The hot wire from the line cable in is attached to the common on the first 3 way switch. The use of two wire romex in three way switch loop thank you gentlemen for answering my question so fast.
Two 3way Switches Same Power Source Electrical Wiring
How to wire a 3 way switch with 14 2 romex. What that number means is 14 gauge wire size 2 conductor which also includes a bare ground wire. You will need 142 romex and 143 romex. The 143 and second 142 arelike the branches of the tree. The 143 branches out from the tree and extends to a box that contains the switch that controls the hallway light. In this setup you need a three wire cable between the two 3 way switches we dont count the green or bare ground wire when describing cable. You can wire a three way switch with 14 2.
The only exception here is that the black wire coming from the light fixture will now connect to the standalone hot terminal on switch 2 this common black wire will send power to the light fixture from the circuit breaker. The 2 conductor only refers to the insulated wires and not the ground. So when your needing a three conductor cable to wire up a basic 2 way switch you will need a 142 wground cable. Run another cable from the bulb to the other switch also connecting the black to the common on one side and the bulb on the other. 143 from switch 2 to the light red will bring power down to switch 2 multi gang box white will bring neutral and black will bring power up to the light ignoring the headache it will cause when an apprentice mixes up the connections and i have to fix it is it legal to wire a three way switch with 142 for the travelers neutral coming to. I did some more investigating on the subject myself and found some information in mike holts 1999 nec illustrated changes book page 14 figures 2 2 and 2 3.
First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. The black and white from the 143 tree branch then stem out making twigs that lead to other switches and lights as well as the second 3 way switch for the hall way light. 142 wire has two power carrying conductors a black and a white plus a bare ground wire. Similarly 143 has a black a white and a bare ground wire but includes an additional red conductor hence the 3 in the name. You run a 14 2 cable from the lightbulb to one switch and connect the black to the bulb on one side and the common connector of the switch. D repeat this process with the other 3 way switch 2 using the same 3 wire romex cable you just connected to switch 1.
You will need two different types of 14 awg wire to wire your three way switch. To wire a 3 way light switch youll need 2 3 way light switches 2 2 wire non metallic cables 1 3 wire non metallic cable and 2 6 inch grounding wires. Two of the wires are travelers alternately serving as the hot line and the third is the neutral. The white wire is unused.