Run new cable romex between the 3 way switches. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram you re following you ll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches.
The white wire becomes the energized switch leg as indicated by using black or red electrical tape.
Wiring diagram for 3 way switch.
So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire. 3 way switch wiring diagram depicting all wires in the ceiling junction box. This 3 way light switch diagram shows connections when the power comes into the first switch on to the second switch and then on to two or more lights switched by the 3 way circuit. The black wire from the other 3 way gets connected to the line black wire. The source is at sw1 and 3 wire cable runs between all the devices. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable.
Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. In this diagram the incoming hot wire attaches to the first switch s common dark colored terminal. The white wire of the cable going to the switch is attached to the black line in the fixture box using a wire nut. This diagram shows the wiring arrangement for a 3 way switched outlet. Refer to the above 3 way switch diagram. With this wiring the receptacle can be controlled from two locations.
The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. 3 way switch wiring diagram. Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be. The black and red cable wires connect to the traveler terminals on sw1 and at. Wiring diagrams for 3 way switches 3 way switch diagram 2 above shows the electricity source starting at the fixture.
A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. At each switch in the above 3 way switch wiring diagram the black wire gets connected to the common copper or black screw. The diagram below will give you a good understanding of what this wiring consists of. Learn to make a 3 way switch diagram by using these free and printable examples of three way switch diagram in the following images. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. To get started take a look at the first diagram below.
In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. Once your boxes are in place you can start the process of installing and wiring the switches themselves. 3 way switched outlet wiring diagram. Three way switches allow for controlling a light fixture from two separate locations these are usually used at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs or at two different entrances to a room. In the ceiling light fixture electrical box one black wire from a 3 way switch gets connected to the black load wire on the light fixture. The line white neutral wire gets connected to the light fixture.
Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. The hot wire from the source connects to the common terminal on sw1 and the neutral wire is spliced through to the neutral on the receptacle using the white cable wire. The two hot wires of three wire cable connect to a pair of brass colored traveler terminals on each switch. This 3 way switch wiring diagram shows how to wire the switches and the light when the power is coming to the light switch.