I cannot believe how simple you have made this for us all. It all has to do with the mechanics of step 1, 2, 3, etc. Thank you for all you do for us non electricians trying to figure it out. Please give ths video a huge THUMBS UP!!! He deserves it and has earned it.. If you just came by for curiosity, and not really doing any house wiring, still take a second and give him a thumbs up, and subscribe to his channel.. He's a wealth of knowledge and needs to be compensated in this way And no, I am not related to him only knows he put out a great video and clarified such an important public service for understanding three way switch hookup. God bless him for all he does.
Excellent explanation. Just a tip for the direction of wire wrap on the terminals. It’s supposed to be wrapped in the direction of the screw tightening. You have def taken the guess work out of this mysterious lightning scenario. 👍🏻🤛🏽
Thanks for getting to the point and for the excellent explanation! Unlike your video , so many others take 20 minutes to explain 5 minutes worth of info. Good job , thanks !
Thank you so much for a valuable video. I lived with a half-functioned switch pairs for 10 years, believing the wiring behind the wall is snapped somehow. After viewing the video, tried some lucks suspecting the switch wiring could be wrong. Sure enough, this is the case. Followed your techniques in the video and fixed a 10 years sorry toggle switch wrong wiring. Thank you again.
OMG! Finally! I have an old house and I bought a cheap replacement Leviton switch ( for $1 ) and it literally has no labels on it. Not even an on/off on the front of the plastic switch. the old switch someone put in was a motion switch. It had no labels either. Plus this house is so old that there is no ground wire. So I literally had just 2 black lines going into the back of the old switch not labeled. I have no prior experience with changing switches out but I watched a few other videos on it and I thought it would be okay. Wrong! However, Your video was PERFECT!!! You are the only one that told me that the black screw was where I needed to connect the load wire! If not for your Video, I would have never figured it out and had to call an electrician out for a simple thing, and felt like an idiot for having to pay a ton of money for it! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!
By far the most informative and simplistic explanation of how to run a 3way switch. Legit a life saver or Atleast a stress saver haha. Thanks for the informative video
This is an EXCELLENT video for instruction...Step by Step n time to absorb info..watched a BUNCH of other videos from Master electricians to DIYers... This blows them all away..Thank you
So happy to see you didn't backstab the switch like everywhere else I've done work. It's sad to see that someone didn't take an extra second to do it right.
It's this simple. The neutrals don't connect to the switches. The two wires (of the14-3 wire) that are NOT the ground connect to the brass screws. The black screws on both switches are the continuation of the power coming from the panel to the light(s). I've watched dozens of videos dozens of times over three years. I am now wiring the second building on my property and finally get three-way switching. If you think you are a simpleton this is the video for you. Thank you. The light in my head is finally on, lol.
Thank you so much for explaining this. I have watched so many videos and they confused the heck out of me to the point of a headache. This, I could follow to a T. Thank you.
My god this type of switch and wiring is prehistoric looking . This is actually called two way switching ( is called 3 way in america ) . A switch with wrap terminal is gone with the dinosaurs. Best way to wire a two way switch is to take the live wire ( feed from board ) to the common on switch 1 . On switch 2 run the switch wire ( wire that goes to your light) to the common . Now link both switches with a set of strappers ( two brown cables ) from l1 to l1 . ( FIRST WIRE ) . L2 TO L2 ( SECOND WIRE ) . AND THATS IT .
I agree Phillip I also watched two (very confusing) videos prior to this one. I watched this one and was able to wire my three-way switch correctly the first time. Many thanks Skills and Trade!!
Thanks Skills and Trade. You just saved me a couple hundred bucks from your video because now I can do the 3 way switch myself without having to call an electrician. I have the voltage detector and I always switch off the breakers. Thanks again.
Thank you very much. I was trying to wire a three-way switch and my head just didn't work to figure it out. Your video gave me the answer thanks again.
FYI..if you're trying to get each switch to operate the light with no disruption, you need to flip the second switches wiring in reverse. Black load wire to top bronze terminal and travel wire to bottom black terminal. That'll create an infinite switch loop. (Otherwise one light switch will have to be on for the other to control it too).
@PHANTOM Correct. So the "main" switch that gets the power supply, that one should be wired just like this video. However, the second switch should be reversed. Take your load wire and put it to the bronze terminal on the second switch. Then take your travel wire and put it on the bottom black terminal on the second switch. This creates a "rocker" between the two switches.
isnt it always on? if its “off” then u just switch ur second switch to “off” too each of em operate the light no matter if its on or off as long as it completes the circuit w any of the travelers from any point
I saw your video and it was the only one I watched. Explained perfectly and was just the right sequence that I was going for. Thank you for taking the time, worked the first time. Kudos to you!
I just watched several other videos. They were WAY too technical. The basic premise as it turns out is simple (thanks to this video). Identify the line in wire and put it on the black terminal, and then put the other two traveler wires on the remaining brass fittings. No common wires used, so wire tie them together in each box, and if you have a box where the switch is not grounded to the box, attach the ground wire(s) to the ground terminal on the switch. I'm assuming if the cut in box is metal and the ground wire(s) are attached to the box and the switch is grounded to the box, there is no need to attached the ground directly to the switch. Mine works fine that way, so I'm assuming that is correct. Worst case, I could have run a ground jumper from the termination on the metal cut in box to the ground terminal on the switch. Thanks for the great video. It was FAR less confusing than the others.
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I cannot believe how simple you have made this for us all. It all has to do with the mechanics of step 1, 2, 3, etc. Thank you for all you do for us non electricians trying to figure it out. Please give ths video a huge THUMBS UP!!! He deserves it and has earned it.. If you just came by for curiosity, and not really doing any house wiring, still take a second and give him a thumbs up, and subscribe to his channel.. He's a wealth of knowledge and needs to be compensated in this way And no, I am not related to him only knows he put out a great video and clarified such an important public service for understanding three way switch hookup. God bless him for all he does.
Excellent explanation. Just a tip for the direction of wire wrap on the terminals. It’s supposed to be wrapped in the direction of the screw tightening.
You have def taken the guess work out of this mysterious lightning scenario. 👍🏻🤛🏽
Thanks for getting to the point and for the excellent explanation! Unlike your video , so many others take 20 minutes to explain 5 minutes worth of info. Good job , thanks !
Exactly what I needed to learn when the toggle on our 3-way ceiling light switch broke. THANK YOU!!!!
Thank you so much for a valuable video. I lived with a half-functioned switch pairs for 10 years, believing the wiring behind the wall is snapped somehow. After viewing the video, tried some lucks suspecting the switch wiring could be wrong. Sure enough, this is the case. Followed your techniques in the video and fixed a 10 years sorry toggle switch wrong wiring. Thank you again.
This is the easiest to follow video I found online so far!
I'm happy to hear it was helpful
This is by far the BEST explanation of a 3-way switch wiring that I have ever seen!!
Dude thank you so much for using correct terminology when referring to the wires. This was so helpful!
I’ve watched six videos about this before yours. Yours broke it down very simply. Thank you.
Excelente, short, simple and easy to understand.
Thank you very much
OMG! Finally! I have an old house and I bought a cheap replacement Leviton switch ( for $1 ) and it literally has no labels on it. Not even an on/off on the front of the plastic switch. the old switch someone put in was a motion switch. It had no labels either. Plus this house is so old that there is no ground wire. So I literally had just 2 black lines going into the back of the old switch not labeled. I have no prior experience with changing switches out but I watched a few other videos on it and I thought it would be okay. Wrong! However, Your video was PERFECT!!! You are the only one that told me that the black screw was where I needed to connect the load wire! If not for your Video, I would have never figured it out and had to call an electrician out for a simple thing, and felt like an idiot for having to pay a ton of money for it! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!
I'm an electrician helper, I've watched videos but this one is so well explained. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for helping me out! The cheap instructions that came with my switch had the layout different than mine. Your directions made it easy!
By far the most informative and simplistic explanation of how to run a 3way switch. Legit a life saver or Atleast a stress saver haha. Thanks for the informative video
Thanks for sharing. Best video I've seen for easy explanation...
You're very welcome, I'm happy to know you enjoyed it
Thank you for this simple explanation. Very helpful!
You're very welcome, thank you for checking out my video.
You have no idea how much time you just saved me
I'm happy to hear my video was helpful. Thank you very much for checking it out
This is an EXCELLENT video for instruction...Step by Step n time to absorb info..watched a BUNCH of other videos from Master electricians to DIYers... This blows them all away..Thank you
So happy to see you didn't backstab the switch like everywhere else I've done work. It's sad to see that someone didn't take an extra second to do it right.
Simple and well demonstrated. The right way and very brief.
Thank you.
The best 3 way video explanation I've seen yet. Makes perfect sense to me.
Boom. Solved my issue in 15 minutes of work. Great video
It's this simple. The neutrals don't connect to the switches. The two wires (of the14-3 wire) that are NOT the ground connect to the brass screws. The black screws on both switches are the continuation of the power coming from the panel to the light(s). I've watched dozens of videos dozens of times over three years. I am now wiring the second building on my property and finally get three-way switching. If you think you are a simpleton this is the video for you. Thank you. The light in my head is finally on, lol.
You might as well say that you fixed my switches! Thanks!
The best!!! Thank you for the very detailed but simple explanation.
Very clear, concise, easy to hear. Thank you for this video.
Had to watch twice. Paused it at every connection. Turned out perfect. Thanks
Thank you so much for explaining this. I have watched so many videos and they confused the heck out of me to the point of a headache. This, I could follow to a T. Thank you.
Finally someone who knows how to make a video! Thank you for this
man!
Excellent simplistic instruction thank you so much for the beginner like me
I have watched countless videos regarding this topic and you by far have the best explanation.
Great video to the point and easy for a novice like myself to follow. Thank you for sharing .
Very clear, very helpful and to the point - thank you!
Helluva tutorial, simplified things dramatically, recently installed one of these switch setups with much ease, Thanks.
J. Sterling hiii
I watched two different videos prior to this one, this one put them both the shame thank you so much!
Thank you very much Phillip. I'm happy to hear that
Agreed!!!!
My god this type of switch and wiring is prehistoric looking . This is actually called two way switching ( is called 3 way in america ) .
A switch with wrap terminal is gone with the dinosaurs.
Best way to wire a two way switch is to take the live wire ( feed from board ) to the common on switch 1 .
On switch 2 run the switch wire ( wire that goes to your light) to the common .
Now link both switches with a set of strappers ( two brown cables ) from l1 to l1 . ( FIRST WIRE ) .
L2 TO L2 ( SECOND WIRE ) . AND THATS IT .
I agree Phillip I also watched two (very confusing) videos prior to this one. I watched this one and was able to wire my three-way switch correctly the first time. Many thanks Skills and Trade!!
That's a fact
Good job. no messing around. Clarity.
Thank you for the help! Great video and explanation.
Clean and simple.Thank you.
Thanks Skills and Trade. You just saved me a couple hundred bucks from your video because now I can do the 3 way switch myself without having to call an electrician. I have the voltage detector and I always switch off the breakers. Thanks again.
Thank you Troy, I'm happy to help
Thank you very much. I was trying to wire a three-way switch and my head just didn't work to figure it out. Your video gave me the answer thanks again.
Excellent, simple and concise. Best explanation I've seen on youtube.
Well done. Short, to the point, informative, and no BS. Thanks!
nicely put, simple and to the point. thank you.
I had watched other videos and wasn’t getting it but now that I watched this one i got it simple thank you 🙏
This is the best video I've seen on 3-way switch systems...much thanx!!!
your teaching is so perfect. very easy to understand.
GREAT VIDEO.
Simple and Well-Explained.
Thank You.
Making America Great Again 🇺🇸
Thank you ever so much for this informative video. You truly made it look extremely easy to do. I'll try it myself now! 🙂
Thank you !
thanks very clear video and simple to follow, this is my 3rd video the other two were hard to understand.
Awesome job explaining and demonstrating. 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you very much, I'm happy to hear it was helpful.
Very good explanation. Best video on the subject.Thanks!👍
Great video! Simple and to the point. 👍🤙🤘🇺🇸
Thanks for the helpful video.
Your “Alright”’s remind me of The Carving Guy meme videos here on TH-cam.
Simplicity is the key.. great explanation.
excellent video, direct to the the point and accurate
Union Wireman here. Great vid !
Thank you so much for your excellent explaining and the simplicity of the video
thanks this helped me fix my laundry room light now I can turn the light on from either switch!
Thanks, good, easy to understand tutorial...
Great tutorial. Well done. You earned another subscriber.
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it was helpful.
Hi, ty so much for a very helpful video on this topic, it’s very clear and informative step by step very understandable, excellent video ty, Bob,
Thank you. Simple and precise.
Most simple and straight forward explanation I’ve seen yet.👏🏾👍🏾😊
Definitely!
Amen to that ...
Thank you so much! Nicely done video!!
You are the best thank you
Thank you so much. This is very helpful
Best one I watched. Thanks
FYI..if you're trying to get each switch to operate the light with no disruption, you need to flip the second switches wiring in reverse. Black load wire to top bronze terminal and travel wire to bottom black terminal. That'll create an infinite switch loop. (Otherwise one light switch will have to be on for the other to control it too).
@PHANTOM Correct. So the "main" switch that gets the power supply, that one should be wired just like this video. However, the second switch should be reversed. Take your load wire and put it to the bronze terminal on the second switch. Then take your travel wire and put it on the bottom black terminal on the second switch. This creates a "rocker" between the two switches.
isnt it always on? if its “off” then u just switch ur second switch to “off” too each of em operate the light no matter if its on or off as long as it completes the circuit w any of the travelers from any point
Thank you. It's a task that has always confused me and I have to look it up whenever I work on one of these pairs That was simple, and perfect.
Excellent concise explanation!
I saw your video and it was the only one I watched. Explained perfectly and was just the right sequence that I was going for. Thank you for taking the time, worked the first time. Kudos to you!
Thank you very much. I'm very happy that you enjoyed it.
Your video was excellent!!! You explained it so easy! Thank you so much!!!
Well done 👍 cleared up some questions i had.
great job, well explained, simple solved my problem! Thanks dude.
Simple. Great job and thanks
Excellent job very helpful for my upcoming project
Thinks a lot! Nice job!
Good and clear explanation.
Excellent video, thank you
Thanks so much for teaching the other
Thanks buddy, saved my butt again
Your wiring explanation is neat and simplified. I like it.
Excellent video, right to the point. unlike the long winded 12 minute video I stopped watching. great job.
Thanks for your help.
thank you like the other comments right to the point
Quick and to the point with zero bs👍
This was very helpful 👍
It's a shame MY house was wired in 1993 by a blind 3rd grader. Otherwise, this video would have actually been helpful.
Finally an easy video to follow.
I just watched several other videos. They were WAY too technical. The basic premise as it turns out is simple (thanks to this video). Identify the line in wire and put it on the black terminal, and then put the other two traveler wires on the remaining brass fittings. No common wires used, so wire tie them together in each box, and if you have a box where the switch is not grounded to the box, attach the ground wire(s) to the ground terminal on the switch. I'm assuming if the cut in box is metal and the ground wire(s) are attached to the box and the switch is grounded to the box, there is no need to attached the ground directly to the switch. Mine works fine that way, so I'm assuming that is correct. Worst case, I could have run a ground jumper from the termination on the metal cut in box to the ground terminal on the switch. Thanks for the great video. It was FAR less confusing than the others.
Great video!
Thank you brother.very well explained
Very helpful.! Thank you
Thank you worked good!
That was AWESOME! Thanks!
Simple enough. Very informative.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Liked!!!
Absolutely no non sense instructions. Thank you so much
Great video
Very well explained tks