Replace any regular switches with the 3 way switches. The 2 wire cable feed from the power source enters the bottom of the switch box and the hot black wire connects to the common or shunt terminal on the 3 way switch.
How To Identify The Common Wire In A Three Way Switch Control
What is the common wire in a three way switch. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. 3 way switch wire diagram power to light switch. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Mercruiser 57 alternator wiring diagram. Wiring a 3 way switch i will show you how to wire a 3 way switch circuit and teach you how the circuit works. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of.
The single dark colored screw is known as the common terminal. A more positive way to identify a 3 way switch is to look at the body of the switch and count the number of screw terminals. 6 3 wire amperage. Traveler wires are interchangeable. Make sure power is off. Two of the terminals are a light colorbronze or copper coloredand are called travelers.
There is only one such terminal on a 3 way switch and it is usually identified as the one having a different color terminal screw often significantly darker from the other two. The common terminal is one of three electrically active terminals on a 3 way switch not including the ground terminal that is located on the metal frame of the mounting ears. Identify common in the switch leg box it is the black wire that goes up to the light. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Wrap them around the black and red that comes from the three conductor which are called travelers. Traveler wire terminals these are located on each side of the switch towards the top of the switch.
Before you start installing take a look at your new 3 way switch to identify all of the terminals that you will be connecting wires to. The common terminal is the bridge between the power supply and the load typically a light fixture. This will help you keep track of the common wire. Most common is the single pole switch the type used to control a light fixture from a single locationthe next most common is the three way switch which is commonly used to control a light fixture from two different locations. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch. A 3 way switch will not have the words on or off written on it.
Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types. For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way. How to identify common wire in 3 way switch. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. Most switches have the common marked. Turn main power off if possible for safety.
Two three way switches. A 3 way switch has three terminal screws plus a ground screw. It is the black wire in the power box which is your hot coming from the power source. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. It may be a different colored screw usually black while the others are brass colored or there may be a stamping on the side or back of th.
Gallery of What Is The Common Wire In A Three Way Switch
