Follow this link if you are looking for a comprehensive step by step guide on two way and intermediate lighting circuit wiring. Here we have a 3 way switching lighting circuit sometimes called two way switching with intermediate.
Multiway Switching Wikipedia
Two way and intermediate switch wiring. Wiring a 2 way switch is about as simple as it gets when it comes to basic house wiring. This page shows it wired in the old cable colours if your house has the new colours you want to go here. First of all we need to go over a little terminology so you know exactly what is being discussed. Construction working of intermediate switch. If replacing an existing switch note the location of the terminals and the colour and position of cable connections. Where 0 represents the off condition and 1 represents the on condition.
In fact any number of intermediate switches can be added to add as many extra switching positions as required. An intermediate switch is used if more than two switches are required to control a two way lighting circuit. Go to my switch terminology page where i discuss the terms used for the different types of home electrical switches. An intermediate switch can however be implemented by adding appropriate external wiring to an ordinary six terminal dpdt switch or by using a separate dpdt relay. An application of above using multiple switching positions to switch multiple lamps. Otherwise continue with the am2 exam guide.
In an intermediate switch there are four terminals by which it changes the flowing of electric current from one circuit to another see fig 1 2 and also known as three way switchit has the ability to on and off the electric supply by two ways. This is the new method to make a 2 way switching connection as it is slightly different from the two wire control method. To wire a three way lighting circuit you will need 2 two way switches and an intermediate switch. This allows a single light to be turned on or off from any of the switches. It should be fitted between the first and the last switches on the circuit. The addition of an intermediate cross over switch allows a two way switched lamp to be controlled from a third position.
The four terminals of intermediate switch construction and its operation are shown in fig below. There is more than one way to do this depending of the type of cable available and on the installation requirements. As a part of the am2 exam you will have to wire up a 2 way and intermediate lighting circuit with one light. How to connect 2 way switch wiring using three wire control. This video also shows how an intermediate switch works. In a previous video i showed how a two way.
This method is commonly used now days as it is efficient than the two wire control system. By connecting one or more 4 way intermediate switches in line with 3 way switches at either end the load can be controlled from three or more locations.