These are called single pole light switches and they can turn on or off a light fixture from a single location. Circuit electrical wiring enters the switch box the black wire power in source attaches to one of the switch screw terminals.
3 Way Switch Troubleshooting Diy
How do light switches work diagram. This diagram illustrates wiring for one switch to control 2 or more lights. The switch simply opens off or closes on the connection between the two terminals on the switch. Multiple light wiring diagram. The source is at sw1 and 2 wire cable runs from there to the fixtures. Before explaining how three way light switches work its important to know how a regular light switch works. How a light switch works.
Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light. Understanding exactly how a four way switch and two three way switches work together to control a light fixture from all three locations can be tricky to visualize. You can see in the figure that the current runs through the switch. Wiring diagram 3 way switch with light at the end in this diagram the electrical source is at the first switch and the light is located at the end of the circuit. Explanation of wiring diagram 1 switch wiring shows the power source power in starts at the switch box. The hot and neutral terminals on each fixture are spliced with a pigtail to the circuit wires which then continue on to the next light.
Essentially the four way switch can be thought of as having an x shaped inner mechanism that toggles the electrical pathway back and forth between the already established. The black and red wires between sw1 and sw2 are connected to the traveler terminals. When the switch is on current flows along the black wire through the switch to the light and then returns to ground through the white wire to complete the circuit.
Gallery of How Do Light Switches Work Diagram
