3 Way Switch Light Between Switches

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.

3 way switch light between switches.

3 way switch wiring diagram light fixture between switches. These have on off switches. Do not have an on off switch. 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.

No longer allowed after 2011 nec if no neutral wire in switch boxes 3 way switch wire colors. 3 way switch diagram multiple light between switches 2 pdf 79kb back to wiring diagrams home. For example a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three way. 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.

Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types. These switches use only 2 types of wires. Option 1 is for power into the first switch then wire to the light and lastly wired from the light to the other switch. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.

These switches actually have 4 terminals. Option 2 is for power into the first switch but then wires run separately from the first switch to the light. 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. Click the icons below to get our nec compliant electrical calc elite or electric toolkit available for android and ios.

First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. Single light between 3 way switches power via switch power enters the circuit at switch box sb1 and the hot connects to the common terminal of the 3 way switch sw1 and the neutral is spliced through to the neutral terminal of the light. These switches don t have hot wires. 3 way switch light between switches below i ve shown two variations of wiring a light between 3 way switches.

Wiring a 3 way light switch. 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. Line voltage enters the first 3 way switch outlet box light fixture is located between switch boxes. These switches have 3 terminals.

Installing 2 way switches are easy.