So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire. 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.
3 Way Switch Wiring Diagrams Do It Yourself Help Com
Wiring of a three way switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram. Wires consisting of a line a load a neutral a pair of travelers and two 3 way switches. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Buy a single pole switch if one switch controls the lights or a three way if you have two switches controlling the same lights.
Traveler wires are interchangeable. 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. Wiring a 3 way light switch. 3 wire cable runs to the switches on each side of the light. Add up the wattage of the bulbs in all the fixtures the switch controls to make sure it falls within the switch rating listed on the package or instructions. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch.
If you are trying to troubleshoot a 3 way switch operation you will need to identify the function of each wire. You must completely forget about the notion of a switch being a simple openclosed circuit and look at the diagram of the circuitry of this modern alternative. In this arrangement the source for the circuit is at the light fixture which is located in the middle of the circuit. Three way switch wiring source in middle. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. All three way switch and 2 way switch wiring diagrams have the same basic components.
A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. At the light the hot source wire is spliced to the black wire running to the common terminal on sw2. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram youre following youll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. The goal is to place two switches at separate locations which control the exact same device.
With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. 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.
Gallery of Wiring Of A Three Way Switch
