While wiring a 3 way switch is more involved than something simple like installing an electrical box for an electric fireplace the task can be simple enough if you follow along with these instructions. This can easily be solved using two 3 way switches one black screw and 2 copper screws but this problem can only be solved using two 2 way switches power and the bulb.
What Is The Correct Way To Wire A 3 Way Switch Where Power
How to wire a 3 way switch with 12 2. As you can see in the schematic diagram of 2 way switch circuit below the common of both the switches are short circuited. 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. First run a 2 wire cable from the wall power to the black screw on 1 of the switches. Three wire supply cables generally carry red and black hot wires of 110 to 120 volts each with a single white neutral wire. The lighting could be added to the three wire cable provided that the circuit breaker is no more than 15 amps and the wire size is no greater than 14 gauge. There is a way to wire a light fixture controlled with two 3 way switches using only 14 2 cable.
Pin1 of both the switches are connected with the phase or live wire and pin2 of both the switches. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more. Two way switches are single pole single throw spst with two connection wires and are wired with 122 or 142 cable between the switch and fixture. How to connect 2 way switch wiring using three wire control. The wiring is more complicated than a traditional single pole switch but well explain how to make the connections. Email me at some114 at gmail.
You run a 14 2 cable from the lightbulb to one switch and connect the black to the bulb on one side and the common connector of the switch. The downside to this isif the light is off it can still be hot on both sides of the circuit. So far the closest thing ive had is to wire the switches in series but the circuit in parallel. This is the new method to make a 2 way switching connection as it is slightly different from the two wire control method. Finally run the last 2 wire cable from the second switchs black screw to the light. To wire a 3 way light switch youll need 2 3 way light switches 2 2 wire non metallic cables 1 3 wire non metallic cable and 2 6 inch grounding wires.
Once youre done youll be able to control a light from two switches. This method is commonly used now days as it is efficient than the two wire control system. A common either 120v power or the wire to the light fixture. Run another cable from the bulb to the other switch also connecting the black to the common on one side and the bulb on the other. Ive drawn a bunch of schematics and ive gotten the closes to answering it. The answer to this is something so ludicrous that you just wouldnt do it but there is in fact a solution.
Run a length of 14 2 cable from each 3 way switch to the light fixture and a third one between the. This story features diagrams that show how to wire 3 way switches. A three way wall switch is single pole double throw spdt with three connection wires and is typically wired with 123 or 143 cable between the two switches. Finally connect neutral and hot to the remaining poles. Yes a 3 way switch can be wired using a marked white wire not a neutral provided your 3 way switch has the following. You can do the work with the proper tools materials and electrical circuit knowledge.
2 traveler wires connect to each 3 way. The white wire is unused. You can wire a three way switch with 14 2. 3 way switch 2 3 way wire which has black white and red coated wires and of course a copper ground wire. Is this what you have.
Gallery of How To Wire A 3 Way Switch With 12 2
