchangeable.
Conventional 3 way wiring is not very complexwith conventional wiring the line line voltage connects to the common of one switch. Two very old three way switches. This is only a wiring schematic and not the actual wiring method used for 3 way switch installations. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Wrongun et has beaten the carter 3 way to death. Otherwise the arrangement wont function as it should be.
Wiring a 3 way light switch. Two very old three way switches are depicted in the photo above. Leviton 3 way switch wiring diagram leviton 3 way dimmer switch wiring diagram leviton 3 way led dimmer switch wiring diagram leviton 3 way light switch wiring diagram every electrical structure is composed of various distinct parts. Each part ought to be set and connected with other parts in specific way. The alternate 3 way switch wiring configuration california or west coast was used as a way to wire 3 way switches and be able to supply line voltage to either switchthis configuration is no longer allowed as the neutral is not present in each switch box. Shapiros old electrical wiring page 57 for the wiring diagram.
Isbn 0 07 057879 6 if you still dont own this tome and youre working the residential repairs beat then go to the back of the class. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. Tyler lizenbycnet archaic light switches might as well be from the stone age. 3 way switch schematic wiring diagram. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
Swap them out for something new and improved. 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. Shapiro covers a lot more than carter 3 ways. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 3 way switch wiring diagram.