Turn the power off at circuit breaker. The following 3 diagrams show the wiring for a specially made dimmer that can be used in these circuits in place of either of the the 3 way switches or both.
Handymanwire Wiring A 3 Way Or 4 Way Switch
Three way switch wiring schematic. 3 way dimmer switch wiring diagrams. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. The first step in any electrical project is to make sure there is no power going to the circuit you plan to be working on. Be sure to identify the electrical circuit correctly youll be wiring into and turn off the. Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.
This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. If you are trying to troubleshoot a 3 way switch operation you will need to identify the function of each wire. Wires consisting of a line a load a neutral a pair of travelers and two 3 way switches. After the lighting level has been set on one dimmer the other switch will turn. All three way switch and 2 way switch wiring diagrams have the same basic components. 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.
Wiring a 3 way light switch. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. 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 arrangement allows for lowering the lights in a 3 way circuit. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Traveler wires are interchangeable. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together.