Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
3 Way Switch Variations
Three way switch wiring diagram. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Wiring a 3 way light switch. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. 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. Wiring diagram 3 way switch with light at the end in this diagram the electrical source is at the first switch and the light is located at the end of the circuit. In the above diagram the white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location.
With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 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. 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. Traveler wires are interchangeable. An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box.
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. 3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 3 way switch wiring diagram.
The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral.
Gallery of Three Way Switch Wiring Diagram
