This guide highlights the procedures for replacing a broken 3 way electrical switch. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of.
Three Way Switch Wiring How To Wire 3 Way Switches Hometips
How to wire in a three way switch. Neutral wire bypasses first three way switch. 3 way switch wire diagram power to light switch. Two black and one red. Wire cutters and strippers. Second switch is an end wired or end of run switch. Take your three way switch.
A 3 way wall switch controls a common light or set of lights from two separate switch locations. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Both three wire and two wire cable with ground are used. Strip all three wires with wire strippers. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch.
Tipthe traveller wire is connected in the light ceiling boxes with a length of neutral wire taped black to indicate a hot wire. Before replacing any 3 way switches that are broken turn off the power at the breaker box. A non contact voltage tester. 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. 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. 3 way switch 2 3 way wire which has black white and red coated wires and of course a copper ground wire electrical boxes of appropriate size to hold 3 way switch and wire.
You will see a black screw and two gold screws on the switch. 3 way light switch wiring diagram see below. Remember the black wire that you wrapped around the traveler wires is the common. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. A three way switch is fundamentally different in its operation from a regular two way switch. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch.
The ground wire is pigtailed throughout. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. Two 3 way switches are required in any 3 way application. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. You should have three remaining wires in each box. The goal is to place two switches at separate locations which control the exact same device.