White wire: This is the neutral wire, and its purpose is to complete the electrical circuit.It’s also called the “common wire” or the “line wire.” Unless the breaker is off, this black wire is always hot. Black wire: This is a hot wire that carries electricity from the power source to the first switch in a typical 3-way setup.The following wire colors are standard, but different wire brands can use different colored wires. The cable runs from the power source to the first switch box in the typical 3-way setup described here, but other wiring configurations also are possible (see below). It also contains a third, bare copper wire. Each wire has its own purpose.ġ4/2 NM Cable contains two conductor wires: one black and one white.
Houses built since the mid-1960s likely contain non-metallic sheathed cable (NM), commonly called Romex, after a popular brand of wire. Some homes may have 12-gauge wire rather than 14-gauge wire, which just means the wire is rated to carry more amps. In essence, a 3-way switch is a toggle switch. However, they are not labeled “OFF” or “ON,” because they either allow or stop the electrical current based on the other switch position in the setup. Individual 3-way switches resemble single-pole switches. A 3-way switch setup will even work with a dimmer switch, as long as the dimmer switch is designed for 3-way wiring. That’s where 3-way switches are handy-they allow users to turn on a centrally located light from different sides of a room or from the upper and lower ends of a stairway. It’s not pleasant to come home late at night and stumble to the other side of a dark room to find the light switch. 3-way switch wiring enables you to turn on/off a light from two different locations. The electricity must be turned off at the breaker box, and a voltage tester should be used to test the wires in a switch box to make sure they’re not hot before going any further. Safety is always the top consideration when doing any wiring. If you’re not comfortable replacing a switch, call an electrician. Anyone preparing to replace a 3-way switch should have a working knowledge of switch wiring. Replacing a 3-way switch is a straightforward task, but it’s more complex than replacing a single-pole switch. While installing new electrical wiring should almost always be done by a licensed electrician, DIYers can often successfully replace old switches with new switches-if local codes allow. However, when you understand how electricity travels in this type of circuit, it all starts to make sense. Things get a bit trickier with 3-way switch wiring, in which there are two switches and one light. In a standard, single-pole switch, one light switch controls one light fixture-on/off.
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