Wiring a 3 way switch isnt that difficult. Click the icons below to get our nec compliant electrical calc elite or electric toolkit available for android and ios.
Wiring A 3 Way Switch With Multiple Lights 1 Wiring
Wiring diagram for a three way switch with multiple lights. 3 way switch wiring diagram. The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. In the above diagram the white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location. The electrical calc elite is designed to solve many of your common code based electrical calculations like wire sizes voltage drop conduit sizing etc.
With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 3 way switch diagrams for multiple light fixtures. This diagram sh ows connections when the power comes into the first switch on to the second switch and then on to two or more lights switched by the 3 way circuit. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. 3 way switched outlet wiring. 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.
An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box. In this diagram two 3 way switches control a wall receptacle outlet that may be used to control a lamp from two entrances to a room. Wiring a 3 way light switch. The most important rationale is that there are several ways that a three way switch can be wired. Three wire cable runs between the switches and the outlet. 3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box.
3 way switch diagram multiple light between switches 2 pdf 79kb back to wiring diagrams home. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Note that this configuration is easiest to do when utilizing the first method of 3 way circuits discussed previously in our wiring a basic 3 way switch article or diagram. If you intend to add multiple lights with a 3 way switch use the 3 way switch for multiple lights diagram. It is true that there are several wiring configurations for wiring 3 way light switches and all of the wiring configurations will depend on where the incoming circuit power is located and once that is identified the rest of the three way wiring connections are straight forward. The steps above describe installing a 3 way switch and provide a 3 way switch diagram utilizing one light fixture.
The answer to how it works is to have an extra hot wire that runs between the two switch boxes. Wiring multiple lights on a 3 way switch. This circuit is wired the same way as the 3 way lights at this link. In other words a 3 way switch is made up of one light thats controlled by two separate switches.