With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. The ground wire goes through both switch boxes and the ceiling light box and it is connected at all junctions except the light with a pigtail short piece of wire and wire connector.
3 Way Switch With Power Feed Via The Light Multiple Lights
How to wire a 3 way light switch. Two three way switches control one light with the electric power coming through the first switch flowing to the second switch and then to the light fixture. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. How to wire 3 way light switch duration. Heres how to wire a three way switch with easy tips from the family handyman. 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.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. Wiring a 3 way light switch. This is a scenario where you have 2 light switch locations that control a single light fixture unless. A three way switch has at least three wires and possibly four depending on whether it has a ground wire. Connect the wire marked common to the black or dark colored screw.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. When wiring a 3 way switch first screw the terminal screws of the new switch until they are difficult to turn. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Connect the two remaining traveler wires to the two brass or light colored screws. Connect the ground wire to the green screw.
The existing 2 wire black and white romex can still be used to connect a 3 way switch 2 and the light fixture. Traveler wires are interchangeable. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Two wires attach to brass screw terminals which are usually at the top of the switch and an additional wire attaches to a dark colored not green screw terminal which is usually at the bottom of the switch. Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. If your 3 way light switch 2 is connected between the power supply and the light fixture as is most common.
To wire a 3 way light switch youll need 2 3 way light switches 2 2 wire non metallic cables 1 3 wire non metallic cable and 2 6 inch grounding wires. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch.
Gallery of How To Wire A 3 Way Light Switch
