On the other three way switch the load wire the load is the wire that feeds power to the light fixture gets connected to the copper or black screw terminal. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch.
3 Way Switch Wiring Diagram Variation 5 Electrical Online
Three wire switch schematic. Traveler wires are interchangeable. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. Continuous hot and light feed wire goes on black screw. The 2 wire cable feed from the power source enters the bottom of the switch box and the hot black wire connects to the common or shunt terminal on the 3 way switch. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. The most important screw is the black one 3 way switch diagram tips.
143 with ground or 123 with ground wire best to use between switches. With conventional wiring the common wire from one switch connects to line the common wire from the other switch connects to the load lights. Most common is the single pole switch the type used to control a light fixture from a single locationthe next most common is the three way switch which is commonly used to control a light fixture from two different locations. Traveler wires go on the brass screws. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. A three way switch is not really three ways at all but it does have three screws on the back side.
A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. So the electrical path is always through the switch it just changes it from one line to the other. A 3 way switch has three screws plus the green grounding screw. Watch all videos below for easy steps. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way. All of the switches shown below are 3 way. Three wire cable runs between each switch and the light fixture. There is only one such terminal on a 3 way switch and it is usually identified as the one having a different color terminal screw often significantly darker from the other two. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.
One of the screws is the common and when you flip the switch it either connects this wire to one or the other of the two remaining screws. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 3 way switches have three terminals one common usually black color and one pair of travelers usually brass color. The hot source wire is connected to the common terminal on sw1. Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types. Below is a simple 3 way schematic that can be applied to all three way electrical light switch connections.
The common terminal on sw2 is connected to the hot terminal on the light. The traveler wires are spliced at the fixture box to run between the traveler terminals on the switches they are not connected to the light. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
Gallery of Three Wire Switch Schematic
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