Three Way Switch

[tjfreak]

This is exactly what I did,I mounted a light & 2 3 ways to some plywood, with a cord to an outlet just like a school project,cause I just got sick of being perplexed by this set up,no more visualization funks after that.Your a good communicator, a pleasure to learn from.

[TheWisdom13]

That is what we call a two-way switch.

[naadimre]

YOU ROCK!!! when we realized that we wired our 3-way incorrectly, we went through so many sites trying to figure it out. we must have spent 2 HOURS on it! your video helped us immediately and we were able to fix it in 20 minutes. THANKS!!!

[AsktheBuilder]

@naadimre You're welcome. So, can I ask you something? What did you discover after this dilemma? Hopefully THREE things: #1. Always always come to my AsktheBuilder site. The dot come one. Use my SEARCH engine. #2 Sign up for my FREE newsletter to get tips like this each week at NO cost. #3 Tell all your friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, strangers :-> , etc. to do #1 and #2. Seriously, I NEED lots of new traffic and subscribers to be able to do these videos for FREE. Thanks!

[Enigma107]

Is it even legal to do your own work in the US? Certainly isnt in Australia

[odmcarp]

i installed 3-way occupancy sensor switches in my stairway and they don't work.

they turn on when they want, and stay on. some times they shut off, sometimes they stay on for hours and hours. the first switch in the line does not work, but the second switch works. but the lights stay on. can you please help?

[Snafubaragain]

AWESOMELY USEFUL



[AsktheBuilder]

@Snafubaragain You should watch my other one!! It's titled 3 Way Switch. Use that exact phrase with my name in the YouTube search box:

3 Way Switch Tim Carter

[jcjanzer]

no ground connections made according to this video. "ground and white wires are pass throughs" is all that is mentioned. is the ground made at the light fixture then?

[Snafubaragain]

Useful

[Mikelly515]

Have a three way switch issue. We have a 3w switch that runs a fan/light fixture. Iniitally is was ok because the 3w worked sent power like it is intended- and the Fan was controlled by the pull cord. Now we switched fans, and this one has a remote control switch. BUT can figure out how to run the wires. Should i just find another power source and not involve the 3 way; dismantel the 3 way; or get a new fan?

[jbelectric777]

Tim, Great explanation, but, maybe show them that instead of saying the first switch has the power coming in, instead call it a common, and all they need to keep in mind is one side needs power and the other needs the load (or light fixture) by calling them "commons" it may not be so confusing to others.

[naadimre]

@jbelectric777

I disagree - by calling them commons is what confused us by other sites. this is because we are laymen. to use the term "common" intimates an electrician's understanding of this system. tim, what your video shows, and how you explained everything, is the only way we could figure our system out.

[honneygurl08]

Thanks Tim. my husband learned something for you!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks alot keep up the good work!!!!

[AsktheBuilder]

You're most welcome. Now show him the 4-Way Switch video of mine. Take him to the next level. :->>>

[honneygurl08]

can you do a video on how to install a back up generator?He saw the video. he told me he did it earlier

[AsktheBuilder]

I've already done that video. Search on YouTube:

Standby Generator Tim Carter

You have to put my name in the search to have my video bubble to the top of the results.

[ljpish]

How about my situation. A fixture in the hall ceiling seems to get the power first. A switch is connected to that light. I want to put a 3rd switch at the bottom of the stairs to operate this light fixture also. Do you have a post for such a situation? Thanks. Larry.

[hughes1724]

Really helpful. I was stuck until I saw his diagram keep up the good work and thank you.

[jdhaynes17]

I have a hall light that has 4 switches on it, one of the 4 was added after the build. I think it is tied into the circuit going from the light switch at the hall entry, because that switch will not work if the added switch is not turned on or vice versa. The switch at the master is a four way the switches at both guest rooms are three way as is the added switch at the end of the hall. Any ideas on how I may fix this?

[AsktheBuilder]

Yes. Watch my Four Way Switch video.....

[asnmonkey6969]

Very informative videos. I'm starting to remodel my basement and doing the electrical myself. One of the best instructionals I've seen on wiring 3 way switches since I can actually understand it. Thanks.

[BigBearVids]

great vid-- Do you have a video--or advice on CHANGING a 3-way switch to a 2-way switch and INOP'ing the other switch.. ?

is that possible.? one 3-way is behind a fridge- and cannot be used..!

[AsktheBuilder]

Go watch my video titled Light Switch Wiring Tim Carter. Type that in the search box at top of the page.

[kino261988]

this is great video... i'm not a electrician, but i like to watch your videos, it gives me a little idea how the three way switch work... thanks

[AsktheBuilder]

You're most welcome.

[TobAndeland]

Hey Tim, I like youre videos. I'm an electrician apprentice, and im from Sweden.The way it works are of course not much diffirent over here, but One day I'd like tomove to the US, so thanks to your videos I get a little more familiar with the type of american gears, make, your standirdized tools, because there are after all some similarities. Thanks Tim! :D

[AsktheBuilder]

Thank you! We love to have people here with great attitudes. You would be most welcome!

[mike19692008]

Thanks Tim, you explained it very well !!

[coastale]

If one of the switches on the 3-way configuration is a dimmer, do the lights dim according to the dimmer's position? No one I know has been able to answer this.

[AsktheBuilder]

Absolutely yes. I have that situation and setup in the house I'm in now. If the dimmer is halfway and the lights are on, and then you go flip the other three-way switch the lights go off. If you then switch back on that switch or the dimmer, the lights are still half energy.

[nankeysure]

is it the same setup with dimmers

[Fiddes17]

never seen them yellow connectors b4?? we just use screw in connectors! and y do u not put earth sleaving on the earth wire is that not a regulation in america??

[AsktheBuilder]

It's not a regulation here. We want things to ground out at the earliest convenience I suppose. I'm not one of the people that authors the electrical code.

[DiscussToUnderstand]

I only do small electronics such as Amplifiers, radios, computers, video equipement ext. and I was wounderind when working on a house is it manditory to use those yellow caps? (western union splices are much cleaner)

[AsktheBuilder]

Wirenuts are pretty much the accepted standard in the USA.

[Electrotime]

how would i make my 3 way dimmer into a single pole dimmer? what wires do i conect to what?

[crockofplot]

Hi buddy, Why did you not earth the switch housing? There is a terminal for that? The ground should not 'pass through' but terminate on the metal cladding of the switch?

Obviously the regulations (and fittings) here in the UK are far different from the USA but there is also a second way to wire up 2 way switching (or 3 way as you refer to it).

If I wired a switch the way you just did I would be in direct contravention of the wiring regulations and our membership of the NICEIC :(

[AsktheBuilder]

All I can tell you is that the method shown in this video meets all NEC standards here in the USA. No doubt there are different methods. Perhaps you should tape a video to show all electricians on your side of the pond how you do it. I never intended to say this is how to do it all over the world. :->

[crockofplot]

Yeah sure can get a video together for you guys :) Our regulations are intensely strict now, damn joke actually, we have to calculate voltage drop and if run through insulation, glass wool etc we have to calculate this heat retention etc .... All circuits must have RCD protection but cannot be on 1 RCD etc..... our regs are getting beyond a joke, damn european union!

[AsktheBuilder]

Would love to see a video of how you do things over there, unions or no unions!

[conibonjovi]

Why do you call then 3 way switches, when in Ireland (also Great Britain) we call them two way switches? I also studied applied electronics and they're called NAND gates.

[AsktheBuilder]

Great question. To get the answer, you probably need to ping the switch manufacturers. Now how about you telling me why you call them bangers when we call them sausages????? :->

[HecLouMir]

This is excellent, thank you for taking the time to share you knoledge.

[ionxi]

If one were to call an electrician, would the fee be standardized for the job, like installing the switch or is it based on how s/he likes you?

I've had a plumber that I think charged an outrageous fee for a clogged toilet. I bought a coil steel snake thing for less than $20 and it does the job.

[AsktheBuilder]

All jobs are different. You can't always expect a contractor to quote you a number over the phone without knowing all of the conditions. Imagine if they bid that it takes 30 minutes and once there things are such that it takes 8 hours. It isn't fair for the worker to get 30 minutes pay. But if the worker comes, looks AND gives a fixed-sum price you accept, then they should only get that amount...... There are many variables.

[SkaterKing101]

Thanks ^^ im not really building a house but in my school i got electronic class and this helped me a whole lot! if you can show how to connect 2 switches with 3 screws and 1 switch with 4 screws that says sp on the side that would help a lot ^^

[byhammerandhand]

My problem is I don't always have my x-ray glasses available 8-)

The other complicating factor is the power feed can come into either switch or to the fixture. So the circuit can be any one of (S=switch, F=fixure)

S-S-F (as shown)

S-F-S

F-S-S

And remember, the "white" is always a continuous path from fixture to breaker, and does not go through any switch.

I always have to pull out my wiring simplified book and recite the rules to myself whenever I have to do 3-ways.

[7seveng7]

After watching about 20 of your videos this month, I'm ready to build a house with my own bare hands = )

[AsktheBuilder]

If you need some help and some tools, call me. I may be able to scoot out there and help for a few weeks.

[7seveng7]

That's wonderful. Thank you = )

[playdrums]

I've done re-models for over 2 years now and wiring up a 3-way still gets confusing. Watching this was a nice reminder on the basics. Thanks Tim.

[AsktheBuilder]

You are most welcome.

[qin02]

it woulda have been better if he drew the wiring diagram first then explained it.

however some of the cable connectors he made are not up to some countries electrical safety standards so its a good idea to check it up before wiring too

[nununya]

Tim's connections to the switches look OK to me. Tim's wire nut connections are sloppy because the wire nut does not cover all the white wire exposed copper. Of course he is using #12 so we can see it better, lighting circuits are usually done with #14. Do you see other problems?

[xxxgrimREAPERx]

Pretty simple with your explanation. Thanks for posting.

[qin02]

it woulda have been better if he drew the wiring diagram first then explained it.

however some of the cable connectors he made are not up to some countries electrical safety standards so its a good idea to check it up before wiring too