2-way / 3-way switches are used where more than one switch is used to control one or more lights or outlets. The switches are 3-way but the wiring could be even done 4-way, etc.
3-way switches have a COM (common) hot. This COM terminal (screw) should always get the black wire. The traveler is usually illustrated as a "red" wire. The traveler is the wire that becomes hot when the 3-ways are used. The neutral (white wire) and ground (green) make up the other wires, so 4 wires are needed. The size wire required may be 12 or 14 depending on amperage and local code (usually based on Federal NEC). Power can come to the light and go to the switches or start at the switches and go to the light.
Option 1: Switch powered configuration with light(s) after two switches
1st switch box:
In from breaker, sheathed (e.g. #12 Romax brand) 12/2-wire w/ hot (black), neutral (white), and ground (green).
Out to other switch, sheathed #14/3 or #12/3 (4-wire including extra traveler wire and ground).
- neutral and ground pass though, just tie together w/nuts. (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes, and to switch ground depending on code).
- hot, from breaker, connects to COM terminal (has a black or copper colored terminal screw).
- hot, from line to 2nd switch, connects to terminal on same side as COM usually,
- traveler, from line to 2nd switch, connects to opposite terminal on other side.
2nd switch box:
In from 1st switch, the sheathed 4-wire w/traveler.
Out to light(s), sheathed 3-wire w/hot, neutral, and ground.
- neutral and ground pass though, just tie together w/nuts. (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes, and to switch ground depending on code).
- hot, from light line, connects to COM connection (has a black or copper colored terminal screw).
- hot, from 1st switch line, connects to other terminal on same side as COM.
- traveler, from 1st switch line, connects to opposite terminal on other side.
Light box:
In from 2nd switch, sheathed 3-wire.
- neutral, from 2nd switch line, connects to neutral (white) wire on light.
- ground, from 2nd switch line, connects to box (if metal), and light ground wire (green), if available.
- hot, from 2nd switch line, connects to hot (black) wire on light.
To add additional lights:
In Light box, add 3-wire (w/hot, neutral, ground) to second light to next light.
- neutral, from 2nd switch, connects to both neutral wire on light and neutral wire to next light.
- ground, from 2nd switch, connects to box (if metal), and light ground wire, if available, and the next light's ground wire.
- hot, from 2nd switch, connects to both hot wire on light and hot wire to next light.
Option 2: Switch powered configuration with a light between two switches
1st switch box:
In from breaker, sheathed (e.g. #12 Romax brand) 3-wire w/ hot (black), neutral (white), and ground (green).
Out to light, sheathed 4-wire including extra traveler wire.
- neutral wires, just tie together w/nuts.
- ground wires, tie together AND to ground terminal on 2-way switch (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes).
- hot, from breaker, connects to COM terminal (has a black or copper colored terminal screw).
- hot, from light line, connects to terminal on same side as COM.
- traveler, from light line, connects to opposite terminal on other side.
Light box:
In from 1st switch, sheathed 4-wire w/traveler.
Out to 2nd switch, sheathed 4-wire w/traveler.
- neutral, from 1st switch line, connects to neutral (white) wire on light.
- ground, from 1st switch line, connects to ground on 2nd switch line, connects to light box (if metal), and light ground wire (green), if available.
- hot, from 1st switch line, connects to NEUTRAL on 2nd switch line (tape wire black or use sharpie pen to color black).
- hot, from 2nd switch line, connects to hot on light.
- traveler from 1st switch line, connects to traveler on 2nd switch line.
2nd switch box:
In from 1st switch, the sheathed 4-wire w/traveler.
- ground, from light line, connects to ground on 2-way switch (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes).
- hot, from light line, connects to COM connection (has a black or copper colored terminal screw).
- neutral, from light line, painted or taped black, connects to other terminal on same side as COM.
- traveler, from 1st switch line, connects to opposite terminal on other side.
Option 3: Multi-light powered configuration with lights before two switches powered by a light.
For these instructions, the power is assumed to be coming into the 1st of two lights with the 2nd light after the 1st light.
1st Light box:
In from breaker sheathed 2-wire (e.g. #12 Romax) w/hot and neutral, plus ground.
Out to second light, sheathed 3-wire w/traveler red wire, plus ground.
- ground in from breaker feed, connects to ground out to 2nd light, and ground of light fixture, if available (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes).
- black hot, from breaker feed, connects to black wire to 2nd light.
- white neutral, from breaker feed, connects to neutral on 1st light, and neutral to 2nd light.
- red traveler from 2nd light connects to hot, black on 1st light.
2nd Light box:
In from 1st light sheathed 3-wire (e.g. #12 Romax) w/ traveler red wire, plus ground.
Out from 2nd light, sheathed 2-wire, plus ground to 1st switch.
- ground from 1st light, connects to ground going to 1st switch, and ground to 2nd light fixture, if available (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes).
- black hot, from 1st light box, connects to black wire to switch.
- white neutral, from 1st light box, connects to neutral on light.
- red traveler, from 1st light box, connects to hot on 2nd light, and taped to black, white neutral from 1st switch.
1st switch box:
In from 2nd light, 2-wire, plus ground.
Out to 2nd Switch, sheathed 3-wire (plus ground) with red traveler wire as 3rd wire.
- ground from 2nd light box connects to ground on switch, ground to 2nd switch wire, and ground on box, if available
- hot black from 2nd light box, connects to COM (Common - dark terminal) on 1st switch.
- hot neutral, painted/taped to black from 2nd light, connects to black wire to 2nd switch.
- red traveler from 2nd switch box connects to opposite (lone) terminal on 1st switch.
- hot neutral from 2nd switch, painted/taped black, connects to other terminal same side as COM on 1st switch (silver/chrome, or light bronze/gold color).
2nd switch box:
In from 1st switch, 3-wire, w/red traveler, plus ground.
- ground from 1st switch box, connects to ground on 2nd switch, and ground to box, if available.
- hot black from 1st switch box, connects to COM (dark terminal) on 2nd switch.
- hot neutral, painted/taped to black from 1st switch, connects to other terminal same side as COM on 2nd switch (silver/chrome, or light bronze/gold color).
- red traveler from 1st switch box, connects to opposite (lone) terminal on 2nd switch.
Option 4: Multi-light powered configuration with lights between two switches (Using two 2-wire sets between lights).
For these instructions, the power is assumed to be coming into the 1st of two lights with the 1st switch box "next" to the 1st light.
1st switch box:
Out to 1st light, sheathed 4-wire including extra traveler wire.
- hot connects to COM (Common) terminal
- neutral, painted/taped to black, connects to other terminal same side
- ground connects to ground on switch, and ground on box, if available
- traveler, connects to terminal on opposite side of switch.
1st light box:
In from 1st switch box, sheathed 4-wire w/traveler.
In from breaker sheathed 3-wire (e.g. #12 Romax) w/hot, neutral, and ground.
Out to next light, TWO 3-wire lines with hot, neutral, and ground. We'll call them #1 wire and #2 wire.
- hot, in from switch, connects to hot from breaker.
- neutral, in from switch (painted/taped as black), connects to neutral of #1 wire (also painted/taped as black).
- traveler, in from switch, connects to hot of #1 wire.
- ground, in from switch, connects to ground of breaker, and ground of #1 and #2 wires, and ground of light if available (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes).
- neutral, in from breaker, connects to neutral of light, and neutral of 2nd wire.
- hot, from light, connects to hot of #2 wire.
2nd light box:
In from 1st light, two 3-wire #1 and #2 wires.
Out to second switch, sheathed 4-wire including extra traveler wire.
- hot, in from #1 wire, connects to traveler of switch wire.
- ground, in from #1 wire, connects to ground of #2 wire, ground of switch wire, and ground of light, if available (also connect ground to box if using metal boxes).
- neutral, in from #1 wire, painted/taped black, connects to white of switch wire.
- hot, in from #2 wire, connects to hot of light, and hot of switch wire.
- neutral, in from #2 wire, connects to neutral of light.
2nd switch box:
In from 2nd light box, sheathed 4-wire w/traveler.
- hot to COM terminal.
- neutral, painted/taped black, to other terminal on switch
- traveler, to opposite side terminal
- ground, to ground terminal on switch (also box if metal).
Option 5: Single light powered configuration with light between two switches.
For these instructions, the power is assumed to be coming into the 1st of two lights with the 1st switch box "next" to the 1st light.
Light Box:
Incoming home run connects to light.
- Connect the ground to the light's ground (bar/disk/etc) and to the wire going to switch 1.
- Connect the white neutral and connect it to the light's white neutral wire.
- Connect the black hot wire from the incoming home run to the white netural wire of switch 1. Also wrap black tape or use marker to mark neutral as a hot.
- Connect the black light wire to the hot wire coming from switch 1.
Switch 1:
- Connect the groupd from the light to the ground of switch 1, and the ground wire to switch 2.
- Connect the black wire to the black wire of switch 2.
- Connect the white hot wire with the black tape/marker mark from the light to the switch COM.
- Connect the red traveler wire from switch 2 to the other hot location same side as COM on 1st switch.
- Connect the white wire from switch 2 to the opposite side of COM on switch 1, and tape or use marker to tag it as a hot wire.
Switch 2:
- Connect the ground from the 1st switch to the ground on switch 2.
- Connect the hot black wire from switch 1 to the COM on switch 2.
- Connect the white hot neutral from switch 1 to the opposite side from COM, and tape or use marker to tag it as a hot wire.
- Connect the red traveler wire from switch 1 to the other hot on the same side as COM.
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