Three Way Switches

1. Three Way Switches Denham Springs Freshman Ag I

2. Three Way Switches • Three-way switches require a three-wire cable: the power wire, the neutral wire, and the traveler or switch wire. • The cable should also have a ground wire, or a total of four wires in the cable.

3. The Switch • Three way switches are wider than regular single-pole switches & 3 terminals on the side of the switch. Two terminals will be on one side of the switch ; one terminal on the other side. • The terminals are the common (usually black screw), hot (gold), and traveler (gold) • Why are the hot & traveler both gold?

4. Cables used in 3-way switches • You will always use a combination of 14-2 and 14-3 cables for all options in wiring 3-way switches. • 3-way options • Source – Switch – Switch – Fixture • Source – Switch – Fixture – Switch • Source – Fixture – Switch – Switch

5. Wires in a 14-3 Cable • Black = Hot • Red = Traveler or Switch wire • Connects the switches • White = Usually neutral, but can also be a hot • Depends on situation • Bare or green = ground

6. 3 Way w/ Light at End of Run(1st Switch) • Use a two wire cable from the source to the first switch. • Connect the hot wire from the source to the black terminal (common). This is the only source wire connected directly to the switch. • Pigtail the ground from the source and each switch together and ground to box.

7. 3 Way w/ Light at End of Run(Switch to Switch) • Use a three wire cable from this switch to the next switch. • Wire nut the neutral from the source and the neutral to the next switch. • Connect the red wire to the gold terminal on the same side as the common on BOTH switches. • Connect the hot wire from the 3 cable wire on the remaining gold terminal on BOTH switches.

8. 3 Way w/ Light at End of Run(Switch to Light) • Use a two wire cable from the second switch to the light. • Hot wire connects to the common terminal on the switch and to the black (hot) side of the light fixture. • Using a wire nut, connect the neutral from the 3 wire cable to the neutral in the 2 wire cable in the second switch. Connect to neutral side of the light fixture. • Pigtail ground wire and ground to switch. Ground to light box.

10. 3 Way w/ Light Between Switches(1st Switch) • Use a 2 wire cable from the source to the first switch. • Hot wire is connected to the common terminal. This is the only source wire connected directly to the switch. • Pigtail the ground from the source and each switch together and ground to box.

11. 3 Way w/ Light Between Switches(Switch to Fixture) • Use a three wire cable from the first switch to the fixture. • Connect the hot wire to the terminal above the common. • Connect red wire (traveler) to the remaining terminal. • Wire nut neutrals together. • Be sure ground is in pigtail.

12. 3 Way w/ Light Between Switches(Switch to Fixture) • Connect neutral from first switch to the fixture neutral. • Pigtail ground. • These are the only connections made from the first switch directly to the fixture.

13. 3 Way w/ Light Between Switches(Fixture to Switch) • Use a 3 wire cable to connect the fixture to the second switch. • Wire nut the red wires from the 3 wire cables. Connect red wire to the corresponding terminal on the second switch. • Wrap neutral wire on second 3 wire cable with black tape; it is hot in this situation. Wire nut it to the hot (black) wire from the first 3 wire cable. Now connect it to the hot terminal on the second switch. • Connect black wire from second 3 wire cable to the fixture and the common terminal of second switch.

15. 3 Way w/ Source Coming Through Light (Fixture) • Use a 2 wire cable from the source to the fixture. • Connect the neutral to the fixture. • Pigtail ground.

16. 3 Way w/ Source Coming Through Light (Fixture to 1st Switch) • Use a 2 wire cable from the fixture to the first switch. • Connect the hot wire from the second 2 wire cable to the fixture. • Wrap the white wire from the second 2 wire cable in black tape; it is hot in this situation. • Wire nut the hot (black) wire from the first cable to the white wire from the second cable. • Connect the hot (black) wire from the fixture to the common terminal on the first switch.

17. 3 Way w/ Source Coming Through Light (Switch to Switch) • Use a 3 wire cable to connect the switches. • Connect red wire to corresponding terminals on both switches. • Connect hot (black wire) to corresponding terminals on both switches. • Wrap white wires in black tape. Wire nut them at the 1st switch and connect to the common terminal at the second switch. • Pigtail grounds throughout circuit.