Wiring A 3 Way Switch
The hardest thing about wiring a three-way switch is to keep track of the common wires and the traveler wires. The common wire is the black wire from the cable that supplies power to the circuit. It is screwed to the common terminal. The traveler wires are the black and red wires from the three-wire cable that joins the two switches. These wires are screwed to the traveler terminals. TOOLS and MATERIALS 1 Insulated screwdriver 1 Diagonal cutting pliers 1 Long-nose pliers 1 Wire stripper Multipurpose tool 1 Cable ripper Switch boxes Three-way switches Two-wire cable Wire connectors Three-way switch cable Copper wire Cable clamps.. Steps:
1) First when wiring a 3 way switch, bring a two-wire power cable and a three-wire cable that goes between the switches into the box. Strip the sheathing and wire insulation from both cables and all wires. Then attach the black wire from the power cable to the common screw terminal (inset). Join the white wires with a wire connector. 2) Connect the black wire from the three-wire cable to one of the traveler terminals on the first switch. When you install the second three-way switch, attach the other end of this black wire to the same traveler terminal on the second switch. 3) Attach the red wire from the three-wire cable to the remaining traveler terminal. As with the black traveler, the other end of this red wire should be attached to the same traveler terminal on the second three-way switch. 4) Join the ground wires from the two cables to a grounding pigtail wire using a wire connector. Attach the other end of the grounding pigtail to the green grounding screw on the switch. Push the switch and all the wires into the box, and attach the switch to the box using screws. 5) Strip the sheathing from the cables and the insulation from the wires, and attach the black common wire to the common terminal. Then attach the black and red wires, from the three-wire cable, to the traveler terminals. Join the ground wires to the grounding screw using a pigtail and a wire connector. 6) Join the white neutral wires from both cables using I a wire connector. Push the switch and all the wires into the box, and attach the switch to the box using screws. 7) Complete the wiring a 3 way switch circuit by attaching the cable wires to fixture wires using wire connectors, white-to-white, black-to-black, and ground-to-ground. Attach the light fixture to the ceiling box. Then turn on the circuit power, and test the switches. |