The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. They are just wired that depending which way the switches are set neither on.
Understanding Three Way Wall Switches
3 way switch 2 hot wires. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch. The traveler wires always connect to the other two screws. Red wire power or hot wire black wire power or hot wire white wire neutral bare copper ground. An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box. If this next switch is the only other switch it is also of the 3 way type and can be called the leg end.
3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. How to determine the correct wires to attach to a 3 way switch when the wire and screw terminal color code is not certain. There is no off on a 3 way switch. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. Find the correct wiring for a 3 way switch in 2.
The white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location. You have power in and power out. When wiring a 3 way switch circuit all we want to do is to control the black wire hot wire to turn on and off the load from 2 different locations. The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral. The common screw connects to the load or hot wire depending where the switch is. At this first switch the black feed wire is connected to the common screw on the switch.
Black wire power or hot wire white wire neutral bare copper ground. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. At the first switch location the feeder wire from the power source is a 2 wire cable with ground. You will always have 2 hots on a 3 way switch. Hotness voltage enters into the system at one three way type switch which we will call the hot end according to the position of its handle hotness travels on to the next switch on one of the two traveler wires. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
3 way switch wiring diagram. This means that there is a black hot wire a white neutral wire and a bare copper grounding wire. Loadhot screw in a 3 way switch in 2 minutes.