The first step in any electrical project is to make sure there is no power going to the circuit you plan to be working on. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.

How To Wire A 3 Way Switch Wiring Diagram Dengarden
How to wire 3 way switch. Turn the power off at circuit breaker. You will see a black screw and two gold screws on the switch. First bend hook in the ground wire wrap around the green screw. Take your three way switch. There is only the single 3 wire plus ground in the downstairs switch box and only two 2 wire plus ground cables at the fixture. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
The 14 3 cable has three insulated conductors. Home renovision diy 4089191 views. Power through switch light is controlled by two three way switches with the light between the switches and the power first going through a switch then to the light and onto the second three way switch. When wiring a 3 way switch first screw the terminal screws of the new switch until they are difficult to turn. White black and red plus a bare ground wire. Connect the wire marked common to the black or dark colored screw.
Then a 4 wire cable going between the two 3 way switches and then a 3 wire cable going from the switches to the load. Fixture between two three way switches. Connect the two remaining traveler wires to the two brass or light colored screws. Connect the wires to the new 3 way switches with ground screws using one of the two wiring diagrams fig. The black screw is the common which we identified in the steps above as the switch leg or hot power source. When wiring a 3 way switch circuit we will be using a 3 wire cable known as romex coming from the source such as the breaker box.
Feed a length of 14 3 type nm cable or 12 3 if youre connecting to 12 gauge wire between the two boxes. Connect the ground wire to the green screw. How to wire a 3 way switch system duration. The two switches appear to be connected by a 3 wire plus ground cable. When nothing is hooked up there is power in the 2 wire plus ground cable on the upstairs switch. Diy how to paint like a pro series a to z duration.
Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. The ground wire is pigtailed with a wire connector at the switch boxes and the ceiling box. Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. Skills and trade 339254 views.