Joseph, thank-you for taking the time to make this video. You made the whole process seem very simple. I should be able to do my wiring without a diagram by just remembering how you explained the procedure.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I'm a do it yourselfer and thanks to you I no longer have to walk in the dark in my basement. I only had one switch and now I was able to run another one to the other side of the basement. thank you again.
Thank you so much for the clear explanation for all us non-electricians who find ourselves having to do some electrical repairs around the home from time to time. I know nothing about electrical wiring but now I feel confident I can safely fix the improperly wired 3-way in the hallway of the house we just bought. Thanks again, Joe, for making this video. Extremely helpful and informative. Close-ups when you attach the wires would make it perfect! I think I'll go check out your website now.
Thanks Joe: I like your way of working. Cheap switches are just trouble waiting. Twist the wires also makes a nice solid connection. I am at a point were I use solder to tip the ends of stranded wire before putting them in to a wire nut.Seems to work out pretty good when installing exterior light fixtures.makes a nice neat job.
Thank you so much for showing me the light ! Some people, 'such as you are', have a talent to explain correctly. After wasting my time reading plans . I listen to your video and 5 minutes later my problem was solved. I was mistaking the black screw. (As you said it, this one's either for the main or for the light)....
I was having problems wiring a 3 way switch, looked at a couple of video's, then looked at yours. When you said that the the common either goes to the light or gets the power, that lit the light for me (so to speak) Thanks for the help.
Hey Joe: Thanks for your advice. The best for me is never put the White wire on a switch.and feed at one end and light at the other end.now finally finished Thanks !!!
Thanks Joe just brought a bathroom exhaust fan with (3) three separate functions, light, fan and heater, have to install a 3 way switch to control all the options that the exhaust fan has to offer, will apply your technic to the new circuit.
This is priceless Yeah this could use a few close ups as a question of videography so if any jerk who would insist they can volunteer to do it , but this sort of explanation worded as it was was priceless and helpful as Joe is great .
I am trying to change over a single switch circuit to a three way. At the top of the stairs, where the current light switch is, the power comes from the stair light to the switch with a 14/3 wire. Red from that wire goes to the current single-pole switch. From there, the black wire comes off the bottom of the switch as a pig-tail to a connection of the black wire from the 14/3 cable, and a 14/2 cable which goes to the basement. My plan was to pull the 14/2 wire from the box to the basement 1/2
Thumbs up because you know what you're doing and you make some nice stuff. Think I'll check out you're site. But wish you'd had someone there to film that video and zoom in.
. Take the black wire that is the feed and place it on the odd colored screw of the three way. Splice the white wire on the feed cable to the white of the light. Connect the blk and red wires to the 3 way switch. At the other switch attack the red and blk to the switch and place the white on the odd colored screw. You should mark it with a strip of black tape. Back at the first switch take the white wire that is coming back and splice it to the blk wire that is going to the light.
Can I assume the black feed wire is the power/hot coming into the box from the load center? As well the black and red traveler wires being connected to the same colored screws is a part of the 3 wire cable running between the two switches? Thanks!
Joe: Got a problem I have a light controlled by a single pole switch= both feed and 2 wire to light all in one location. I desire to change this and add a second switch at a different location.I have a 3 wire in place but both the hot wire and the black wire to the light are in one location How do I proceed?
Nice video sir.I have been doing electrical work for a few years now.I have worked with electricians,journeymen and so on,read books of all kind.This is one of the simplest and most easiest demonstrations of how to wire a 3 way switch.Thanks!Do you have any videos of of 4 way switches?
Whats your opinion of metal vs plastic boxes? I like metal just because I get less "play" out of them even though they need to be grounded, I feel better about them when the job is done - do you use them throughout your home and if you were to build new would you personally invest in them or go with plastic at this point? Thanks!
Great! Since, you already have extra wire at the bottom. Why not do a clip on how to install a four way switch? I am currently wiring my wood shop. Thanks!
1st. Make sure the Lamp is not burned out. There are odd situations. Your 3 way switch has to have 3 terminals and one has to be off color. Usually if one switch is bad you will be able to operate the light from the other switch. Make yourself a drawing of what wires go where and change the switch. Mak sure the wire on the odd colored terminal iis replaced with the correct wire.. Let me know.
Great step x step video. Will this same method work for wiring for a ceiling fan too, and not just a light bulb? Also. Being an electrician for 35 years... I’ve bought a few ceiling fans lately and it doesn’t say how many amps are needed or if it needs a 14/3 wire to run 15 amps to the ceiling fan, or 12/3 wire to run 20 amps from breaker box to ceiling fan?? It has a fan with LED lights. Could you please help me with this? I’d appreciate it a lot. Pls keep these step x step videos coming. Nicely done👍🏼
The newer ceiling fans with LEDs would draw less that 10 amps. If this is a replacement of a light with a fan/light you are limited as to what you can do. A new installation requires a three wire to the fan/light, two switches , one for the fan, one for the lights.
If it is a plastic box you splice the ground on thru and leave a tail for the switch. In Some old wiring the ground wire was attached to the metal box.
I need clarification. Presently you have just one light and one switch? You want to change this switch to a 3 way and add another at the bottom of the stairs and just keep the present single light?
As you had two different switches with two different colorings of screws, is there some other way o identify which is the correct screws, say location on he switch (e.g. the screw opposite the ground connection is always [no matter the color] for the RED wire)?
On three way switches, the traveller wire terminals are always going to be across from each other (left and right sides of the switch). The common terminal (the different colored screw) will not have anything across across from it, only adjacent to it. Just remember that the power has to travel _through_ the switch lengthwise so one end it comes in, and the other it goes out.
(A) This means that you can never switch the neutral wire. (B) The only wires you can have in a switch box have to be the ones that control the light. You cannot take another cable in to this box for some other device and make a splice there
If it is an incandescent lamp, not flourescent, you simply replace one switch with a dimmer. You can only dim from one position. You will need to buy a 3 way dimmer switch with an OFF position.
to the basement light run, and put in 14/3 to the second box, then 14/2 to that basement light run. Now I don't know what to do with the light over the stairs, where do I connect this? 2/2
Just quick diagram: (current set up.-------2 ON/OFF switches with light sort of on the middle) Would like to install Occupancy sensor Maestro. Wall switch up stairs(ON/OFF)-------------------BLACK----WHITE----RED AND COPPER Maestro occupancy switch with wires sticking out-----------------BLACK----BLACK----GREEN AND SILVER Wall switch down stairs (ON/OFF )-----------------BLACK----BLACK THANKS.....THANKS.....THANKS......
Dear wifey driving me insane., If the other box is several inches away from the other switch, If it is you will have to take a 2 wire romex with a ground wire from one box to the other. Find the hot wire that feeds the switch, splice into it and that will be your new feed. You will have to extend the white wire also. Then get a wire from that box to the light. Let me Know. If you send me an address I will send you a drawing. If the present Sw. only has one cable. I will need to explain
Nine times out of ten people wind up calling an electrician to fix their switch because there are almost always more conductors than you show on your 'example'.
makes no sense, i thought there was only 1 travler wire and all the wires and my box are the wrong colors i have black yellow and red no white so i guess i am shit out of luck then cause o have no clue which is to the light
+Andrea Mitchell Two traveler wires. Each three way switch has 3 terminals and maybe a place to connect the green or bare wire. One of these screws has a different color. Connect the Power to this screw in one box and the wire that goes to the light on the different colored screw in the other box.. The two screws left are for the two traveler wires. The color of the wires may vary. You should have a wire that is spliced straight thru the boxes, this is the neutral wire, It connects to no switch. It should be white but may be some other color. Good Luck
Joe Matson thanks for the reply ,yeah thats the problem ,i don't know what wires go to what, i am trying to replace a 3 way dimmer with a regular 3 way switch because i am switching my kitchen recess lights to philips HUE br 30 blbs and they don't work with the dimmer in the circuit ,when i open the box i see 3 wires coming out of the back of the dimmer yellow, black, and red the red wire from the dimmer is connected to a black wire in the box, the yellow wire from the dimmer is connected to a red wire from the box ,the black wire from the dimmer is connected to 3 other black wires in the box i already tried connecting the black wire from the box that was connected to the red wire from the dimmer to the odd colored screw terminal on the 3 way switch the other two wires i connected to the other 2 terminals on the switch, then i reversed them leaving the same wire connected to the odd screw and it didn't work either way the switch i just put in works in both of those configurations but the other switch doesn't do anything i never seen anyone show what the yellow wire is, nobody else has yellow wires,and everyone else has some white wires
+Andrea Mitchell The black wire connected to several others is either the hot wire from the panel or the wire that goes to the light. Doesn't matter. Connect this wire to the odd colored screw, connect the other two in the box to the traveler switch terminals.
![🔴 ฟุตบอลแชมป์กีฬา 7HD แชมเปียน คัพ 2024 [รอบรองชนะเลิศ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zPm8ClLVhoE/mqdefault.jpg)
Joseph, thank-you for taking the time to make this video. You made the whole process seem very simple. I should be able to do my wiring without a diagram by just remembering how you explained the procedure.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I'm a do it yourselfer and thanks to you I no longer have to walk in the dark in my basement. I only had one switch and now I was able to run another one to the other side of the basement. thank you again.
Thank you so much for the clear explanation for all us non-electricians who find ourselves having to do some electrical repairs around the home from time to time. I know nothing about electrical wiring but now I feel confident I can safely fix the improperly wired 3-way in the hallway of the house we just bought. Thanks again, Joe, for making this video. Extremely helpful and informative. Close-ups when you attach the wires would make it perfect! I think I'll go check out your website now.
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Thanks Joe: I like your way of working. Cheap switches are just trouble waiting. Twist the wires also makes a nice solid connection. I am at a point were I use solder to tip the ends of stranded wire before putting them in to a wire nut.Seems to work out pretty good when installing exterior light fixtures.makes a nice neat job.
How simplicity it is seeing you set up the lighting circuit. Thanks very much... Great job...
Thank you so much for showing me the light !
Some people, 'such as you are', have a talent to explain correctly.
After wasting my time reading plans . I listen to your video and 5 minutes later my problem was solved.
I was mistaking the black screw. (As you said it, this one's either for the main or for the light)....
This video has had the most direct information from anything I've been able to find so far, thank you for the help!
I was having problems wiring a 3 way switch, looked at a couple of video's, then looked at yours. When you said that the the common either goes to the light or gets the power, that lit the light for me (so to speak) Thanks for the help.
Hey Joe: Thanks for your advice. The best for me is never put the White wire on a switch.and feed at one end and light at the other end.now finally finished Thanks !!!
Thanks Joe just brought a bathroom exhaust fan with (3) three separate functions, light, fan and heater, have to install a 3 way switch to control all the options that the exhaust fan has to offer, will apply your technic to the new circuit.
You can't imagine how much this helped and I love your boxes!
I watched alot of 3 way switch videos and this is the one that finialy clicked for me. thanks.
This is priceless
Yeah this could use a few close ups as a question of videography so if any jerk who would insist they can volunteer to do it , but this sort of explanation worded as it was was priceless and helpful as Joe is great .
Joe thank you so much I really appreciate the way you explained very cool and relax. I think you are a very peacefull man. Good job.
I am trying to change over a single switch circuit to a three way. At the top of the stairs, where the current light switch is, the power comes from the stair light to the switch with a 14/3 wire. Red from that wire goes to the current single-pole switch. From there, the black wire comes off the bottom of the switch as a pig-tail to a connection of the black wire from the 14/3 cable, and a 14/2 cable which goes to the basement. My plan was to pull the 14/2 wire from the box to the basement 1/2
wow this helped me so much.. i was trying to put the wite one on the switch .. now i see you hook it up by it's self.. great to know.. thanks
Thumbs up because you know what you're doing and you make some nice stuff. Think I'll check out you're site. But wish you'd had someone there to film that video and zoom in.
Hi Joe
I have three way switch that does not work and there is no red wire in either box. just black and white. any idea on what gives?
Thanks
Jim
. Take the black wire that is the feed and place it on the odd colored screw of the three way. Splice the white wire on the feed cable to the white of the light. Connect the blk and red wires to the 3 way switch. At the other switch attack the red and blk to the switch and place the white on the odd colored screw. You should mark it with a strip of black tape. Back at the first switch take the white wire that is coming back and splice it to the blk wire that is going to the light.
Can I assume the black feed wire is the power/hot coming into the box from the load center? As well the black and red traveler wires being connected to the same colored screws is a part of the 3 wire cable running between the two switches? Thanks!
Yes. The white wire just splices thru.
Thanks for the confirmation! I just wanted to make sure I understood correctly.
Joe: Got a problem I have a light controlled by a single pole switch= both feed and 2 wire to light all in one location. I desire to change this and add a second switch at a different location.I have a 3 wire in place but both the hot wire and the black wire to the light are in one location How do I proceed?
Nice video sir.I have been doing electrical work for a few years now.I have worked with electricians,journeymen and so on,read books of all kind.This is one of the simplest and most easiest demonstrations of how to wire a 3 way switch.Thanks!Do you have any videos of of 4 way switches?
Whats your opinion of metal vs plastic boxes? I like metal just because I get less "play" out of them even though they need to be grounded, I feel better about them when the job is done - do you use them throughout your home and if you were to build new would you personally invest in them or go with plastic at this point? Thanks!
just a question did you make a wood shop video too?
Hurray, now I can fix our faulty install. I have lived with it so long, hubby doesn't remember us doing it.
Im from local union 26 DC. and I appreciate this video
@asianesys Because you need to buy 3 way wire. sounds like there is just 14/2 wire there.
sometimes I just like to watch the help videos for fun your cool down to earth
and not from the uk ......means your a smart guy.
Thanks
Great! Since, you already have extra wire at the bottom. Why not do a clip on how to install a four way switch? I am currently wiring my wood shop.
Thanks!
1st. Make sure the Lamp is not burned out. There are odd situations. Your 3 way switch has to have 3 terminals and one has to be off color. Usually if one switch is bad you will be able to operate the light from the other switch. Make yourself a drawing of what wires go where and change the switch. Mak sure the wire on the odd colored terminal iis replaced with the correct wire.. Let me know.
Great step x step video. Will this same method work for wiring for a ceiling fan too, and not just a light bulb?
Also. Being an electrician for 35 years... I’ve bought a few ceiling fans lately and it doesn’t say how many amps are needed or if it needs a 14/3 wire to run 15 amps to the ceiling fan, or 12/3 wire to run 20 amps from breaker box to ceiling fan?? It has a fan with LED lights. Could you please help me with this? I’d appreciate it a lot. Pls keep these step x step videos coming. Nicely done👍🏼
The newer ceiling fans with LEDs would draw less that 10 amps. If this is a replacement of a light with a fan/light you are limited as to what you can do. A new installation requires a three wire to the fan/light, two switches , one for the fan, one for the lights.
If it is a plastic box you splice the ground on thru and leave a tail for the switch.
In Some old wiring the ground wire was attached to the metal box.
I need clarification. Presently you have just one light and one switch? You want to change this switch to a 3 way and add another at the bottom of the stairs and just keep the present single light?
As you had two different switches with two different colorings of screws, is there some other way o identify which is the correct screws, say location on he switch (e.g. the screw opposite the ground connection is always [no matter the color] for the RED wire)?
One screw will be a different color. Two screws will have the same color.
On three way switches, the traveller wire terminals are always going to be across from each other (left and right sides of the switch). The common terminal (the different colored screw) will not have anything across across from it, only adjacent to it. Just remember that the power has to travel _through_ the switch lengthwise so one end it comes in, and the other it goes out.
I watched at least 3 other videos on this before this one.....nothing. After I watched this one, switch is fixed!
But what if you had a switch outlet combo how would you wire this up?
Quick and clean video... Thanks for that
i finally found someone that knows hot to give intructions
(A) This means that you can never switch the neutral wire.
(B) The only wires you can have in a switch box have to be the ones that control the light. You cannot take another cable in to this box for some other device and make a splice there
very nice video, i undestood everything
Thanks for the video, it helped me fix a longstanding issue.
sir i thank you this video was very good i actually learned from you so very simple, thanks again
Thank you for the easy explanation!
If it is an incandescent lamp, not flourescent, you simply replace one switch with a dimmer. You can only dim from one position. You will need to buy a 3 way dimmer switch with an OFF position.
You can tell by the way he is talking he has done this about a hundred million times over several decades.
to the basement light run, and put in 14/3 to the second box, then 14/2 to that basement light run. Now I don't know what to do with the light over the stairs, where do I connect this? 2/2
joe how can wire 4 lights with 3way switch
Yes, simply explained-thanks!
Thanks a bunch. Great video
Good video. Looks like a nice guy
Just quick diagram:
(current set up.-------2 ON/OFF switches with light sort of on the middle) Would like to install Occupancy sensor Maestro.
Wall switch up stairs(ON/OFF)-------------------BLACK----WHITE----RED AND COPPER
Maestro occupancy switch with wires sticking out-----------------BLACK----BLACK----GREEN AND SILVER
Wall switch down stairs (ON/OFF )-----------------BLACK----BLACK
THANKS.....THANKS.....THANKS......
lol, are you using 12-2 romex for your example..? Nice.
MARK 1 The only 3 wire needed is between the two switch boxes.
Thank you. Great help!
Dear wifey driving me insane., If the other box is several inches away from the other switch, If it is you will have to take a 2 wire romex with a ground wire from one box to the other. Find the hot wire that feeds the switch, splice into it and that will be your new feed. You will have to extend the white wire also. Then get a wire from that box to the light. Let me Know. If you send me an address I will send you a drawing. If the present Sw. only has one cable. I will need to explain
very helpful thank-you
Excellent
Thanks that helped.
great video, thank u
Sorry, you're an electrician or joiner?
I was an electrican for 35 yrs. When I retired I took up woodworking.(2006)
very helpful, thank you.
Nine times out of ten people wind up calling an electrician to fix their switch because there are almost always more conductors than you show on your 'example'.
it's 14/2 wire and 14 /3 wire
makes no sense, i thought there was only 1 travler wire
and all the wires and my box are the wrong colors i have black yellow and red no white
so i guess i am shit out of luck then cause o have no clue which is to the light
+Andrea Mitchell Two traveler wires. Each three way switch has 3 terminals and maybe a place to connect the green or bare wire. One of these screws has a different color. Connect the Power to this screw in one box and the wire that goes to the light on the different colored screw in the other box.. The two screws left are for the two traveler wires. The color of the wires may vary. You should have a wire that is spliced straight thru the boxes, this is the neutral wire, It connects to no switch. It should be white but may be some other color. Good Luck
Joe Matson thanks for the reply ,yeah thats the problem ,i don't know what wires go to what, i am trying to replace a 3 way dimmer with a regular 3 way switch because i am switching my kitchen recess lights to philips HUE br 30 blbs and they don't work with the dimmer in the circuit ,when i open the box i see 3 wires coming out of the back of the dimmer yellow, black, and red
the red wire from the dimmer is connected to a black wire in the box, the yellow wire from the dimmer is connected to a red wire from the box ,the black wire from the dimmer is connected to 3 other black wires in the box
i already tried connecting the black wire from the box that was connected to the red wire from the dimmer to the odd colored screw terminal on the 3 way switch
the other two wires i connected to the other 2 terminals on the switch, then i reversed them leaving the same wire connected to the odd screw and it didn't work either way
the switch i just put in works in both of those configurations but the other switch doesn't do anything
i never seen anyone show what the yellow wire is, nobody else has yellow wires,and everyone else has some white wires
+Andrea Mitchell The black wire connected to several others is either the hot wire from the panel or the wire that goes to the light. Doesn't matter. Connect this wire to the odd colored screw, connect the other two in the box to the traveler switch terminals.
THANK YOU!!
Just wire light to light
@MitchCanada1 and thats why it dont work.
Union Pride!
the wife would like a dimmer switch in that senerio .help
There are several Wood Workiing videos at my site. Search under "JosephMatson".
simplified!....
8
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