In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. The ground wire goes through both switch boxes and the ceiling light box and it is connected at all junctions except the light with a pigtail short piece of wire and wire connector.
3 Way Switch Wiring Diagram House Electrical Wiring Diagram
Wiring a three way switch. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Three way switch wiring source in middle. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. In this arrangement the source for the circuit is at the light fixture which is located in the middle of the circuit.
At the light the hot source wire is spliced to the black wire running to the common terminal on sw2. 3 wire cable runs to the switches on each side of the light. Go to my switch terminology page where i discuss the terms used for the different types of home electrical switches. Wiring a 3 way light switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch.
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. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Two three way switches control one light with the electric power coming through the first switch flowing to the second switch and then to the light fixture. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. First of all we need to go over a little basic terminology on switches. Wiring a 3 way switch is a little more tricky than wiring a 2 way switch.
Traveler wires are interchangeable. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. It should also help in understanding the functions of each type of switch.
Gallery of Wiring A Three Way Switch
