In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switchs common dark colored terminal. At the leg end the wire attached at the common is the one that goes to the lights.
Wiring A 3 Way Switch
3 way switch all wires hot. It would be up to you to mark the white wire so. There is no off on a 3 way switch. Return to electrical article list. How to determine the correct wires to attach to a 3 way switch when the wire and screw terminal color code is not certain. In some all variations of a three way switch either of two wires may be hot. Turn off the power and mark it so you dont confuse it with the 3 way circuit wires.
Three way switches have three terminals with the one that is not for the two travelers being called the common. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. When wiring a 3 way switch circuit all we want to do is to control the black wire hot wire to turn on and off the load from 2 different locations. Its a foolproof way for a proper connection. They are just wired that depending which way the switches are set neither on. 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.
At the hot end the incoming hot wire is connected to the common terminal. You will always have 2 hots on a 3 way switch. The hot wire leading from the 3 way switch circuit will have no power since all power must travel through the switches. For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way. Bare copper ground. On the other three way switch the load wire the load is the wire that feeds power to the light fixture gets connected to the copper or black screw terminal.
If one of the black hot wires does have power then that is the wire for the always on plug. If you are using blackwhite wire no combination is right. This will all be made clear in the diagrams that follow. White wire neutral. You have power in and power out. Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types.
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 diagram below will give you a better understanding how this circuit is wired. On one of the 3 way switches a line or hot wire gets connected to the copper or black screw terminal.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch All Wires Hot
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