How do you hook up a 2 way light switch

Keep reading and learn how to wire a light switch and also use the 3 way switch wiring diagram to learn light switch wiring. To add the switch, you'll use one of two wiring a light switch diagrams, How to Install an In-Line Cord Switch. How.
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Two-way light switches are required for two way switching, these can be identified by looking at the terminals on the back of the switch. There will be a Com common terminal a L1 terminal and a L2 terminal.

This diagram represents a two way switching arrangement. There are other ways of wiring a two way lighting circuit, but this is by far the most common and easiest method. The old wiring colours that are present in the majority of homes in the uk have been used for this diagram.

How to wire a 2 way light switch. 2 way lighting explained. Light switch tutorial!

Three core and earth cable is required to install two or three way switching and this should be run from the first light switch to the second and then wired as shown in this diagram. Switch one is the switch that contains the live wire and switched live wire.

2 Way Switching

The diagram shows single colours only. In real life these wires would be covered by an outer protective sheath and would include a bare earth wire and would be called a cable.

Red sleeving or tape would of been placed on the wires as shown to show that they would be live at some point. Now this sleeving would be brown. The connections are very simple and there is another guide further down this page. This is the same diagram as above, but using the new harmonised colours. Brown sleeving or tape would of been placed on the wires as shown to show that they would be live at some point.

Wiring a 2-Way Switch

Here you can see the back of a light switch, in this instance it is a two way switch being used for a one way light. A one way switch has only a common and L1 terminal and a two way switch has a common, L1 and L2 terminal, like this one in the picture. Now by understanding the diagram above, go up to the top diagram and by using the concept shown here, just use your mouse pointer on that diagram and follow the flow from black wire hot wire to the load and return through the white wire neutral.

This should give you a good basic understanding how the 2-way switch circuit works and will help you in adding or changing a 2-way switch. So now that you have a basic concept of wiring a 2-way switch, let's look at the following 2-way switch diagrams to see which type of circuit scenario you have.

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After you have pulled your switch out from the wall, the wires in the box and connecting to the switch should look like one of the following. Wiring a 2-Way Switch How to wire a 2 way switch. Wiring a 2-way switch is about as simple as it gets when it comes to basic house wiring. First of all we need to go over a little terminology so you know exactly what is being discussed.

Go to my Switch Terminology Page where I discuss the terms used for the different types of home electrical switches.

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In this tutorial, we will show you how to make 2-way switching connection. We have explained both the methods below and both the methods are demonstrated in the Video given at the end of this article. This is the first method to make a 2-way switching connection, this is the old method. If you are going to install a new one then go for three wire control method. One end of the bulb is connected with the Common Terminal of second switch and other end of the Bulb is connected with Neutral line of AC power supply.

2 Way Switching - DIYWiki

The condition of getting Output in ON condition is same as the Ex-nor gate truth table which is given below:. This is the new method to make a 2-way switching connection as it is slightly different from the two wire control method. This method is commonly used now days as it is efficient than the Two Wire control system. As you can see in the Schematic Diagram of 2 way switch circuit below , the common of both the switches are short-circuited.