In each position onoff the switch will connect the input to only one of the outputs. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together.

Tutorial 3 Way Switches And 4 Way Switches
Typical 3 way switch diagram. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. One ground and 4 circuit terminals divided into two matching pairs called travelers. A 4 way switch has five terminals. A 4 way switch must be wired between two 3 way switches as shown in the diagrams on this page. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. 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.
This way even if your battery switch is off if your boat starts filling with water the pump will still kick on. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram. In the diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the dimmer boxthe black line wire connects to the common terminal of the 3 way dimmera 3 wire nm connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3 way switchtraveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. In other words the current will always flow. Wiring a 3 way light switch.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. The principle is that the switch will have one main input terminal and two output terminals. See the description of each one of them below. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. The electrical calc elite is designed to solve many of your common code based electrical calculations like wire sizes voltage drop conduit sizing etc. Its pretty standard in boat wiring to bypass the main battery switch for one thing.
Traveler wires are interchangeable. Each pair of traveler terminals should be wired to the traveler wires from one of the 3 way switches in the circuit. Click the icons below to get our nec compliant electrical calc elite or electric toolkit available for android and ios. The boats bilge pump float switch. A typical three way switch will have you guessed it three terminals. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
Take a look at a typical 3 way dimmer switch installation click on the images to enlarge instructions for dimmer switch wiring. Step 1 the typical 3 way switch wiring has two screw terminals at one end of the switch. Id rather have a dead battery than a swamped boat. This is where the travelers are connected. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.
3 way switch diagram multiple light between switches 2 pdf 79kb back to wiring diagrams home.