The remaining two terminals are called as interchangeable and travelers. 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.
How To Wire A 3 Way Light Switch Family Handyman
What is a 3 way switch. This configuration may be used in open plan homes or in large kitchens or great rooms where a central bank of lighting fixtures might be controlled from more than two entry points. It is important to understand how these are wired before attempting to troubleshoot or replace. The three way switch comes with three terminal screws and one ground wire screw. In total it has 4 terminal screws. For more than two switches one or more 4 way switches are added. You toggle it and the staircase is immersed in light from above.
3 way switches are used to control lights with two switches. There are three screw terminals on the body of the switch in addition to the green grounding. The switches may be arranged so that they are in the same orientation for off and contrasting orientations for on. 3 way switch wire diagram power to light switch in this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. Learn about a three way switch. This is known as the common screw and its usually black instead of brass or silver.
Controlling a light with three or more switches. Theres a dark colored terminal named com in 3 way switches. Such markings are not needed with this type of switch as they are. This is a 3 way switch application. The diagrams below show the conventional wiring for 3 way switches. Another dead giveaway of a three way switch is the absence of on and off markings.
You carefully descend and there at the bottom of the stairs is another wall switch. This page describes how to use 3 way and 4 way switches to control lights. By correctly connecting two of these switches together toggling either switch changes the state of the load from off to on or vice versa. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work controlling a light with two or more switches. You are at the top of a long flight of stairs and on your right is a light switch. The three way switch is a variation of the standard single pole switch which controls a light only from one location.
Electrically a typical 3 way switch is a single pole double throw spdt switch. A third type is the four way switch which is used in conjunction with two three way switches to control lighting from more than two locations. You toggle this one and the light goes off. There are two clear giveaways that identify a switch as being a three way type. You probably have at least one light that is controlled by two separate switches either switch can turn it on or off. There are no onoff markings on the switch toggle.
The fixtures hot wire connects. These switches do not have an onoff position like single pole switches. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch.
Gallery of What Is A 3 Way Switch
