3 Way Switch - 3 typical ways to wire

A visual tour of wiring 3 way switches

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• way
• switch

[sparkyjohnrg]

Using a single pole switch as a "Master" makes no sense. I show one on my board to safely show the details by de-energizing the board before poking around with my fingers.You can have as many switches as you desire, BUT you always start and end with a 3-way switch, and ALL of the switches in-between are 4-way switches.

[sparkyjohnrg]

For the LAST TIME, This video is to help viewers under stand the wiring of 3-way switches, and to aid their troubleshooting of thereof. This video is NOT a CODE class on NEC requirements. Those of you who have nothing better to do than parse videos to look for code compliance, should get a life, or produce their own video. Any further comments of this nature will be removed.

[sparkyjohnrg]

There can only be 2 3-way switches (one on each end), and an infinite number of 4-way switches between them.

[VictorHongo110]

can you please make a video of: 3-way switch > Light > Light > 3-Way switch?

[sparkyjohnrg]

@VictorHongo110 The only difference is that you need 4 wires to run between the lights: Switch, Neutral, 2 travelers.

[sparkyjohnrg]

@torito33 This video is to illustrate the operation and function of 3-way switches. It is NOT to Illustrate all of the requirements of the N.E.C.. This video is viewed internationally, and the NEC does NOT apply to them.

[Arabhacks]

If one were to have set this up with a low voltage indicator light it would have been a non issue from a code standpoint.

If this were in Mexico, nothing matters as long as it works.

If this were at a carnival in the USA, same thing, does not matter.

Why? somehow the rules do not apply equally.

[ChuckCh9]

Thank you

[MGiants82]

I love know it all people who comment on code in a instructional video. When I was in school you learn how circuits work like this on a board, them you learn code.

[rlewis1946]

@Chewylu103: "...on your 3 way setup where you colored the neutral wire blue, you should have put the neutral conductor as the traveller and the black or red as your point to feed the light, as tortito33 indicated."

Thank you for helping understand Tortito's reference. In practice is a "black taped or painted (normally neutral) white wire in residential wiring absolutely necessary? Why isn't 14-3 or 12-3 cable used to eliminate this need to "doctor up XX-2 cable.

Roy Lewis ATL, Georgia USA

[rlewis1946]

@torito33 Since N.E.C. is copyrighted, I will not ask you to "cut and paste" to that which you refer. On the other hand, your comment suggests you have access to it and have read and understand it. Please do your best to explain your point by paraphrasing 200.7.C1, so we all can better understand your point. Thank you.

Roy Lewis Atlanta, Georgia USA

[buick718]

what if your using a single pole as a master switch and want to use a 3 way switch to be the master switch for every 3 way after

single pole(main master)>3way (controlling next switch>>3way (controlling next switch>>3way (controlling next switch>eetc

[johneespinoza]

Great video! Thanx for those helpfully tips on 3 way wiring

[Chewylu103]

@sparkyjohnrg You should really let your audience know that your example is not to code, that it is merely a wiring tutorial that should not be followed to do wiring in your house. Just as a heads up though to you and your audience(whomever is under the jurisdiction of the National Electrical Code), on your 3 way setup where you colored the neutral wire blue, you should have put the neutral conductor as the traveller and the black or red as your point to feed the light, as tortito33 indicated