Looking for a 3 way switch wiring diagram? Here are a few that may be of interest .
Table of contents
- Step 2: Gather your tools
- How to replace your old, outdated 3-way light switches
- 3-way Switch Wiring - Electrical
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They're in tabs on the top and bottom of each switch. The screws also bore into holes on the electrical box behind them. To access the wiring, gently pull the switches out of the electrical boxes. Be careful not to dislodge any wires from the switch terminals -- the wires should still be firmly attached to the screws on the switch holding them in place. Before you dive in, take a second to snap a picture of the switches and visible wiring.
Step 2: Gather your tools
In fact, take photos before and after you tinker with anything. This way, you'll have a record of how everything was connected and working properly initially. Think of it as extra insurance in case you run into trouble along the way.
You should now have a good view inside each box. I must stress that there are many possible ways a set of three-way light switches can be connected. This step-by-step is reflective of a common wiring scenario and the one in my own home. Inside each of the two electrical boxes you should see two bundles of wires. Let's call each box "Box 1" and "Box 2. If so then the direction wires enter each box is important. It will help you deduce their origin and ultimately identify them. In box 1, one of the wire bundles enters the box from the bottom.
This three-wire bundle should consist of two colored wires black, white plus one of bare copper. These wires come from your home's main electrical panel usually in the basement below and provide power to your lighting circuit. The other 4-wire bundle will enter the box from the top and have three colored wires black, white, red and a copper bare one.
They connect the switch in this box to the other switch in box 2. Here, both wire bundles should enter the electrical box from its top side. Besides their direction of entry the wires are constructed the same way. One three-wire bundle will have two colored wires black, white plus one of bare copper. These link the switch to your light fixture. A second bundle four-wire should contain three colored wires black, white, red and a copper bare.
The wires here connect this local switch to the other in box 1 across the room. The wiring you see may not match what I've described. For instance, there may not be any white wires. This scenario tends to happen with switches in older homes. One of your electrical boxes might have just one bundle of wires while the other is packed with three bundles.
How to replace your old, outdated 3-way light switches
It isn't uncommon either to have one three-way switch in the same box as two or even three others. All those switches, terminals and wires can confuse experienced electricians, let alone novice DIYers. Take a look at these two diagrams below. The first is an outline of what you should see. It's the simple three-way circuit I anticipated and encountered in my home. The second drawing depicts when box 1 has three bundles of wire while box 2 has just one.
Here's an example of a basic three-way switch layout, the type you'll hopefully deal with in your home. If your lighting setup doesn't jive with these two pictures, I suggest you abort the project. The same goes if the wiring is mysterious, odd or looks complex. You'll be better off playing it safe and hiring a professional. This is an alternative three-way switch layout you might also encounter in your house.
If your wiring matches my description diagram 1 or what's shown in diagram 2 above then proceed. Be advised that for diagram 2 layouts you will have to adjust my instructions accordingly. If you haven't already taken a photo of the original wiring, now's the time. In Box 1, disconnect a wire on the old switch and attach it to the correct terminal on the new one. Methodically dealing with one wire at a time will help avoid confusion and mistakes.
3-way Switch Wiring - Electrical
The black wire from the three-wire bundle coming up from the main panel links to the "common" terminal also called line on the new switch. This terminal should be painted black on the switch or labeled "COM". The black and red wires in the other bundle four-wire , entering the box from up top, are the travelers wires from the other switch. Attach these two wires to the two brass switch terminals. For these it doesn't matter what silver terminal you use.
- Tutorial: 3-Way Switches and 4-Way Switches.
- Wiring a 3-Way Switch.
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Similarly, inside Box 2, attach the black wire from the three-wire bundle black, white, copper to the black terminal on the new switch. Attach the red and black wires from the other bundle four-wire to the switch's brass terminals. Again these are the travelers that connect both three-way switches in the circuit. In my particular case, the Lutron switches I bought had one brass and one blue terminal.
Since they're made to work as a pair, I made sure to attach the red traveler wire to the blue terminal on both switches. The last link to make is the ground bare copper. Each electrical box should have a bundle of copper wires joined together with a wire nut the yellow twist-on wire connector, pictured below. In some older homes, these bundles predate wire nuts and are simply soldered to each other.
The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3- way switch. A 3- wire NM connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3- way switch together. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. The common terminal of the second 3- way switch connects to the light fixture s.
The white neutral wires are connected together in each switch box. Diagrams shown on this page are simplified for clarity. Electrical outlet boxes can have numerous NM cables going in and out.
See Actual Switch Box Wiring. Ground connection diagram is shown separately. With conventional wiring, line voltage enters the first 3- way switch box. Black common wire is usually wrapped around the two traveler wires on a 3- way switch. Multiple Switch Wiring 3- way and Single Pole.
Alternate 3- Way Switch Wiring.