How To Wire Up A Three Way Switch

With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.

How to wire up a three way switch. If your 3 way light switch 2 is connected between the power supply and the light fixture as is most common. You will see a black screw and two gold screws on the switch. With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light. Before you start installing take a look at your new 3 way switch to identify all of the terminals that you will be connecting wires to.

Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Three way switch wire connections. 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. Strip all three wires with wire strippers.

This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. 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. Traveler wire terminals these are located on each side of the switch towards the top of the switch. Two black and one red.

Wiring a 3 way light switch. In this circuit two light fixtures are shown but more can be added by duplicating the wiring arrangement between the fixtures for each additional light. All switches have screws on the side but some also come with push fitting holes or slots to slide the wire into. Three way switches have different methods of connection depending on the brand of the switch.

Replace any regular switches with the 3 way switches. Wiring a 3 way switch with multiple lights. You should have three remaining wires in each box. A 3 way switch will not have the words on or off written on it.

The existing 2 wire black and white romex can still be used to connect a 3 way switch 2 and the light fixture. The switch may also have several ways to make the wire connections. Take your three way switch. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.

Remember the black wire that you wrapped around the traveler wires is the common.