These diagrams illustrate how to wire a pair of three way light switches in three different situations. So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire.
Wiring A 3 Way Switch
Wiring up a 3 way light switch. Connect the ground wire to the green screw. Head to your fuse box and make sure there is no power coming to the room. The ground wire is pigtailed with a wire connector at the switch boxes and the ceiling box. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram youre following youll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches. Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. Three way light switches control a light from two locations such as from both ends of a staircase or hallway.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. The two switches appear to be connected by a 3 wire plus ground cable. Screw your two boxes and light fixture into place then gather your supplies. Wiring the switches 1. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. When nothing is hooked up there is power in the 2 wire plus ground cable on the upstairs switch.
A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. Flip off power in the room youre working. 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. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. A three way switch is built and wired a little differently than a conventional single pole light switch. Grounding screws often are furnished with boxes and are green.
When wiring a 3 way switch first screw the terminal screws of the new switch until they are difficult to turn. Slide the 2 wire nm power cable. The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Connect the two remaining traveler wires to the two brass or light colored screws. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. There is only the single 3 wire plus ground in the downstairs switch box and only two 2 wire plus ground cables at the fixture.
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 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. Before you even start wiring you want. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable in the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Connect the wire marked common to the black or dark colored screw.
Gallery of Wiring Up A 3 Way Light Switch
