Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. Wiring diagram 3 way switch with light at the end in this diagram the electrical source is at the first switch and the light is located at the end of the circuit.
How To Convert A 3 Way Switch To A 4 Way Switch In A Home
3 way wire diagram. What is a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box. Knowing how to wire a three way lighting switch comes down to understanding the operation of this contraption. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. The black and red wires between sw1 and sw2 are connected to the traveler terminals.
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 the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. 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. The white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location. Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.
What is the black screw for on a 3 way switch diagram. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. 3 way switch diagram 2 above shows the electricity source starting at the fixture. This diagram illustrates another multiple light circuit controlled by 3 way switches. The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral.
This is the 3 wire cable which you must have to wire a 3 way. Here the source and the fixtures come before the switches. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch. Wiring 2 lights and 3 way switches. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. The diagram below is based on the video you watched above. 3 way switch wiring diagram. The white wire becomes the energized switch leg as indicated by using black or red electrical tape. A 3 way switch wiring diagram is a simple drawing showing how to connect the wires to each of the four screws on the 3 way switch.
A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box. The white wire of the cable going to the switch is attached to the black line in the fixture box using a wire nut. 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. As with the other diagrams on this page more lights can be added by duplicating the wiring arrangement between the fixtures.