How to wire a 3 way switch

[ruark1]

Concise and informative, nice video.

[rdooley3]

I've been doing my own household wiring for many years but always need a refresher on three ways. Your video was perfect for me!

[DominickDiy]

@rdooley3 Thank you very much.

[TheMeat1981]

Nice vid

[utsports]

thanks for your video I will be doing what you just explained, in a basement and  didn't really

know how to run wire so now I should be able to do it so thanks again

[DominickDiy]

@utsports Awesome, thank you

[guyberryjr]

I pretty much know nothing electrical and I had my switch wired up in about five mins after watching this video. The instruction was too easy. Thanks for the help!

[ibeleaf]

dom i used your shower drain clog video as a quick check on how the trap is set up, good stuff. i saw this video on the side. i'm an electrician so i thought it would just have a look at how you did. don't listen to all these youtube hackjobs. you didn't do the prettiest job but you did it correctly and it works. i just respect people that like to do stuff themselves. keep it up.

[huntersk8n123]

is there a way to add multiple switches, more than three to a circuit? like a daisy chain?

[Megawatts37]

Now the code requires all switches box to have a grounded conductor their.

[DominickDiy]

@Megawatts37 And has always been since I was kid, LOL..

[Megawatts37]

@DominickDiy Are you re: to the grounding conductor?

[SkilledEddie]

@Megawatts37

Megawatts DOM DOM doesn't know what a grounded conductor is....he thinks your talking about the ground wire HAHA! gotta love these armchair wannabee electricians. I put in my 4 year apprenticeship and have over 12+ years of strictly electrical experience. These fools make me laugh with the how to videos.

People please don't take electrical advice from anybody but a trained professional electrician it will save your life and your home.

[Megawatts37]

@SkilledEddie so true. this guy wouldn't know how to wire a switch if he didn't look it up. a true hack who can't twist the wires. SCAB 100%

[ibeleaf]

@Megawatts37 in canada all switch boxes must be grounded but do not require a ground screw on the actual switch. our switches don't even come with a ground screw. it might be different for low rise residential though. i work high rise residential. (condos)

[rendon1222]

Thanks for the tip, works perfect!

[JujuiLuv]

So your neutral is basically a hot wire here ?

[TeNaCiOuSLeGeNd]

@JujuiLuv yes your using it as a hot wire. But you need to tape black tape on it on each end so other people know it will be hot if they ever work on that box. its also a code to color it black

[TeNaCiOuSLeGeNd]

@JujuiLuv no in this style of 3-way switch the neutral is a grounded conductor. But theres about 7 different ways to wire a 3-way and in other ways the neutral sometimes will be used as a hot

[ryanathan2]

what exactly is the role of the neutral wires

[Megawatts37]

@ryanathan2 to take back the unbalance load back to the source.

[TeNaCiOuSLeGeNd]

thats one way to wire a 3-way and theres about 5 other ways to wire a 3 way haha but this video is correct on the most common 3-way

[DominickDiy]

@TeNaCiOuSLeGeNd Yeah there is. But had to pick one of them to show in the video.

[TeNaCiOuSLeGeNd]

@DominickDiy yeah you did good showing basics of this one. I've thought about posting some videos of electric on YouTube,but i've been hesitant about it because i would be afraid if someone watched the video then they did it wrong and got hurt if i could get sued or something? because some people cant do electric even if they try hhaah

[carrapatoacu]

thank you for your help,that was amazing

[DominickDiy]

@carrapatoacu Thank you. Glad I was able to help.

[greca01]

Thanks Dom. Pretty good and you're a pretty funny dude which made it interesting. Would have been even better if you showed the wires from the light being twisted to the live(hot) wire too. Best video I've seen so far on youtube and I'm from London. Cheers!

[DominickDiy]

@greca01 Thank you and I'm with ya, but for video time length I didn't show twisting the wires, but you're right I should of.

[CATRACHITOPOWER]

wow, this is the most simple and perfect expplanation, thanks so much, now i know i wont burn my girlfriends house, lol, thanks again

[CassiusBilbao]

After wading through a lot of convoluted stuff on the net about home wiring, it's really great to see someone explain this in plain English. Really, there's no amount of reading and diagrams that can substitue for actually seeing it being done.

Thank you so much!

[DominickDiy]

@CassiusBilbao Thank you very much. I do try to explain

[needmorediesel]

Good video! But you should have demonstrated that you need to twist your wires together before you wire nut. I'm sure you knew that but others may not.

[DJSpikesan]

I've been trying to figure out how these bastards worked for years now and FINALLY I KNOW. Thank you man.

[MrTanker10a]

This is a good instruction with the assumption that the power is originating or is entering into the switch box. If your power is entering into the light fixture, this wiring configuration will not work because it's not always so convenient or economical to have your power source entering the switch box....

[TheSuperClaude]

Thanks Dom for this great video ! You're an awsome teacher and explain things so simple. Keep the vids coming !

[rhdtv2002]

I know little about electrical so please excuse me with this stupid question but, you show how to wire one end and wire the other but what I do not see is where is the POWER coming into from and how do you get that to the other side, it seems as if you only have ONE romex with the wires coming in the 1st box but shouldnt there be two of them, one from the main then one that is seperate to the traveler - once again I know nothing about electrical - so I apologize ahead of time here

[Mess1410]

Thank You !!!

[DominickDiy]

@Mess1410 It's my pleasure

[heynowjoey]

Great, quick and easy to follow video!

Thanks!

[BoredYouth]

It's good practice to always connect your grounds first. 

[TheMrSanchos]

3 people didn't understand the concept...

[etfdriver]

Great video! Helped out a lot... but one thing missing... what about doing this to an outlet for a plug in light. I could not find any info explaining that you have to break the metal tab on the outlet to divide the current. That might be something to explain - maybe.

[worldgroupmedia]

dominick thanks iyour video really helped me

[MGiants82]

@mrteslasrevenge Some wire nuts do not require pre-twisting. If you ever buy Ideal wire nuts on the back of the bag in the directions it says pre-twisting not necessary.

@lgreco It does not matter which travelers you use on which screw Dominick is correct, it sounds to me like you have a common and traveler mix up. Happens all the time.

[corpsehumper1]

@MGiants82 travlers dont matter dude

!!!!!

[MGiants82]

@corpsehumper1 What I meant was a traveler could be on the common screw and the common could be on the traveler screw.

[zagnit]

What the hell is up with the stupid ass comments? This guy explained it great. Go nit pick your own videos; good grief get a life already!

[philliphitt]

I think the people who feel the need to bash every little detail that they don't agree with this guy on are lonely...Thanks for the tutorial!

[Techozek]

No sleeving on your circuit protective conductor?

Wire nuts?

You also have way too much conductor length in your box.

Messy job, wouldn't pass inspection in the U.K. Not at all.

[Retrodesperado]

I like this video. I am reviewing all of your videos because I want to become an electrician =) Ty for these helpful videos.

[KarlosMendinos2k9]

in england we call it 3 core. The old colours are red blue yellow and new colours are black grey brown.

[dougsrccom]

Thanks for the clear explaination Dom, the 3 way was always a little mystery to me but you explained so even I can understand it ~!! 5 stars

[Deeke25]

Thanks Dom. Very helpful.

[henrypoul]

thanks so much you teach very well

[DominickDiy]

@henrypoul Thank you very much.

[MrTeslasRevenge]

There is way to much insulation inside your box and you should'nt use wire nuts to twist your wires together use your linemans pliers. It also looks like you wrapped your wires around the terminal screws incorrectly they should go in the direction that the screws tighten either that or you stabbed them in the back of the switch which is also bad practice. I'm sorry but homeowners need to leave electrical work to the professionals.

[DominickDiy]

@MrTeslasRevenge What drugs are you on ? Besides it's to how to wire a three way, not how to install wires jerk. Leave your bs comments to your self. Or by all means make your own video. Oh you do have one ? Please tell us all where it is please..

[Barlieboy]

@DominickDiy I agree with you. Also who uses linemans pliers in residential on that type of application? I am used to working on 480 and never have I bothered with that type tool for any wiring application unless its on a dead circuit and im trying to feed cables into a Variable Frequency Drive. If its hot and in a tight spot like that you will run a better risk of shorting something out and or having a copper end explode in your face. That guy is an idiot keep up the good work.

[KarlosMendinos2k9]

@MrTeslasRevenge lmao, propper griefed him lol

[ShawneyP23]

@MrTeslasRevenge is right. Its code that you can only allow a certain amount of insulation inside you're box. i think you're the one that's on drugs. that's not a bs comment he just telling you where you made mistakes so others don't make them. you're info about the hot to common and travelers were right but just a sloppy job with you're wiring. you need to chill out mans only trying to help. People should listen to mrteslasrevenge

[corpsehumper1]

@MrTeslasRevenge dont b a hipocrit i already know 3 wire but this guy is showing a basic that is unreal teachers couldnt make it as simple as this guy does hats off i couldnt explain any better show me a video that does

[maximuspowermp]

your the man...you explain it all!

[DominickDiy]

@maximuspowermp Thank you very much.

[lgreco71]

I'm not criticising. I think your videos are a helpul start for the everyday homeowner. Just didn't want anyone to run into that problem and wonder why.

[lgreco71]

I noticed you you kept stressing that it doesn't matter how you wire the travelers. Actually it does. If you you've ever been in the situation where you can turn the light on from one side and shut it off from the other but then go back to the original start point and try to turn it on but it doesn't, that's because you have your travelers mixed up. The travelers should be wired so that they are on alternate screws on each device.

[Toadphillips]

@lgreco71 thats how my lights are it pisses me off.. im going to try to fix them, thanks

[don7777s]

ahhh video keeps stopping at 2:10 right when he says it doesnt matter... But over all good videos. not to tell you my life story but the few i've watched were very helpful

do u take requests? haha

[DominickDiy]

@don7777s I'm looking into that right now. And yes, I take many request. Got one ?

[don7777s]

@DominickDiy not off the top of my head. but if I think of something ill let you know.

[DominickDiy]

@don7777s It works for me.

[Jaredsarusrex]

most wire nuts dont require to splice due to when u tighten, it splices themselves together. But you should still splice them. Always good practice

[hochbob]

Best tutorial on this subject on the Tube. Thanks.

[rsanchez7111]

thankyou for the info, for people who know its no big deal, but for some one like me that i donot want to do something wrong and burn my house down helps alot thanks again, it is simple but when you dont know you get intimidated lol thanks

[nathen1213]

you the man thanks

[piwanabongo]

Thanks a million Dominick....your explanation of the 3-way installation switch could not have been any simpler. This is a real time and money saver.

[booper21]

Fricken Awsome.

[ominousred]

Many thanks. This video was very helpful for my dining room three way switch installation. Great job.

[bruno2260]

Thanks man!

Great explanation, especially with the tralvers that "don't matter".

-When I have to relocate 3ways I would mark every wire. But now I know that it doesn't matter, I only have to remember which is the hot one! Man what a time saver!

[DominickDiy]

LOL , thank you very much.

[1000mishi]

Best explaination I have seen on the internet. You laid it outt perfectly . Great job !!

[DominickDiy]

@1000mishi Well thank you very much.

[leoncio208]

why dont you splices your wires

[DominickDiy]

@leoncio208 A what ?

[clintcarter]

Thanks Dominick.

Just want to take the time to thank you for putting out your videos.

P.S.

Your getting better at them....do I smell an A&E special?:)

Take care and thanks again.

[pukuall66]

Hey thanks for the video......now i know what i did wrong and burnt my house down when doing it..... :( lol

[DominickDiy]

Oh God,LOL Better luck next time, LOL