Three Way Light Wiring

With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.

Three way light wiring.

The black and red wires between sw1 and sw2 are connected to the traveler terminals. Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light. In this diagram the electrical source is at the first switch and the light is located at the end of the circuit. No longer allowed after 2011 nec if no neutral wire in switch boxes 3 way switch wiring diagram light fixture between switchesline voltage enters the first 3 way switch outlet box light fixture is located between switch boxes no longer allowed after 2011 nec if no neutral wire in switch boxes.

So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram you re following you ll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches. 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. Three way switches allow for controlling a light fixture from two separate locations these are usually used at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs or at two different entrances to a room.

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. This 3 way light switch diagram shows connections when the power comes into the first switch on to the second switch and then on to two or more lights switched by the 3 way circuit.