3 Way Switches Explained - How to wire 3 way light switch
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Date: 2023-11-17
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Comments and reviews: 30
Privacy
I have questions. Well, more like one question: Why are the colors changing? You jump from black wires to white wires with black electrical tape. And the colors seem to be mostly all over the place. This is the problem with the electrical engineering universe - it doesn't make logical sense. It's not like hot suddenly transforms and becomes neutral. All wall power contains lethal electrical current and is therefore hot. Inconsistency like this is the type of thing that drives me nuts. and starts electrical fires. If the goal is to keep your wires straight when you reach the boxes, then there is a whole rainbow of colors you aren't using: Green, purple, blue, brown, pink, etc. I don't know which one would be best, but you should pick one. Don't do goofy things like wrap electrical tape on wires changing their color mid-run but keeping the same meaning.
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I have questions. Well, more like one question: Why are the colors changing? You jump from black wires to white wires with black electrical tape. And the colors seem to be mostly all over the place. This is the problem with the electrical engineering universe - it doesn't make logical sense. It's not like hot suddenly transforms and becomes neutral. All wall power contains lethal electrical current and is therefore hot. Inconsistency like this is the type of thing that drives me nuts. and starts electrical fires. If the goal is to keep your wires straight when you reach the boxes, then there is a whole rainbow of colors you aren't using: Green, purple, blue, brown, pink, etc. I don't know which one would be best, but you should pick one. Don't do goofy things like wrap electrical tape on wires changing their color mid-run but keeping the same meaning.
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Mark
I agree with everyone else that this is amazing and super helpful! So I tried this, I have a new 15amp circuit going to a switch then to 10 lights all in a straight line down a hallway, to the final / second switch. I wired everything up per the video and turned on the breaker and got nothing! So I checked all my wago connectors and double checked I was following the video diagram exactly and still nothing. Any thoughts?
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I agree with everyone else that this is amazing and super helpful! So I tried this, I have a new 15amp circuit going to a switch then to 10 lights all in a straight line down a hallway, to the final / second switch. I wired everything up per the video and turned on the breaker and got nothing! So I checked all my wago connectors and double checked I was following the video diagram exactly and still nothing. Any thoughts?
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DWEC
Very clear explanation, thanks. My problem is I am trying to replace regular 3 way switches with Ecoeler YM2108T light sensing switches. Their diagram seems straight forward but I think it is for a load at the end of the switch string. My load/light is between the 2 switches and I am having problems determining how to hook up the red lead from one of the switches. Any Help?
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Very clear explanation, thanks. My problem is I am trying to replace regular 3 way switches with Ecoeler YM2108T light sensing switches. Their diagram seems straight forward but I think it is for a load at the end of the switch string. My load/light is between the 2 switches and I am having problems determining how to hook up the red lead from one of the switches. Any Help?
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Anthony
Fantastic video. My only question is on the wire coloring in the last scenario. the wire going from the nut in the light box to the rightmost switch is white, and the one leaving that switch into the second/middle switch is black. I would have guessed these would be flipped as I always thought of black/hot as the incoming circuit and white/neutral as the exiting circuit?
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Fantastic video. My only question is on the wire coloring in the last scenario. the wire going from the nut in the light box to the rightmost switch is white, and the one leaving that switch into the second/middle switch is black. I would have guessed these would be flipped as I always thought of black/hot as the incoming circuit and white/neutral as the exiting circuit?
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Karen
You mentioned that in the US, the 2 way switch found in the UK would be called a 3 way. So is there no 3 way switches in the EU and UK? And the switches in your '2 way switches explained' seems to work the same way as this. So are these 2 videos describing the same switches? Just that it is called 2 way in the EU and UK and 3 way in the US?
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You mentioned that in the US, the 2 way switch found in the UK would be called a 3 way. So is there no 3 way switches in the EU and UK? And the switches in your '2 way switches explained' seems to work the same way as this. So are these 2 videos describing the same switches? Just that it is called 2 way in the EU and UK and 3 way in the US?
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DubleD
I thought you could turn on or off the light from either switch. 5: 52 seems to show that switch 2 is needed to change position in order for the light to come on, seemingly defeating the purpose. What am I missing? (BTW I really get alot out of all of your videos)
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I thought you could turn on or off the light from either switch. 5: 52 seems to show that switch 2 is needed to change position in order for the light to come on, seemingly defeating the purpose. What am I missing? (BTW I really get alot out of all of your videos)
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Dwayne
Going for multiple light run in garage with switch at the door and a second switch at the garage door. I watched and then drew it out on paper. I feel like I got it and understand what's happening. Thanks for the color coded description, it really helped.
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Going for multiple light run in garage with switch at the door and a second switch at the garage door. I watched and then drew it out on paper. I feel like I got it and understand what's happening. Thanks for the color coded description, it really helped.
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Karen
Great video! so I've looking into spliting 4 lights that are connected to 1 switch and making it so that 1 switch contols 2 lights and another switch controls the other 2 lights. Do you have a recommendation for doing this?
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Great video! so I've looking into spliting 4 lights that are connected to 1 switch and making it so that 1 switch contols 2 lights and another switch controls the other 2 lights. Do you have a recommendation for doing this?
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Perfect
This video helped me get the job done. The previous geniuses who worked on this outlet didnt include a red wire so the travelers were wired as black and white, and the extra white had to go to a different box. Crazy.
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This video helped me get the job done. The previous geniuses who worked on this outlet didnt include a red wire so the travelers were wired as black and white, and the extra white had to go to a different box. Crazy.
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96
As an experienced electrician who just never deals with 3 way switches in my line of work, this is exactly what i needed. Just an explanation of what the travelers are doing without all the extra fluff.
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As an experienced electrician who just never deals with 3 way switches in my line of work, this is exactly what i needed. Just an explanation of what the travelers are doing without all the extra fluff.
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WarriorFlash
I know some switches have 2 black wires. what happen if I connect the black wire incorrectly or (connect black (hot) to traveler wire, will it damage the switch and/or will it work?
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I know some switches have 2 black wires. what happen if I connect the black wire incorrectly or (connect black (hot) to traveler wire, will it damage the switch and/or will it work?
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Lucas
im a little confused arent the two circuits the same except you just extended the cables on the second one? why do you use a white wire with ends marked black as opposed to a black wire?
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im a little confused arent the two circuits the same except you just extended the cables on the second one? why do you use a white wire with ends marked black as opposed to a black wire?
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Eric
I do not believe the illustration of power source ---> light ---> switch ---> switch is legal anymore. NEC updated the code so that there must be an available neutral in the switch boxes
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I do not believe the illustration of power source ---> light ---> switch ---> switch is legal anymore. NEC updated the code so that there must be an available neutral in the switch boxes
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Tist
Thanks to this video I was able to fix the 3 way switch in my master bedroom. Previous homeowners somehow had it wired to only power on if both switches were up position.
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Thanks to this video I was able to fix the 3 way switch in my master bedroom. Previous homeowners somehow had it wired to only power on if both switches were up position.
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Derek
Question: when wiring multiple lights in the circuit, do you need to use 3-wire cable to connect them all to each other, or can you just use 2 wire cable for that?
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Question: when wiring multiple lights in the circuit, do you need to use 3-wire cable to connect them all to each other, or can you just use 2 wire cable for that?
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education
Does anyone know if you can do the 3rd circuit with only 14-2 cable? Or can I just feed a single red wire from switch one to switch two? Idk man someone help
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Does anyone know if you can do the 3rd circuit with only 14-2 cable? Or can I just feed a single red wire from switch one to switch two? Idk man someone help
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education
3: 28 so, the light is on if both switches are on/off. If we swap the position of the coming red and hot on switch 2, is this gonna be easier to understand?
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3: 28 so, the light is on if both switches are on/off. If we swap the position of the coming red and hot on switch 2, is this gonna be easier to understand?
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Felipe
What happens if i put one traveler on terminal 1 of one swittch and the same traveler landing on terminal 2
On the second switch? Will it operate normaly?
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What happens if i put one traveler on terminal 1 of one swittch and the same traveler landing on terminal 2
On the second switch? Will it operate normaly?
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Kevin
While this video is now four years old, it's still the best I've found to describe various 3-way switch circuits. Thanks for sharing your knowledge/expertise!
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While this video is now four years old, it's still the best I've found to describe various 3-way switch circuits. Thanks for sharing your knowledge/expertise!
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nachman
Great video thanks a ton! I was wondering if there was any reason we use white wiring with black tape in the final configuration (light, switch, switch.
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Great video thanks a ton! I was wondering if there was any reason we use white wiring with black tape in the final configuration (light, switch, switch.
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randel
Showing all three configurations for the three-way switch was so helpful! This is the first video I have found that actually helps me solve my problem!
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Showing all three configurations for the three-way switch was so helpful! This is the first video I have found that actually helps me solve my problem!
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Salvatore
Great video. I never understood electricity so I stayed away from it. You've taken away alot of that fear, so i can do some projects. Thanks
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Great video. I never understood electricity so I stayed away from it. You've taken away alot of that fear, so i can do some projects. Thanks
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Hiraeth
For anyone curious the second method of wiring up a 3 way is against code now. Now you need to be able to access the neutral at every switch.
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For anyone curious the second method of wiring up a 3 way is against code now. Now you need to be able to access the neutral at every switch.
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ETHIOPIAN
am confusing sp dp spdt dpst dpdt 2way 3way the names confusing me or they are different with their terminal like 3 terminals 4 terminals?
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am confusing sp dp spdt dpst dpdt 2way 3way the names confusing me or they are different with their terminal like 3 terminals 4 terminals?
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Universidad
I did pay for their 3 way pdf guide not because I needed but because this kind of videos are really helpful. Thank you from Puerto Rico.
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I did pay for their 3 way pdf guide not because I needed but because this kind of videos are really helpful. Thank you from Puerto Rico.
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LogicMind
Hello, interesting. Thanks. However I would love to know if u can do a tut on three or more switches instead of two. Once again thanks.
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Hello, interesting. Thanks. However I would love to know if u can do a tut on three or more switches instead of two. Once again thanks.
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baptie
What's the purpose of the wire connectors? Can you not just run a direct line straight to each point without the need for the connectors?
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What's the purpose of the wire connectors? Can you not just run a direct line straight to each point without the need for the connectors?
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nakala1972
Is there a way to have a light at both the beginning and end of the circuit? As in a light at the top and bottom of a set of stairs.
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Is there a way to have a light at both the beginning and end of the circuit? As in a light at the top and bottom of a set of stairs.
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Luke
I cant seem to find the information to download the 21 pages I hit the description and I cant find it anyway you can even send that to me
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I cant seem to find the information to download the 21 pages I hit the description and I cant find it anyway you can even send that to me
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UNSCODST
I watched other videos but this has been the best explanation. The green current flow and the metal inside the switch really helped!
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I watched other videos but this has been the best explanation. The green current flow and the metal inside the switch really helped!
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