Three Way Electrical Switch

In a hallway or large room for example installing three way switches at both ends lets you turn the light fixture on or off from both locations.

Three way electrical switch. Unfortunately not all 3 way switches are wired the conventional way. If you have any problems with these switches it may be best to call an electrician. The first step in any electrical project is to make sure there is no power going to the circuit you plan to be working on. Add an electrical box for the second 3 way switch in the basement.

Two very old three way switches. The white wire becomes the energized switch leg as indicated by using black or red electrical tape. The white wire of the cable going to the switch is attached to the black line in the fixture box using a wire nut. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.

A three way wall switch is a common type of light switch that makes it possible to control a ceiling light or other electrical fixture from two different locations in a room. With nm cable the wire colors for travelers will be black and red using 3 wire cable with conduit the wire colors for travelers could be any color. Most common is the single pole switch the type used to control a light fixture from a single location the next most common is the three way switch which is commonly used to control a light fixture from two different locations. This is only a wiring schematic and not the actual wiring method used for 3 way switch installations.

Below is a simple 3 way schematic that can be applied to all three way electrical light switch connections. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 3 way switch diagram 2 above shows the electricity source starting at the fixture. See alternate 3 way switch wiring configuration for another way 3 way switches may be wired.

For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types. Either way complete these five steps for 3 way light switch wiring.

3 way switch wire colorsthere is no standard for wire colors on 3 way switch travelers the colors will vary depending on whether nm cable or conduit was used. Turn off the correct circuit at your electrical panel. Two very old three way switches are depicted in the photo above. The diagrams below show the conventional wiring for 3 way switches.

It s likely you ll also need to replace the existing switch box with a larger one to accommodate the extra wires for the 3 way switch. Diy electrical wiring a 3 way switch. Maxxima 3 way single pole decorative led slide dimmer rocker switch electrical light switch 600 watt max led compatible wall plate included 2 pack 4 3 out of 5 stars 884 21 99 21. Basic 3 way switch diagram how to wire 3 way light switch step by step.

Wiring diagrams for 3 way switches.