Live chat an electrician for an explanation of the wiring requirements of a 3-way light switch. The electrical wires must be grounded to avoid a potential hazard. If the wires are already grounded, it is easier to add a pigtail to your switch. Second, all of the wires have to be grounded before you can connect them to one another. You can buy insulated wires for the switches that are similar to the circuit board material and more affordable. If you need more assistance, video chat to get an electrical repair estimate online.įirst, identify the wires that are connected to each other. With guidance from a licensed electrician available 24/7 on Video Chat a Pro, this is a project you can accomplish safely. A properly installed 3-way light switch should work just like any other type of switch. You can test the switch by turning on the power. Once this is complete, you should screw back the switch and put the switch plate covers. The white wire must be a part of the power source and must be white. You can also connect two lights to one switch by running the white wire from the light fixture to the common terminal of the second switch. If there is no continuity in either direction, you should replace the switch. If there is continuity in either direction, the switch is probably functioning properly. If the wire is not hot at all, it is probably defective. Use the tester to determine whether the white wire is hot all the time or only when one of the switches is flipped. To determine the proper wire colors for your 3-way light switch, you can use a non-contact tester or voltmeter. For professional assistance, talk to an electrician on Video Chat a Pro, so you can safely complete wiring for a 3-way switch yourself or find a local electrician if you need an electrical contractor to do it for you. Therefore, you should know the correct wiring color for your switch before starting your project. Unlike wiring a simple light switch, a 3-way light switch has three different wires, each with a different color wire. To install 3-way switch wiring, ask an electrician online because it is important to understand the proper way to do it. Ground connection diagram is shown separately.Wiring a 3-Way Light Switch with an Electrician is Easy Wiring a 3-Way Switch Diagram to Help 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. The black (line) wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3- way switch. 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. There is no standard for wire colors on 3- way switch travelers.
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