Go to my switch terminology page where i discuss the terms used for the different types of home electrical switches. Where 0 represents the off condition and 1 represents the on condition.

3 Way Switch Wiring Diagram
Electrical two way switch wiring. A 2 way switch wiring diagram with power feed from the switch light. Wiring a switch loop. Standard and halogen bulbs require standard incandescent dimmers. Buy a single pole switch if one switch controls the lights or a three way if you have two switches controlling the same lights. It is a standard single pole switch with three terminals. Use the screwdriver to loosen the wires in the box.
The three terminals are usually named com l1 and l2 but sometimes com 1 way and 2 way are also used. The white wire has been taped with blue electrical tape to show that it is not a neutral conductor but a traveler. 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. The power source comes from the fixture and then connects to the power terminal. First of all we need to go over a little terminology so you know exactly what is being discussed. How to connect 2 way switch wiring using three wire control.
When the electrical source originates at a light fixture and is controlled from a remote location a switch loop is used. This is the new method to make a 2 way switching connection as it is slightly different from the two wire control method. This red wire is the second switch which is also negative polarity. Wiring a 3 way light switch. Also included are wiring arrangements for multiple light fixtures controlled by one switch two switches on one box and a split receptacle controlled by two switches. Wiring a 2 way switch is about as simple as it gets when it comes to basic house wiring.
You may have to use the wire strippers to strip the ends of the wire and the wire cutters to trim the length. A few fluorescent lights can be dimmed with special dimmer switches but most cant. Step 3 wire the two way electrical switch. You will see that there is a hot wire that is then spliced through a switch and that then goes to the hot terminal of the light. This method is commonly used now days as it is efficient than the two wire control system. Before proceeding an important component called a two way light switch is the main element of the 2 way switching irrespective of the type of wiring used.
The red wire is the other traveler. The same wiring method is also used for two way switch wiring. The same as the black wire in the box. The travelers get connected to the two brass screw terminals on the 3 way switch. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.