Traveler wires are interchangeable. 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.
3 Way Switch Troubleshooting Diy
3 way switch circuit diagram. 3 way switch schematic wiring diagram. Turn the power off at circuit breaker. If you have any problems with these switches it may be best to call an electrician. 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. For example they can be arranged so that the feed cable runs to the first three way switch then to the light fixture box then to the second three way switch. This is only a wiring schematic and not the actual wiring method used for 3 way switch installations.
Here a receptacle is added to the 3 way circuit before the first switch. The diagrams below show the conventional wiring for 3 way switches. This wire diagram shows the wiring for source power into the first three way switch then 3 wire cable to the next 3 way light switch and then on to the light or light fixtures. Unfortunately not all 3 way switches are wired the conventional way. Diagram to add an outlet to a 3 way circuit. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. It is not controlled with the switches but is instead always hot. 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. Wiring a 3 way light switch. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.
Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step. The source hot neutral and ground are spliced to a 2 wire cable that runs to the new outlet. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Two very old three way switches. See alternate 3 way switch wiring configuration for another way 3 way switches may be wired.
The basic 3 way switch wiring diagram this is the most common and the easiest wiring diagram to follow of any of the wiring diagrams for a 3 way switch circuit. 3 way switch wiring diagram. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Two very old three way switches are depicted in the photo above.
Below is a simple 3 way schematic that can be applied to all three way electrical light switch connections. The goal is to place two switches at separate locations which control the exact same device. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Three way switches can be wired in a number of different ways depending on where they are located relative to the light fixture in the circuit cable runs.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch Circuit Diagram
