![]() ![]() With this layout we have the light fixture between the two switches. The two traveler terminals can be on the same side of the switch or on opposite sides of the switch depending on the switch manufacturer. They can match with both on red or both on black, but not black/red or red/black. When the two separate 2-way switches match on their traveler wires the light goes on, when they don’t match the light goes off. Its like the game of concentration where you turn over two playing cards trying to get them to match. Within the switch either one of the traveler terminals is connected to the common terminal, which can make or break the circuit depending on the position of the other switches traveler terminal matching or not. A 3-way switch won’t have an on/off designation that can be found on standard switches, as either position could be on or off. We have two traveler terminals, which are usually identified by their light color of bronze or copper, a ground terminal in green, and a common terminal often a dark color. If we look at a 3-way switch, we’ll see that it has four terminal screws. 3-Way Switch for Controlling a Light or Fan How do 3-Way Light Switches Work? Whenever working with electrical be sure to shutoff the power at the electrical panel, and hire a qualified electrician to do the installation if you are not confident that you can do the job safely. 3-Way Switch Wiring Explained Electrical Safety Warning To watch the FREE YouTube version of this presentation, scroll to the bottom or click on the following link. We’ll show several different wiring configurations. In this presentation we’ll learn how to control a light using a 3-way switch, which is convenient when there are two or more entrances to a room, or an upper and lower stairwell. The hot is extended from the light’s box to one 3way and the switch leg is extended from the light’s box to the other 3way.3-Way Switch Wiring Explained. Level Advanced Also called “Power at the Light 3way” or “Commercial 3way”ĭescription Power at the light’s box with 2 dead end 3ways. If you miswire the travelers you might have to go back up a 12 foot ladder and take down a 50 pound chandelier to access the connections in the ceiling light box unaware that one of the wires will still be hot. This method also creates an electrical hazard beginners will think the wiring in the light box is dead when the light is switched off, but one traveler wire will still be hot unless the circuit breaker is turned off. If you have a choice, choose the switch box for feed and traveler connections with only the switch leg connections at the light. It would be easier to work on your keyboard (and electrical connections) at a switch location rather than up on the ceiling. If you were given a choice to move your computer keyboard to one of 2 locations which would you choose ġ) Upside down, up on the ceiling by the light or… Also the 14/3 between 3ways is missing its white sheathing and the wires are normally inserted into the back of the box. To simplify the image and make it easier for you to visualize, the ground wire is left out and the boxes were laid sideways. If you plugged this into a hot receptacle the switches would function properly to control the light. The other 4 switch terminals are the traveler terminals interconnected with red and black travelers. The cord plug on the left illustrates power (L1 + N). Notice how one common has the black hot feed (L1) and the other common has the black switch leg to the light. The letter “C” in the photo identifies the common terminals. The only items not visible in the image are the switch blades, shown as purple in the wiring schematic, but hidden inside the switches. In houses, switches should always be mounted vertically (up and down). It is the best and easiest method of wiring 3 way switches. The switches are shown in a horizontal position to make it easier to visualize. This is a basic 3 way switch wiring method. ![]()
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