You will see a black screw and two gold screws on the switch. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
Two Way Switched Lighting Circuits 1
Three way switch connection. Between each three way switch is a pair of travelers that are connected to the common terminals. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Such markings are not needed with this type of switch as they are. On one of the 3 way switches a line or hot wire gets connected to the copper or black screw terminal. Take your three way switch. First bend hook in the ground wire wrap around the green screw.
3 way switch wiring diagram. The black screw is the common which we identified in the steps above as the switch leg or hot power source. 3 way switches have three terminals one common usually black color and one pair of travelers usually brass color. Keep reading and learn how to wire a light switch. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. With conventional wiring the common wire from one switch connects to line the common wire from the other switch connects to the load lights.
Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 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. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable in the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. All of the switches shown below are 3 way. 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.
The whole wiring a light switch project can be completed in a few hours if you dont have to do any drywall removal and repair. There are two clear giveaways that identify a switch as being a three way type. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. There are no onoff markings on the switch toggle. There are three screw terminals on the body of the switch in addition to the green grounding.
Gallery of Three Way Switch Connection
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