14662218 3way light switch wiring diagram

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There are three basic types of light control switches. The first type is a simple, single light switch. The second type is a 3 way switch that controls one light from two locations. The third type is a 4 way switch that controls one light from three or more locations. The easiest wiring method for three-way switches is to place the lighting fixture between the two switches. You’ll need to look closely at the wiring diagram to understand how it is done. The electrical cable should be 12-2 electrical wire up to the first switch, then use 12-3 electrical wire to the light and then to the second switch. The 12-3 electrical cable has an extra wire called a traveler wire (usually red), which is necessary for 3 way switches. At the first switch, the 12-2 electrical wire from the circuit run enters the bottom of the switch box and the hot (black) cable connects to the bottom right terminal on the switch.

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Page 1: 14662218 3Way Light Switch Wiring Diagram

There are three basic types of light control switches. The first type is a simple, single light switch. The second type is a 3 way switch that controls one light from two locations. The third type is a 4 way switch that controls one light from three or more locations.

The easiest wiring method for three-way switches is to place the lighting fixture between the two switches. You’ll need to look closely at the wiring diagram to understand how it is done. The electrical cable should be

12-2 electrical wire up to the first switch, then use 12-3 electrical wire to the light and then to the second switch.

The 12-3 electrical cable has an extra wire called a traveler wire (usually red), which is necessary for 3 way switches. At the first switch, the 12-2 electrical wire from the circuit run enters the bottom of the switch box

and the hot (black) cable connects to the bottom right terminal on the switch.

Page 2: 14662218 3Way Light Switch Wiring Diagram

The 12-3 electrical cable enters through the top of the switch box. The hot traveler (red) wire connects to top left terminal on the light switch. The black (hot) wire connects to the top right terminal on the light switch.

The 12-3 neutral (white) wire connects directly to the 12-2 neutral wire with wire nuts and the copper ground wires are also connected together with wire nuts. At the light fixture box, you should have two ends of 12-3 electrical cable hanging out. One end comes from the first switch the other comes from the second switch.

First, join the copper ground wires together with a wire nut to get them secured together and out of the way, and then connect the two red traveler wires together with a wire nut also.

Now, find the black wire coming from the first switch box and the white wire coming from the second box and twist them together with wire nuts. Now, this is important, you need to mark each end of the white wire by

wrapping it with black electrical tape or you can use black paint. This means you have made it a designated hot wire. This is a strict code requirement! It is a common practice for 3 and 4 way switches.

Page 3: 14662218 3Way Light Switch Wiring Diagram

Now, at the second switch, you will need to connect the red traveler wire to the top left terminal. The white, wire now marked as black with tape, connects to the upper right terminal. The black wire will connect to the lower right terminal screw. The copper ground wire will connect to the box if it's a metal box or the green ground screw on the switch if the box is plastic.

The light box should now have a single black wire and a single white wire sticking out which is what you will need to connect the light to.