But first lets get my disclaimer out of the way. Connecting a two wire light fixture to a three wire power supply cable is not an ordinary occurrence.
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Understanding Three Way Wall Switches
Three wire light switch. 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. A three way switch has at least three wires and possibly four depending on whether it has a ground wire. 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. When you see a red wire in a light switch box it can mean two things. It could be there is or once was a three way switch in play. This is an updated version of the first arrangement.
Two wires attach to brass screw terminals which are usually at the top of the switch and an additional wire attaches to a dark colored not green screw terminal which is usually at the bottom of the switch. Or it could be the red wire is the wire going to the fixture and the black wires are the live wires. The three way switch is a variation of the standard single pole switch which controls a light only from one locationa third type is the four way switch which is used in conjunction with two three way switches to control lighting from more than two locationsthis configuration may be used in open plan homes or in large kitchens or great rooms where a central bank of lighting fixtures might. Three wire supply cables generally carry red and black hot wires of 110 to 120 volts each with a single white neutral wire. 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. This 3 way light switch wiring diagram shows how to do the light switch wiring and the light when the power is coming to the light fixture.
3 way switch wire diagram power to light fixture. Video includes the bonus addition of adding a 4 way switch. Well cover the easier scenario first. In this diagram power enters the fixture box. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. Never work on a.
Heres how to wire a three way switch with easy tips from the family handyman. A 3 way switch circuit is explained and described in detail including visual animation and practical application. The black hot wire connects to the far right switchs common terminal.
Gallery of Three Wire Light Switch
