![]() 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. The second drawing depicts when box 1 has three bundles of wire while box 2 has just one.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. It's the simple three-way circuit I anticipated and encountered in my home. The first is an outline of what you should see. All those switches, terminals and wires can confuse experienced electricians, let alone novice DIYers. It isn't uncommon either to have one three-way switch in the same box as two or even three others. One of your electrical boxes might have just one bundle of wires while the other is packed with three bundles. This scenario tends to happen with switches in older homes. For instance, there may not be any white wires. The wiring you see may not match what I've described. The wires here connect this local switch to the other in box 1 across the room. A second bundle (four-wire) should contain three colored wires (black, white, red) and a copper (bare). These link the switch to your light fixture. One three-wire bundle will have two colored wires (black, white) plus one of bare copper. Besides their direction of entry the wires are constructed the same way. Here, both wire bundles should enter the electrical box from its top side. They connect the switch in this box to the other switch in box 2.īox 2. The other 4-wire bundle will enter the box from the top and have three colored wires (black, white, red) and a copper (bare) one. These wires come from your home's main electrical panel (usually in the basement below) and provide power to your lighting circuit. This three-wire bundle should consist of two colored wires (black, white) plus one of bare copper. In box 1, one of the wire bundles enters the box from the bottom. It will help you deduce their origin and ultimately identify them.īox 1. If so then the direction wires enter each box is important. Let's call each box "Box 1" and "Box 2." We'll also assume that, like mine, the boxes you're working inside are on a floor above the basement. ![]() Inside each of the two electrical boxes you should see two bundles of wires. This step-by-step is reflective of a common wiring scenario and the one in my own home. I must stress that there are many possible ways a set of three-way light switches can be connected. You should now have a good view inside each box.
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