Wiring diagram for a 3 way switch one of the many wiring diagrams showing different methods of wiring a three way switch circuit. The black and red wires between sw1 and sw2 are connected to the traveler terminals.

How To Wire A 4 Way Switch
3 way switch wiring diagram power at switch. Red and blue wires link traveler terminals of both switches. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. The white wire must be re identified as a hot wire at each switch location. The key to wiring 3 way switches the power feed and the switch leg leading to the fixture s typically one at each switch location are attached to the screw terminal found at one end of the switch by itself. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.
The ground wire is pigtailed with a wire connector at the switch boxes and the ceiling box. Fixture between two three way switches. The black hot wire connects to the far right switchs common terminal. This electrical wiring diagram shows power into light switch box 1 wire to light from switch box 1 and from switch box 1 to three way light switch box 2. 3 way switch wiring diagram. In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box.
The white wire between switches is not being used as a neutral. In this light switch wiring diagram the power feed joins the circuit via the light fixture where a two wire cable c2 runs from the light to the first 3 way switch sw1 and a 3 wire cable c3 joins the two switches. An example of three way switch wiring with the line and load in the same 4 square electrical box. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Three way switch diagrams fully explained. Power through switch light is controlled by two three way switches with the light between the switches and the power first going through a switch then to the light and onto the second three way switch.
Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light. In this diagram power enters the fixture box. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Wiring diagram 3 way switch with light at the end in this diagram the electrical source is at the first switch and the light is located at the end of the circuit. 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.
Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram with line and load in the same switch box. What is common in the diagrams above and with any 3 way switch circuit is that the power hot wire coming into the circuit will always go to the common terminal of the first switch. Wiring diagrams for 3 way switches. The hot wire from light always goes to the common terminal of the second switch.