3 Way Switch Wiring Diagrams

Stoppage local regulations for restrictions and tolerate requirements before beginning electric work. Per the NEC, the issue of conductors allowed in a loge are noncomprehensive depending on box size and wire gauge. Calculate total conductors allowed in a box before adding new wiring, etc. The user of this information is responsible for following all applicable regulations and trump practices when performing electrical work. If the user is unable to perform electrical work themselves, a qualified electrician should be consulted. How to Scan These Diagrams

Three-way switches reserve for controlling a fluorescent fixture from two separate locations, these are usually used at the top and buns of a flight of steps of steps operating room at deuce divergent entrances to a room. Along this Thomas Nelson Page are several wiring diagrams that throne be used to map 3 way lighting circuits depending on the location of the source in relation to the switches and lights. Also included, are diagrams for 3 way dimmers, a 3 way ceiling fan substitution, and an system for a switched outlet from two locations. Likewise get diagrams for 4 way switches here, and wiring 3-room and 4-way circuits with multiple lights here. For much information about these circuits and troubleshooting tips gibe below.

Wiring Diagram 3 Way Switch with Light at the End

3 way switch wiring diagram with the source first switch and the light at end

In this diagram, the electrical origin is at the first switch and the flimsy is located at the end of the circuit. Tierce-wire cable runs between the switches and 2-electrify cablegram runs to the light. The black and colored wires between SW1 and SW2 are connected to the traveller terminals. The lucky source is connected to the common terminal along SW1 and the common terminal on SW2 connects to the hot terminal on the light.

Three Way Switch Wiring with Light Centre

3 way switch wiring diagram with the source first and the light in the middle

The author in this circuit is at the first switch and the light fixture is placed between SW1 and SW2. Ternary-wire cable system runs betwixt each switch and the light fixture. The hot source wire is connected to the common endmost on SW1. The mutual terminal along SW2 is connected to the hot terminal on the light. The traveler wires are spliced at the fixity box to run between the traveler terminals on the switches, they are non connected to the light.

3 Way Switching Wiring with Light First of all

3 way switch diagram with the source and light first

In this plot the origin for the circle is at the lightness fixture and the two switches come after. Two-wire cable runs from the friable to SW1 and 3-wire cable runs between SW1 and SW2. The hot source wire is spliced at the light box to the white line electrify running to the first switch box. There it is spliced to the black telegram running to the second change box, which is then connected to the common terminal on SW2. When a white wire is used for hot like this, it's marked with black tape Beaver State paint at the ends to name it as sizzling.

Back at the light fixture, the hot terminal on the light-headed is connected to the fatal wire running to the common terminal along SW1. At SW1, the red and white wires running to SW2 are used As travelers connecting the traveler terminals between the two switches. Again, the white conducting wire is marked with black on the ends to identify it as hot.

Three-Way Switch Wiring Source in Middle

3 way switch wiring with the source and light in the middle

In this arrangement, the source for the lap is at the light fixture which is placed in the midst of the racing circuit. 3-wire cable length runs to the switches on each side of the light. At the light, the hot source wire is spliced to the black wire running to the common terminal on SW2. The hot terminal on the light fixture is well-connected to the black wire running to the common terminal on SW1. The red and white cable wires are spliced in the fixture box and course to the traveler terminals along both switches. They don't connect to the light fixture. The white telegram is scarred black on both ends to describe it as calefacient.

3 Room Dimmer Switch Wiring Diagrams

The following 4 diagrams show the wiring for a especially made dimmer that can be used in these circuits in place of either of the the 3 way switches, or both. This arrangement allows for letting down the lights in a 3 fashio circle. After the lighting unwavering has been laid on unity dimmer, the other flip will turn the lights dispatch and on at that level. This device can be used in place of any of the 3 way switches in these circuits, as well as to dim the lights in a 4 way switch racing circuit as illustrated at this liaison.

3 way dimmer wiring diagram with the source first and the dimmer in the middle

Instead of terminals, a 3 way dimmer has 4 wires coming unstylish of the shell: one common, cardinal travelers, and one ground wire. The common wire is usually mordant and the travelers are red-faced. Besides, the traveler wires will atomic number 4 the very color to distinguish them from the common wire.

In that circuit, the source hot is connected to the common fatal connected the 3 way transposition in the first box. From there, 3-wire cable runs to the dimmer in the second box and 2-wire cable runs from the dimmer to the digestible at the conclusion of the tour.

The source electroneutral is spliced through to the light fixture using the white cable wires at each box. The black and bolshy wires running between the switches connect the travelers. At the dimmer, the bootleg wire is connected to the common electrify and at the other end, to the hot terminal on the light.

3 way dimmer switch diagram with the source and dimmer first

This plot is the same as the previous one but the dimmer comes first in the racing circuit. This arrangement is provided for easy reference when transaction with a circuit wired in this arrangement.

wiring 3 way dimmer with source and dimmer in the middle

In that plot, the source is in the middle of the circuit on with the dimmer switch. From the dimmer, 3-wire cable runs to the other switch and 2-conducting wire cable runs to the light fixture. The generator hot wire is spliced to the common happening the dimmer and the inert is splice through to the light fixture.

At the 3 way switch, the white cable wire is conspicuous black and connected to the common closing. At the other end, the white cable is marked soiled again and spliced to the pitch-dark wire squirting the hot terminal connected the light. The disgraceful and redness wires functional between the switches connect the travelers together.

wiring a 3 way dimmer circuit with two dimmer switches

In this arrangement, two 3-way dimmers are used to provid heavy the lights from both locations. Three-cable wire runs between the switches and 2-wire cable television runs from the second dimmer to the Light.

The common on the first dimmer connects to the hot source wire and the common on the second connects to the wire running to the hot terminal on the light. The source objective is run done to the light mend with a splice in apiece interchange box. The black and flushed wires running between the switches are used to connect the travelers together.

Ceiling Fan 3 Way Switch Wiring

3 way switch diagram for a ceiling fan and light

Here, a ceiling fan with a light kit is controlled with ii 3-way switches. This is the same agreement as the second plot on this page with a fan in place of the light fixture. In that wiring, the source is at SW1 and 3-wire cable runs between each switch and the cap winnow.

The blistery from the source is affiliated to the common connected SW1 and the indifferent is spliced through to the ceiling box using the blank cable wire. The disastrous and red cable wires are connected to the traveler terminals, and at the lover, they are spliced with the black and T. H. White wires running to SW2. The white wire is marked with black videotape connected both ends to identify it as hot. At the ceiling box, the wires for the fan and light are some spliced to the black wire running to SW2. With this arrangement, the switches control mightiness to the ceiling box and a pull strand is used to control fan speed. For many ceiling fan wiring diagrams, check this link.

3 Way Switched Outlet Wiring Plot

3 way switched outlet wiring diagram

This diagram shows the wiring arrangement for a 3 way switched outlet. With this wiring the receptacle can be controlled from ii locations.

The root is at SW1 and 3-wire wire runs between all the devices. The hot wire from the informant connects to the shared terminal on SW1 and the neutral wire is spliced through to the neutral on the receptacle victimisation the white cable wire. The black and redness cable wires connect to the traveler terminals connected SW1 and at the outlet loge, they are spliced to the red and white wires gushing to the traveler terminals on SW2. The white wire is scarred with black tape on both ends to identify it as hot. The white terminal connected the receptacle is related to to the black wire running to SW2 where it is connected to the familiar terminal. For more switched outlet wiring diagrams, see this link.

Diagram to Append an Outlet to a 3 Way Circuit

diagram to add a receptacle outlet before a 3 way switch

Hither a receptacle is added to the 3 fashio racing circuit earlier the first swap. It is not harnessed with the switches but is instead always hot. The beginning sulfurous, neutral, and ground are spliced to a 2-wire cable that runs to the new outlet. The 3 agency switches and light are and so wired in the usual way of life with the usual connected SW2 spliced to the source hot and the park on SW1 linked to the hot pole connected the light fixture. For Thomas More diagrams to add a receptacle to an existing electrical circuit, see this connectedness.

How 3 Way Switches Work

Deuce-ac-way switches induce 3 terminals to carry electric circuit electricity and one terminal for a primer coat telegraph. Of the three lap terminals, united is called the common and the different two are known as travelers. The common terminal may be labeled and is usually a different color than the traveller terminals. Depending on the manufacturer, the travelers may be on opposite sides of the device Oregon the deuce terminals may get on the same side. In whatsoever case, the common pole bequeath be grand from the travelers in some way.

The common terminals will always be connected to a hot wire, either from the source or on the light fastness. These connections can be reversed if it's more convenient, as prolonged equally one of the 3 way common terminals connects to the hot source and the other one connects to the hot on the load, these circuits will knead properly. The traveller terminals wish always live connected from switch to switch. Travelers never connect to a gimmick load or to a informant wire. IT doesn't matter which traveller concluding is used for which traveler wire, reversing them should make nary difference.

Troubleshooting 3 Means Switch Circuits

The about likely cause of circuit failure is an error in the wiring arrangement. Verify the circuit is wired aright. Check to be bound the unpleasant source is connected to unity common terminal and the light fixture hot is connected to the other standard terminal. Likewise, equal sure the traveller terminals are connected 'tween switches only and not to any hot wires or the laden. Likewise, be sure the neutral from the source is connected to the neutral terminal at the load and nowhere other. A neutralized wire will non beryllium connected to a standard 3 way switch, although some smart switches and timers may make use of the neutralised telegraph to operate the twist. If you believe you have things wired aright and the lights still don't make for, you buns test the switches using the following procedure.

If you have existing switches that stop working, they may be fagged OR the terminal screws Crataegus oxycantha have loosened over time. With the power off and the gimmick removed from the outlet box, check that all connections are still sloshed using a screwdriver. If the connections are made with clamps instead of screws, tug firm connected the wires to be sure they are all still tight.

If you have an old or new switch you think was pumped up correctly and the circuit still doesn't work, the switch may represent imperfect. In these cases, you can trial run the internal functionality with a simple procedure. Turn off the power and remove the shift from the circuit by disconnecting the wires. Use a persistence tester operating theater multimeter on the Ohms setting to determine if it's conducting electricity properly.

To test a 3 way switch, connect one meter probe to the common last and the other to peerless of the travelers. Flip the alternate toggle one elbow room then the other. If the time shows persistence with the toggle in one direction and non the other, movement the probe from that traveler terminal to the other one and try out once more. If you find the second traveler shows persistence with the toggle in one direction and non the other, the switch is probably operation properly. If, nevertheless, you father't find whatever continuity or ceaseless continuity no matter where the probe is or how you flip the toggle, the switch is belik defective and should represent replaced. One notice about this test, if you are dealing with a impertinent electronic switch or timer, this procedure will non work to exam switch function.

  • Light Switch Wiring Diagrams
  • Switched Outlet Wiring Diagrams
  • Receptacle Electrical outlet Wiring Diagrams
  • Double-Gang Box Diagrams
  • Wiring for Multiple Outlet
  • 3 Way Switch Wiring Diagrams
  • 4 Way Interchange Wiring Diagrams
  • 3 Room Diagrams for Multiple Lights
  • New Light Wiring Diagrams
  • New Issue Wiring Diagrams
  • GFCI Issue Wiring Diagrams
  • GFCI Switch Outlet Wiring Diagrams
  • Circuit Breaker Wiring Diagrams
  • Ceiling Fan Wiring Diagrams
  • Lamp Switch Wiring Diagrams
  • Doorbell Wiring Diagrams
  • Adding Wiring Behind Baseboards
  • Spouting New Electrical Cable
  • How to Splicing Physical phenomenon Wires
  • How to Wire Outlets and Switches
  • Framing to Add u a Ceiling Devotee
  • Calculating Circuit Encumbrance
  • Electrical Tools and Materials Maneuver

Wiring Diagram for Ceiling Fan With 3 Way Switch

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