Wiring A 3 Way Switch Power To Switch

Wiring a 3 way light switch.

Wiring a 3 way switch power to switch. The wiring method will. 3 way switch wiring diagram. 3 way switches are useful for large rooms with multiple entrances but require a bit more wiring than a standard single pole switch. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.

Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. A 3 way switch allows you to turn a light on or off from two different switches. If you are trying to troubleshoot a 3 way switch operation you will need to identify the function of each wire.

Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram. 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. Two three way switches control one light with the electric power coming through the first switch flowing to the second switch and then to the light fixture. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.

Each 3 way switch in these examples are controlling the power source to the same load. Traveler wires are interchangeable. The travelers actually pass the electricity between the two 3 way switches as well as the 4 way switches shown in the 4 way switching wiring diagrams. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram you re following you ll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches.

All three way switch and 2 way switch wiring diagrams have the same basic components. 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. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.

The ground wire goes through both switch boxes and the ceiling light box and it is connected at all junctions except the light with a pigtail short piece of wire and wire connector. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. To illustrate the wiring of these 3 way switches switch boxes and fixture boxes are not shown but are obviously required for every application. Wires consisting of a line a load a neutral a pair of travelers and two 3 way switches.