Depending on toggle switch configuration, either the red wire or the black wire will be hot if the light is on, but not both. Red wire: The second hot/traveler wire is the red wire that serves the same purpose as the black wire between the two switch boxes.This is because power travels from one switch box to the other through both wires, but only through one wire at a time and is determined by the configuration of the toggle switches. In a 3-way setup, the black wire (along with the red wire) is a traveler wire. Black wire: A black wire is a hot wire, but also a traveler wire.In a typical 3-way setup, the 14/3 cable runs from the first switch box to the second switch box. If a problem occurs, such as a short circuit, the ground wire transfers excess electricity to the ground (the earth).Ī 14/3 NM Cable contains a bare copper wire and three conductor wires: one black, one white, one red. When the circuit is operating correctly, the ground wire doesn’t carry any electricity. Ground wire: The ground wire is a bare copper wire or a green wire, and its purpose is to provide a measure of safety.In all electrical circuits, power must return to the energy source, and this is the job of a neutral wire. White wire: This is the neutral wire, and its purpose is to complete the electrical circuit.It’s also called the “common wire” or the “line wire.” Unless the breaker is off, this black wire is always hot. Black wire: This is a hot wire that carries electricity from the power source to the first switch in a typical 3-way setup.The following electrical wire colors are standard, but different wire brands can use different colored wires. The cable runs from the power source to the first switch box in the typical 3-way setup described here, but other wiring configurations also are possible (see below). It also contains a third, bare copper wire. Black common wire Wire CablesĪ 14/2 NM Cable contains two conductor wires: one black and one white. Here’s the 411 on the parts you’ll encounter when wiring a 3-way switch.ġ. When you pop off your light switch plate and peek inside-or examine a diagram of how 3-way switches work-you may wonder about the different colored wires, what the colors mean, what they’re supposed to connect to, and what to touch (and not touch). Houses built since the mid-1960s likely contain non-metallic sheathed cable (NM), commonly called Romex, after a popular brand of wire. Some homes may have 12-gauge wire rather than 14-gauge wire, which just means the wire is rated to carry more amps. Without a 14/3 wire, it wouldn’t be possible to have both switches control the light. The number of conductor wires in the different cables are important, because an extra wire is required in one section of the 3-way switch setup. The 14 stands for the gauge of wire (rated for 15-amp circuits) and the following number, 2 or 3, represents the number of conductor wires in the cable. Two different types of wire cables are used in wiring a standard 3-way switch, most often 14/2 cable and 14/3 cable. Types of Wire Cable Used in 3-Pole Switches In essence, a 3-way switch is a toggle switch. However, they are not labeled “OFF” or “ON,” because they either allow or stop the electrical current based on the other switch position in the setup. Individual 3-way switches resemble single-pole switches. A 3-way switch setup will even work with a dimmer switch, as long as the dimmer switch is designed for 3-way wiring. That’s just one instance in which 3-way switches (also known as 3-pole switches) are handy: These switches allow users to turn on a centrally located light from different sides of a room, or from the upper and lower ends of a stairway. It’s no fun to come home late at night and stumble to the other side of a dark room looking for the light switch. RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Voltage Testers What is 3-way switch wiring? Before you do anything else, always turn off the electricity at the breaker box, and use a voltage tester to test the wires in a switch box to make sure they’re not hot. Safety is always the top consideration when doing any wiring. If you’re not comfortable replacing a switch, call an electrician. If you’re contemplating such a replacement, you should have a working knowledge of switch wiring. Replacing a 3-way switch is a straightforward task, but it is more involved than replacing a single-pole switch. While installing new electrical wiring should almost always be done by a licensed electrician, DIYers can successfully replace old switches with new switches, if local codes allow.
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