A three way switch allows a user to access a lighting source from two separate areas in a room or a house. They are often placed at stairways to lessen the traffic back and forth in that location. Unlike regular switches that use only two connections to turn on and turn off lights, it uses a specialized switch that contains three connections. Each of these connections works in unison to regulate the lighting in a specific area. They do not merely turn on and off but carry the current from one connector to another. They look almost identical to normal switches but maintain one major difference that allows them to function as they do. While the regular switch has only two screws to connect to the electrical supply, the three way switch contains three screws for this purpose. Usually there is a colour coded method of identifying the different screws in the three way switch. The screw that is differently coloured is called the “common” terminal, the other two are the “travellers”. The common screw is connected to either traveller, dependent on the switch’s position. There are a variety of ways to wire a three way switch, this method is perhaps the most customary.
Required Tools
- A Screw driver
- A wire stripper to expose connecting wires
- Electrical tape to prevent exposed wires from touching.
Required Materials
- Two three way switches
- An adequate length of 14/3 cable
- An adequate length of 14/2 cable
Instructions
- Turn off the power to the switch that is currently being worked on.
- Remove the covering of the switch.
- Unscrew the connections to the switch and remove it entirely.
- Carry the power supply to one of the existing switch boxes via a 14/2 wire cable. One will be hot and the other will be neutral.
- Run a 14/3 wire to the secondary switch location.
- Run a 14/2 wire from this switch to the light box.
- Splice the neutral or white wire from the power supply at the original switch box location to the three wire cable that connects to the other switch.
- Fix the hot or black wire to the common screw on the three way switch.
- The remaining red and black wires from the 14/3 cable should be attached to the two remaining screws on the switch.
- Connect the white wire of the 14/3 cable to the white wire linked to the light source.
- Connect the 14/3 wires in the same way as was previously done at the first switch. The red and white wires will connect to the travellers screws and the black wire linked to the light will be wrapped around the common screw.
- If they are any exposed wires use electrical tape to ensure that the wires will not touch.
- Cover both switch boxes with the proper casing.
Tips and Warnings
- For added protection switch off the area being worked on from the breaker to avoid any major damage.
- Do not leave exposed wires touching as this may cause electrical fires or electrical shorts in the respective switch.
- Ensure that hands are dry, or for added protection wear protective gloves.
For more information on How to Wire a Three Way Switch read:
How to Wire a Three Way Switch
How to Wire a Three Way Switch
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