These kinds of switches are most commonly used in hallways or large rooms where there are more than one way to enter.Ĭonfused about which types of switches you need for your electrical project? The experts at Price Electric have been solving these problems for homeowners and builders for decades. If the light is on, either switch can turn it off. These two wires create their own internal circuit so that if a light is off, either switch can turn it on. However, they have two special wires that connect to each other, called travellers. Three-way switches are connected to a hot wire from the electric panel and a wire that connects to the light. Red and blue wires link the traveler terminals of both switches. The black hot wire connects to the far right switch’s common terminal. In this diagram, power enters the fixture box. That gives both of them the chance to interrupt the flow, or re-start the flow of electricity. This 3-way light switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switch and the light when power is coming to the light fixture. In order to be able to turn a light on or off from different points in the same room, BOTH switches must be three-way switches. Each one of them has the power to interrupt the electrical flow and turn the light off from a different part of the room. The three-way switch is used in conjunction with another three-way switch. A 2 way light switch has 3 terminals inside to allow control of the same light from two points and is commonly found at the top or bottom of a staircase. Much like the two-way switch, a three-way switch turns a light on or off. When you turn it off, you have interrupted the flow. In essence, when you turn the light on, you are completing a circuit, so the electricity is flowing to the light. In position 2 (when the switch is up or ‘off’), COM and L2 are connected together. There is one place to turn the light on or off. Each of the gangs (or switches) above in Fig 2 (of which there are two) work like this (Fig 3): In position 1 (when the switch is down or ‘on’), COM and L1 are connected together (just like the one way switch ). The white wire from the service panel is wired to one side of the light. ( Ground wires are not shown.) If the line carrying power comes into the light box first, the circuit must still be wired so the switch interrupts the black line. This is the kind of switch you have in many rooms. The white wire to the switch should be marked black to indicate that it is hot. What does a two-way switch do?Ĭhances are, when you think of a light switch, the one you are thinking of is a typical two-way switch. Next, set up the three-way dimmer switch wiring. Use a voltage tester or turn the switch on and off to ensure that there is no power. Gently pull the switch to expose the wires. Remove the plate that covers the switch and then unscrew the rest from the wall box. It seems a pretty simple concept.īut if you are designing a new space, or upgrading an older electrical system, you might find yourself answering questions and deciding between a two-way or a three-way switch. Then, turn off the main power from the circuit breaker. Light switches are just light switches, right? You flick it or click it or turn it and the light comes on, and maybe a fan spins to life.
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