Wiring a 3 way light switch.
3 way light switch power at switch.
1 circuit power supply cable 2 electrical box where the light fixture is mounted 3 4 these wires must be connected to the common screw 5 light fixture.
The hot source is spliced to the white wire which should be marked as.
E lastly if your light fixture isn t wired yet connect the light fixture to the 2 wire romex black and white wires only which leads to your new 3 way light switch 2 and you should have completed your 3 way light switch circuit.
To wire a 3 way light switch you ll need 2 3 way light switches 2 2 wire non metallic cables 1 3 wire non metallic cable and 2 6 inch grounding wires.
Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types.
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.
First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches.
Three way light switch with power feed via the light.
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.
For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.
Two three way switches control one light with the electric power coming through the first switch flowing to the second switch and then to the light fixture.
The most basic three way switch setup has two switches that connect and control one light fixture like switches on either end of a hallway staircase or large living area.
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.
The ground wire goes through both switch boxes and the ceiling light box and it is connected at all junctions except the light with a pigtail short piece of wire and wire connector.
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.
If your 3 way light switch 2 is connected between the power supply and the light fixture as is most.
In this light switch wiring diagram the power feed joins the circuit via the light fixture where a two wire cable c2 runs from the light to the first 3 way switch sw1 and a 3 wire cable c3 joins the two switches.
The white wire from the switch connects to the black wire from the circuit power supply cable.