This is a basic explanation of how to turn lights on and off from more than one location. The answer to how it works is to have an extra hot wire that runs between the two switch boxes.
3 Way Switch Variations
3 way switch multiple lights. Two 2 wire cables c3 and c4 run between the fixtures and a 3 wire cable c2 runs from the second fixture f2 to the second 3 way switch sw2. Wiring a 3 way switch isnt that difficult. Two lights between 3 way switches power via a switch shown below are two fixtures between 3 way switches. Add an electrical box for the second 3 way switch in the basement. In this circuit two light fixtures are shown but more can be added by duplicating the wiring arrangement between the fixtures for each additional light. 3 way switch diagrams for multiple light fixtures.
How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work. 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. This one minute animated tutorial is my clearest presentation of 3 and 4 way switches in action. Option 1 is for power into the first switch wire to the lights and lastly wire from the light to the other switch. The power source is via the switch box sb1 and a 3 wire cable c1 runs from there to the first fixture f1. Either way complete these five steps for 3 way light switch wiring.
In a hallway or large room for example installing three way switches at both ends lets you turn the light fixture on or off from both locations. Wiring a 3 way switch with multiple lights. Its likely youll also need to replace the. Its likely youll also need to replace the. 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. 3 way switch multiple lights between switches below ive shown two variations of wiring multiple lights between 3 way switches.
The most important rationale is that there are several ways that a three way switch can be wired. Turn off the correct circuit at your electrical panel. In other words a 3 way switch is made up of one light thats controlled by two separate switches. 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. This option actually requires you to run two romex lines between the lights. 4 way switches an animation.
A three way wall switch is a common type of light switch that makes it possible to control a ceiling light or other electrical fixture from two different locations in a room. Here the source is at the first switch sw1 and 3 wire cable runs from there to the first light l1.