Looking Good Standard 3 Way Switch Wiring

The system also requires three way switches.

Standard 3 way switch wiring. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. The 3 wire cable consist of a black wire a white wire and a bare copper wire while the 4 wire cable has an added red wire which is hot as well. The common terminal of the second 3 way switch connects to the light fixture s.

A wiring diagram is a streamlined traditional photographic depiction of an electric circuit. This is the 3 wire cable which you must have to wire a 3 way light switch. Then a 4 wire cable going between the two 3 way switches and then a 3 wire cable going from the switches to the load.

It shows the components of the circuit as simplified forms and the power and also signal links in between the gadgets. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. Take a closer look at a 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. The switches are wider than regular single pole switches and they have three terminal screws on the side sometimes back of the switch housing. Three way switches require a three wire cable.

More wiring diagrams for switches single switches 4. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram you re following you ll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches. From there use pliers to turn the wire into a j and carefully wrap it around the black screw on the light switch typically located at the bottom.

With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. 3 way switches are useful for large rooms with multiple entrances but require a bit more wiring than a standard single pole switch. Diagram 3 above shows the electricity source starting at the right 3 way switch box the same that has the romex wire going to the fixture.