In the above diagram the white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location. Wiring a 3 way light switch.

3 Way Switch Wiring Electrical 101
Wiring diagram for a three way switch with multiple lights. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. This diagram sh ows connections when the power comes into the first switch on to the second switch and then on to two or more lights switched by the 3 way circuit. In other words a 3 way switch is made up of one light thats controlled by two separate switches. Click the icons below to get our nec compliant electrical calc elite or electric toolkit available for android and ios. 3 way switch wiring diagram. 3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box.
The most important rationale is that there are several ways that a three way switch can be wired. Three wire cable runs between the switches and the outlet. 3 way switch diagrams for multiple light fixtures. The answer to how it works is to have an extra hot wire that runs between the two switch boxes. This circuit is wired the same way as the 3 way lights at this link. 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.
Wiring a 3 way switch isnt that difficult. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. The steps above describe installing a 3 way switch and provide a 3 way switch diagram utilizing one light fixture. If you intend to add multiple lights with a 3 way switch use the 3 way switch for multiple lights diagram. It is true that there are several wiring configurations for wiring 3 way light switches and all of the wiring configurations will depend on where the incoming circuit power is located and once that is identified the rest of the three way wiring connections are straight forward. The electrical calc elite is designed to solve many of your common code based electrical calculations like wire sizes voltage drop conduit sizing etc.
3 way switched outlet wiring. Wiring multiple lights on a 3 way switch. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 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. In this diagram two 3 way switches control a wall receptacle outlet that may be used to control a lamp from two entrances to a room.
An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box. Note that this configuration is easiest to do when utilizing the first method of 3 way circuits discussed previously in our wiring a basic 3 way switch article or diagram. The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral. 3 way switch diagram multiple light between switches 2 pdf 79kb back to wiring diagrams home.