The primary reason is that there are multiple ways that a 3 way switch can be wired. They can be confusing for more than one reason. You will be sorry if you go online and start looking at wiring schematics for three way and four way switches. When you are replacing a 3 way switch the best thing to do is change the wires over to the new switch in the same position as the old switch. Both of these 'travelers' have power in them and when the switches are flipped, the light turns on, amazing?. All this means is that they travel between the two switches. The other side of the switch has two terminals, these are often called the travelers. The 'single' terminal on one side of the switch is either the power or it provides the power to the light, no other choices. Where things get interesting is when you have to coordinate electrical power between the switches and the lights.įor the rest of us, a three way switch has 'three' terminals. The whole purpose of a three way or four way switch, is the ability to control a single light or bank of lights from more than one location. Unless you are an electrician, in which case you are probably not reading this article. Understanding Three Way Switchesįor a typical homeowner, understanding the intricacies of a 3 way switch can be a little challenging. The light may work with certain combinations of the switches, but not with others. A three way switch that is wired incorrectly may do weird things.
#3 way switch wiring power at switch how to#
Make sure you understand how to hook something up before you attempt it. Faulty or incorrect wiring can cause dead shorts and fires. It is possible for more than one circuit to be fed through a single box. Always double check, turn the breaker off and then use a tester to make sure nothing is hot. Wiring a Three Way Switch - InformationĮlectrical shocks can cause severe injury and even death. See Step One for wiring a three way switch rough in requirements. Still for the sake of understanding we are including a couple of paragraphs on the correct wiring. Instead we are dealing with the switches themselves and the correct hook up for them. We are not discussing installing rough in wiring in this article. Your house may or may not have been wired using that configuration.Īny other combination will result in a white wire (usually the neutral to be used as a hot traveler). From the second box a hot wire would go up to the light. Two hot wires going between the two switch boxes. The simplest schematic possible has the power for the light coming in one of the switch boxes. Not sure if this is your problem? See the articles ' Troubleshooting Electrical Wiring' and ' Residential Electrical Repair' for a listing of related articles. The problem is from a wiring stand point they have some unique requirements. A great feature for rooms that have more than one entrance to them.
When you toggle either switch up or down, you turn the light on and off. Simply put, a three way switch consists of one light that is controlled by two separate switches. Wiring a three way switch will be necessary when you deal with this type of switch in your home.
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