A 3 way wall switch controls a common light or set of lights from two separate switch locations. In the ceiling light fixture electrical box one black wire from a 3 way switch gets connected to the black load wire on the light fixture.
Light Switch Wiring Diagrams Do It Yourself Help Com
3 wire electrical switch. In a hallway or large room for example installing three way switches at both ends lets you turn the light fixture on or off from both locations. The purpose of a three way electrical switch knowing how to wire a three way lighting switch comes down to understanding the operation of this contraption. Two 3 way switches are required in any 3 way application. Before proceeding make sure you are comfortable working with electrical wires and switches. 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. It all depends on what you are wiring and what the electrical application will be.
With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Because the electrical code as of the 2011 nec update requires a neutral wire in most new switch boxes a 3 wire cable runs between the light and switch. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. In the above 3 way switch wiring diagram at each switch the black wire gets connected to the copper or black screw.
Wiring a 3 way light switch. Hi matt great electrical repair question. You must completely forget about the notion of a switch being a simple openclosed circuit and look. 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. The red and black are used for hot and the white neutral wire at the switch box allows for powering a timer remote control or other programmable switch. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch.
2 and 3 wire cables can have several uses such as home run power feeds going back to the panel branch feeds single switching 3 way switching 4 way switching etc. A three way wall switch is a common type of light switch that makes it possible to control a ceiling light or other electrical fixture from two different locations in a room. This guide highlights the procedures for replacing a broken 3 way electrical switch. 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. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. 3 way switch wiring diagram depicting all wires in the ceiling junction box.
Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. This is an updated version of the first arrangement.
Gallery of 3 Wire Electrical Switch
