The two switches appear to be connected by a 3 wire plus ground cable. 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.
3 Way Switch How To Wire A Light Switch
3 way switch with 2 wires. The wiring is more complicated than a traditional single pole switch but well explain how to make the connections. Run the traveler 2 wire through the same holes as the receptacle feeder 2 wire instead of alone across the attic. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. The following is the simple schematic of a three wire 2 way switch wiring. The l1 terminals of both the switches are connected to line or phase or live of the ac supply. You can observe in the schematic that both the com terminals are connected together.
Description power at both ends switch leg at one with a 2 wire 142 or 122 used as travelers. Try to keep the 2 wire traveler cable bundled close to the cable with the hot and neutral. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more. This story features diagrams that show how to wire 3 way switches. To wire a 3 way light switch youll need 2 3 way light switches 2 2 wire non metallic cables 1 3 wire non metallic cable and 2 6 inch grounding wires. Once youre done youll be able to control a light from two switches.
When nothing is hooked up there is power in the 2 wire plus ground cable on the upstairs switch. At the line switch box the black wire of the two wire line cable gets connected to the copper or black screw terminal on the three way switch. A three way wall switch is single pole double throw spdt with three connection wires and is typically wired with 123 or 143 cable between the two switches. Two way switches are single pole single throw spst with two connection wires and are wired with 122 or 142 cable between the switch and fixture. The red and black wires travelers of the 3 wire cable get connected to the common terminals on the three way switch.
Gallery of 3 Way Switch With 2 Wires
