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. The three way switch has three terminals inside it instead of two.
3 Way Switch Wiring Diagram
How does a 3 way light switch work. In this article we will solve the mystery of three way switches. A three way light switch allows one light to have two different light switches often in two different rooms for convenience. When the switch is on current flows along the black wire through the switch to the light and then returns to ground through the white wire to complete the circuit. In my mind i like to think of three way switches as like a construction zone on a four lane highway. The switch simply opens off or closes on the connection between the two terminals on the switch. The switch can connect to either terminal.
This is known as the common screw and its usually black instead of brass or silver. 2 brass terminals for the 2 traveler wires and 1 common black terminal for the common wire. In this diagram power enters the fixture box. When both switches are connected to the same terminal then it completes the circuit and turns the light on. 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. Another dead giveaway of a three way switch is the absence of on and off markings.
Red and blue wires link traveler terminals of both switches. If one set of lanes is closed a crossover in the median moves traffic over to one of the lanes normally used for traffic going in the other direction. 3 way switch a 3 way switch has 3 terminals. The black hot wire connects to the far right switchs common terminal. A 3 way switch circuit is always comprised of two 3 way switches that control light s or device s from two different locations. If you have ever wondered how this arrangement works and how each switch knows what the other switch is doing then read on.
For example they can be arranged so that the feed cable runs to the first three way switch then to the light fixture box then to the second three way switch. A three way light switch is different than a traditional single pole light switch as it contains an extra screw to connect an extra wire. Three way switches can be wired in a number of different ways depending on where they are located relative to the light fixture in the circuit cable runs. Whenever you flip either one of the switches the light changes its state if it is on it turns off and if it is off it turns on. In this video we look at how light switches work in this video we look at a simple one gang one way switch as well as a one gang two way switch as well as an intermediate switch. This 3 way light switch wiring diagram shows how to do the light switch wiring and the light when the power is coming to the light fixture.
If there were no second crossover traffic would stop.
Gallery of How Does A 3 Way Light Switch Work
