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.
3 way light switch power at switch.
For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way.
The white wire from the switch connects to the black wire from the circuit power supply cable.
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.
Four way circuits are just a tad different than three way circuits mostly since the light switch that you add in has to be a four way switch rather than just another three way switch.
Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types.
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.
A four way switch has an extra common screw to bring the total number of screws up to four.
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.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.
The hot source is spliced to the white wire which should be marked as.
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.
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.
Wiring a 3 way light switch.
If your 3 way light switch 2 is connected between the power supply and the light fixture as is most.
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.
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.
Two common screws and two brass screws not counting the ground screw.
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.
First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches.