Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. A three way switch is built and wired a little differently than a conventional single pole light switch.
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Understanding Three Way Wall Switches
Wiring up a 3 way light switch. Slide the 2 wire nm power cable. The ground wire is pigtailed with a wire connector at the switch boxes and the ceiling box. Screw your two boxes and light fixture into place then gather your supplies. 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. 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. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together.
The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Before you even start wiring you want. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. When wiring a 3 way switch first screw the terminal screws of the new switch until they are difficult to turn. Connect the wire marked common to the black or dark colored screw. 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. Flip off power in the room youre working. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. When nothing is hooked up there is power in the 2 wire plus ground cable on the upstairs switch. The two switches appear to be connected by a 3 wire plus ground cable. Connect the ground wire to the green screw.
Connect the two remaining traveler wires to the two brass or light colored screws. Head to your fuse box and make sure there is no power coming to the room. 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. 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. 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. Three way light switches control a light from two locations such as from both ends of a staircase or hallway.
With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Wiring the switches 1. Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram. Grounding screws often are furnished with boxes and are green. These diagrams illustrate how to wire a pair of three way light switches in three different situations.
Gallery of Wiring Up A 3 Way Light Switch
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