Iâ ve decided to put this faq together to help those with questions about installing ge 3 way switches. This story features diagrams that show how to wire 3 way switches.
Understanding Three Way Wall Switches
How to identify common wire in 3 way switch. Its a foolproof way for a. Once youre done youll be able to control a light from two switches. There are no onoff markings on the switch toggle. A more positive way to identify a 3 way switch is to look at the body of the switch and count the number of screw terminals. Two of the terminals are a light colorbronze or copper coloredand are called travelers. There are three screw terminals on the body of the switch in addition to the green grounding screw.
This will help you keep track of the common wire. The single dark colored screw is known as the common terminal. Identify common in the switch leg box it is the black wire that goes up to the light. A 3 way switch has three terminal screws plus a ground screw. Its a foolproof way for a proper connection. There are two clear giveaways that identify a switch as being a three way type.
Wrap them around the black and red that comes from the three conductor which are called travelers. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more. How to determine the correct wires to attach to a 3 way switch when the wire and screw terminal color code is not certain. Such markings are not needed with this type of switch as they are with a single pole switch. The wiring is more complicated than a traditional single pole switch but well explain how to make the connections. The hot wire from the breaker usually black neutral.