Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram you re following you ll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches.
Three way switch diagram one light.
A 3 way light switch allows you to control a light source from two separate points.
Two wire cable runs from the light to sw1 and 3 wire cable runs between sw1 and sw2.
3 way switch wiring with light first.
So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire.
Wiring a 3 way light switch.
The methods shown here are some of the safest and most versatile though not the only options.
Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram.
Although a 3 way is one of the hardest electrical circuits to figure out it s also one of the most useful.
In the ceiling light fixture electrical box one black wire from a 3 way switch gets connected to the black load wire on the light fixture.
Interested in a 4 way switch wiring diagram.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram.
No longer allowed after 2011 nec if no neutral wire in switch boxes 3 way switch wiring diagram light fixture between switchesline voltage enters the first 3 way switch outlet box light fixture is located between switch boxes no longer allowed after 2011 nec if no neutral wire in switch boxes.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.
In this diagram the source for the circuit is at the light fixture and the two switches come after.
This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.
Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch.
With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring.
Now discussing 3 way light switch wiring diagram as also discussed above the color codes of the wires as having three insulated conductors as black as hot red as switch wire or called traveler and white as common wire as also shown when light is connected to both black and white wires.
This is the 3 wire cable which you must have to wire a 3 way.
3 way switch wiring diagram depicting all wires in the ceiling junction box.
In the above 3 way switch wiring diagram at each switch the black wire gets connected to the copper or black screw.
There are several ways to install a 3 way light switch.