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. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
3 Way Switch Wiring Electrical 101
3 way wire diagram. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 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 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. 3 way switch wiring diagram. This diagram illustrates another multiple light circuit controlled by 3 way switches. The black and red wires between sw1 and sw2 are connected to the traveler terminals.
Here the source and the fixtures come before the switches. 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. What is a 3 way switch wiring diagram. The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral. Wiring 2 lights and 3 way switches. The diagram below is based on the video you watched above.
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 this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. This is the 3 wire cable which you must have to wire a 3 way. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. The white wire becomes the energized switch leg as indicated by using black or red electrical tape. The white wire of the cable going to the switch is attached to the black line in the fixture box using a wire nut.
Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light. 3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box. What is the black screw for on a 3 way switch diagram. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
The white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. As with the other diagrams on this page more lights can be added by duplicating the wiring arrangement between the fixtures. Knowing how to wire a three way lighting switch comes down to understanding the operation of this contraption. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable.
A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box. 3 way switch diagram 2 above shows the electricity source starting at the fixture. 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. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch.
Gallery of 3 Way Wire Diagram
