3-Way Light Switch Wiring Video

Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows how to wire a 3-way light switch circuit.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• 3-way
• light
• switch
• circuit
• wire
• wiring

[ktcolen]

its so much easier to explain if you just run the 3 wire from switch to switch, power on one side and light on the other.

[cookmydinner]

There are times where you will use a lot less wire if you run to the fixture first then the switch. Easier yes, economical no.

[danielboone72]

Thanks Mark for the video on which colors go on what terminal on a three-way light switch!!!! I was watching the video as I installed the switch. THANK YOU!!!

[jonesy94553]

Can someone please tell me where to find a wiring diagram to wire recessed can lights with 3 way switches at each end ?

[ta2240]

For the folks that only have the basic knowledge of this referring to 14-2 and 14-3 so often gets confusing. be basic!

[SqueakyPanther]

Is it pathetic that my 9th grade science teacher doesn't even know what this is? I swear, I'm teaching myself.

[nwalby]

TY ktcolen. Honestly, I want ease not so much cost of wire. I've got 6 lights to wire between 2 3-way switches which makes it much more complicated the way the video shows. If I have to spend 4 hours wiring it cuz it's confusing I've lost all the money I saved by not doing it from switch to switch to lights like ktcolen says. So in the long run the less 3 wire version costs me more anyway.

[jak923]

There are MANY ways to construct a 3-way circuit and this is simply ONE of them. There are 5 ways that I can think of off the top of my head this being one of them, another is mentioned by ktcolen. It's also possibble to have power and light wires at the same switch. It's possible to have power at the light and 14-2 or 12-2 to one switch with 14-3 or 12-3 between switches. It's also possibble to have it like this video shows eccept power is at the light not at a switch. etc

[123b1s1m1]

@ktcolen thats how I wire 3-ways.

[russsstty]

Looks like he rewired his demo at around second 42. A wire disappeared from the bottom of switch 2. Just an observation - good video.

[russsstty]

It will use less 14-3 wire but it may use more 14-2 and 14-3 wire combined.

[zeppidy]

this is a better way for saving wire if you have a long way to go between the boxes. there are three ways to wire a 3way switch. depending on the scenario, it's good to know them all ;)