![]() ![]() Ground connection diagram is shown separately. Electrical outlet boxes can have numerous NM cables going in and out. The white neutral wires are connected together in each switch box.ĭiagrams shown on this page are simplified for clarity. The common terminal of the second 3- way switch connects to the light fixture(s). Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. A 3- wire NM connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3- way switch together. With 2-wire control one switch is the 'line switch' (common connected to the line hot) and the other switch is the 'load switch' (common connected to the load). They also have a 12/3 wire with four cables that run between the. My light fixtures are going to be run using 14/3 on a separate 15A circuit. Most dimmer switches use a 12/2 wire with three cables that connect to the light fixture. The black (line) wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3- way switch. The problem is the cost of 12/3 is double the cost of 12/2. In the 1st diagram below, a 2- wire NM cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. In the 2nd diagram below, blue wires are used for travelers. With conduit, the wire colors for travelers could be any color. With NM cable, the wire colors for travelers will be black and red using 3- wire cable. The colors will vary depending on whether NM cable or conduit was used. The hot is extended from the light’s box to one 3way and the switch leg is extended from the light’s box to the other 3way.There is no standard for wire colors on 3- way switch travelers. A two-wire cable, such as a length of 14/2 BX, for example, can be run from the overcurrent device to the lamp load, and then a second length of two-wire cable. Level Advanced Also called “Power at the Light 3way” or “Commercial 3way”ĭescription Power at the light’s box with 2 dead end 3ways. If you miswire the travelers you might have to go back up a 12 foot ladder and take down a 50 pound chandelier to access the connections in the ceiling light box unaware that one of the wires will still be hot. This method also creates an electrical hazard beginners will think the wiring in the light box is dead when the light is switched off, but one traveler wire will still be hot unless the circuit breaker is turned off. If you have a choice, choose the switch box for feed and traveler connections with only the switch leg connections at the light. It would be easier to work on your keyboard (and electrical connections) at a switch location rather than up on the ceiling. If you were given a choice to move your computer keyboard to one of 2 locations which would you choose ġ) Upside down, up on the ceiling by the light or… Bizarre and illegal to be sure, but it worked just like a 3-way switch for 50 years. ![]() Also the 14/3 between 3ways is missing its white sheathing and the wires are normally inserted into the back of the box. flashlight said: The weird thing about this setup (ok theres lots of weird things) is that it changed polarity at the load depending on the switch positions. To simplify the image and make it easier for you to visualize, the ground wire is left out and the boxes were laid sideways. If you plugged this into a hot receptacle the switches would function properly to control the light. The other 4 switch terminals are the traveler terminals interconnected with red and black travelers. The cord plug on the left illustrates power (L1 + N). Notice how one common has the black hot feed (L1) and the other common has the black switch leg to the light. The letter “C” in the photo identifies the common terminals. The only items not visible in the image are the switch blades, shown as purple in the wiring schematic, but hidden inside the switches. In houses, switches should always be mounted vertically (up and down). It is the best and easiest method of wiring 3 way switches. The switches are shown in a horizontal position to make it easier to visualize. This is a basic 3 way switch wiring method. ![]()
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