Beautiful Different Ways To Wire A 3 Way Switch
Finally run the last 2 wire cable from the second switch s black screw to the light.
Different ways to wire a 3 way switch. This 3 wire is used for the travelers and the neutral. Below is perhaps the simplest arrangement panel to switch to switch to light. The black wire from the other 3 way gets connected to the line black wire.
Use the black wire in the top 2 wire conductor to attach the switch to the source. From there use pliers to turn the wire into a j and carefully wrap it around the black screw on the light switch typically located at the bottom. The white neutral is often referred to as common but the colored wires are both used as hot wires alternately as the possible switch positions are made.
Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. This is the 3 wire cable which you must have to wire a 3 way light switch. And finally a 2 wire switch leg is pulled from the second s3 to the nearest light and then to any other.
Converting a single pole switch to a 3 way 1 run a black wire from the new switch to the power source. If the white is correctly used for neutral the connected switching wires are red and black. Then connect the 2 switches by splitting the 3 wire cable apart and attaching each of the 3 wires to one of the other 3 screws on each switch.
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. Before reading this page you may want to visit 3 way switches and 4 way switches. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch.
3 way switch wiring diagram. Below is a variation with the light between the two switches i e panel switch light switch. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.