Two very old three way switches. If you have any problems with these switches it may be best to call an electrician.
How Three Way Light Switches Work
3 way switch circuit diagram. Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step. The goal is to place two switches at separate locations which control the exact same device. This is only a wiring schematic and not the actual wiring method used for 3 way switch installations. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. The source hot neutral and ground are spliced to a 2 wire cable that runs to the new outlet.
Diagram to add an outlet to a 3 way circuit. Three way switches can be wired in a number of different ways depending on where they are located relative to the light fixture in the circuit cable runs. Unfortunately not all 3 way switches are wired the conventional way. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. For example they can be arranged so that the feed cable runs to the first three way switch then to the light fixture box then to the second three way switch. 3 way switch schematic wiring diagram.
Traveler wires are interchangeable. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 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. Here a receptacle is added to the 3 way circuit before the first switch. It is not controlled with the switches but is instead always hot. 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.
Below is a simple 3 way schematic that can be applied to all three way electrical light switch connections. Wiring a 3 way light switch. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. See alternate 3 way switch wiring configuration for another way 3 way switches may be wired.
Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. This wire diagram shows the wiring for source power into the first three way switch then 3 wire cable to the next 3 way light switch and then on to the light or light fixtures. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. Turn the power off at circuit breaker. 3 way switch wiring diagram. The diagrams below show the conventional wiring for 3 way switches.
The basic 3 way switch wiring diagram this is the most common and the easiest wiring diagram to follow of any of the wiring diagrams for a 3 way switch circuit. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. 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. Two very old three way switches are depicted in the photo above.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch Circuit Diagram
