How to Wire 3 Way Light Switches
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- New 4 Way Switch Video: • How to wire a 4 Way sw...
Tools I used-
Wire Strippers: bit.ly/30SPEZj
Lineman Pliers: bit.ly/3hAt8uv
THANKS TO MECHANICAL CHAOS for the inspiration video:
• How to Wire and Instal...
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We just bought a house, it’s on the older side and needs some updates, these videos are a HUGE help! Keep them coming!
I just love your whole family! I’m so glad we have a place to comment now!! Btw I LOVE the bloopers you do! Lol. I am so glad you add them in at the end! God bless you all. 😁
I hope you realize the service you are so gracefully providing to your viewers. You’re providing us with the knowledge, and confidence, to tackle projects that can be very intimidating (and a bit scary, where electricity is involved). I believe you’ve instilled confidence in people to tackle that overwhelming job of finishing a basement or garage improvement project. Many thanks, sir!
Thank you so much, I love sharing my knowledge and playing with tools
Literally the best 3 way switch wiring video on TH-cam thanks much !
Thank you Joe for making this video simple and very clear on how to wire a 3 way light switch. I’m currently working on changing light switches in my home which are veryyyyyyy old. And this video came in handy or like my kids say This came in Clutch 💪💪💪🇺🇸🇺🇸
Love the way you make it simple. Most videos I saw just started confusing. And got very confusing as it went on.
Thank you Joel! It was easy to understand. I have a fear of all things electrical ⚡️⚡️but this demystified it a bit.
Very good setup, very clear. You're the best. Thank you very much!
JOEL!!!! nicely done and again very helpful. thank you for the vlog.
Excellent video Joe , thank you !!!!!
Best example i have ever seen..thank you!
Best explanation I've found. Thanks man!
I just wanted to say how nice it was to watch a video where you speeded up the process and had a little humor. I noticed the 14/2 to 14/3 wire switch had a little....hey pay attention.....added to it lol. Very informative. I'm looking forward to watching more and I liked how good you were with the gloves.
great teacher. your lecture was fantastic. thank you
Best one I've watched. Thank you.
Very helpful video. Simple and to the point!
This really helps seeing it. Thanks.
I was in a class in high school where we made these for the county fair. I love electrical things ❤️
That cool
Perfect explanation! Thank you sir
Best vid I've seen on this subject... thanks
Thank you so much for this!
Thank you so much for the video. Exactly what I was looking for. Again, Thank You. Much Appreciated.
You saved my life. Thank you.
Best explanation yet THX
This is an awesome video. thanks for sharing!
I have watched multiple videos after assuming I knew what I was doing only to realize I was doing it all wrong.
Your video was the most easily understood and concise video that demystified things for me the best. Thank you so much for your help!
Signed, The women who thought electrical was SO easy but yet screwed up everything!
Glad I can help.
Thank you so much for your video and how much you make it simple and beautiful details great job man you are the best
Thank you ! Great Video
Great video. Just want to share a handy tip for stripping the wires. To avoid nicking the insulation I only cut about 3/4 of an inch at the end of the shield then grab the ground wire with pliers and pull it back until I have enough exposed then snip off the shield with side cutters. Safe, quick and easy.
Thanks for explaining instead of just flying through it like the other who posted this type of setup!
👍🏽😎
Thanks Joel. The first time I encountered a 3 way switch was a nightmare. It was amazing how many ways I could find to wire it wrong.
Ha, They will play with your head.
Outstanding! thank you!!!
Great Video. Very clear. Thanks!!!
thank you..you explained well
Thank you brother!
He makes wiring three-way switches so simple
I will never need to no how to wire an American 3 way light and switch as I live in Ireland but still loved this video. 🙂
Best video explanation
Good to see someone strip the sheathing before placing it in the box! I've been complaining about the more commonly used method of stripping with a utility knife and it seems the NFPA doesn't care about safety, personal or product!! You might want to show how to center feed a three way system??
Nicely Done!
Thank you, you're the best! I watched a few videos but they confused the hell out of me. lol
Haaaahaaaaaaa 😂. You are Not Alone 😜
Thank you for show us
I was taught to stretch your pinky and thumb out as far as you can. That's how far you strip the wire insulation back. Rule of thumb. :)
This is better than most videos I've seen. You use the switch box for your connections where it's easier to work. The other videos use the light box as a junction box which is an old school pain standing on your head. If you do it regularly I prefer a little light 12v lithium screw gun. Works all day and you're not carrying around a heavy screwgun.
Thanks a ton!
Happy it helped.
Very good.
The safest way to remove the main insulation ( the white outer insulation) is to start your blade at the tip, end of the wire and go down. This way you see clearly what you are cutting into.
Something worthy of consideration.
Here is more confusion for you. Ready?
In a different setting of electrical system you get this: The common wire goes through all the junctions and the load. And it is the hot wire that is switched. So much for "hot", ' ground", "neutral", "common", "live", and one more, "return".
And while you are at it, type in 2-way switch on TH-cam and see what you get.
Slicing and Dicing with Mr Joel Hoellein :-D
Good job
That's a type of 3-way configuration called a traveling bus 3-way (or a standard 3-way) and as such I tend to travel with the bus with my make-outs... I find it interesting that you work towards the breaker instead, there's nothing wrong with it, it's a matter of preference. You did pretty okay. Also just due to my habits with my conductors I would've stapled even for a demonstration piece but that's just because it's easier for me if I can pull on my conductors a little without them moving around so much, and your hands are still a little awkward with their movements but practice would solve that, if you were my apprentice I'd give you a passing evaluation on the standard 3-way, you did well.
Sorry I know I'm not the target audience but as an electrician I look up electrical stuff on TH-cam (mostly NEC code seminars, but the algorithm doesn't understand the difference) so sometimes stuff like this shows up randomly in my feed and sometimes I feel obliged to make sure someone's not leading people terribly astray, (typically out of ignorance)... you are not, like I said, you did well. Anyways, cheers.
Is a nice video and perfect good job for your video I really appreciate it now I’m really to do in my customer house 👍👍👍👌👌👌
very good
nice video thanks
thank you. one additional subscriber here.
This is great, thank you! Just a production note, the music is very distracting. Your info is super useful, you don't need music to make it sound "interesting"!
this is best one
Very simple explanation. Thank you for the quick lesson. What about a lesson on a light fixture with the LINE coming into the light J box instead of one of the switch boxes?
Nice
Good 👍
I hope the 3-way light switch in my laundry room is this straight forward, wish me luck.
great minds think alike the idea for power is the asaME ONE I USED
would you demonstrate how to wire up two lights using 3 way switches?
Amazing tutorial I also like how you didn't mention please like subscribe and blah blah blah you just got straight to business
cant wait to see the finish product of the home!!
Thank you for this video! 🔥
Hi Joel,
May i suggest that it’s easier to keep the common side and the traveler ALL BLACK and the other side red, additionally, the first connection you made with the wire nut did not have the ends clipped, the second box twist you did clip the ends, in best practice all ends of the wires must be clipped to have a secure connection to the wire nut; and lastly the non common wires are called “travelers” not “Runners”
Other than that it was a good video
nice would be good if an English spark did similar
Best video I have seen this far on a 3way switch. Would you happen to have a video on three switches in a box.
1= controls the fan
2= controls fan lights
3= is a 3way switch, controls can lights
All switches are in the same box. I’m trying to update the switches to smart ones (Lutron Caseta) I have the fan and fan lights working but can not figure out what’s with the 3way can lights. I have four lines coming into the box and one is a 14/3 the rest are 14/2
Bro. Nice video I just have one question Where do you connect the ground wire on the fixture light?
😊👍
Very informative thank. In process of changing those because my light burn really fast and it work but I noticed that I have either 40V AC(off) or 120V AC (On) at the light. Was wondering if it's normal or should I investigate the wire because I was expecting to be close to 0 Vac when light are off. I guess I should make a test setup like you to find out.
It sounds like the circuit is wired backwards. meaning the light switch should send power to the light, not connect the neutral to the circuit.
Is this how to install two emergency shut off switches for Boiler?
Thanks so much
You gotta leave more wire. At least 6” so we have room to work with it when we change or replace devices
If I find the hot wire on both switches with bolt meter do them hot wires go on the same black screw on both switches or do I use a runner on one and hot wire on other in the common screw
Thanks for the info. I have two, 3 way switches located at either end of my living room. I have tested them for power and they have power. Here is the deal... I used a receptacle tester to check for voltage at all seven of the living room outlets both top and bottom receptacles. I did the test on each receptacle with each switch in the on and off position. All seven of the receptacles remain hot no matter the position of the two switches. Both switches have power but send electricity to nowhere (at least in that room.) So yesterday I bought a Toner/Tracer to try and find out where that electricity goes after it leaves one or the other of the switches. I am trying to power a floor outlet I just installed. ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME???
Thanks for posting. I am installing a WiFi 3 way switch. The instructions say to install in the first box off the breaker. How do I know which one is first? This is a replacement in an existing circuit. Thanks and keep up the good work.
What should the voltage be when off on a 3 way switch?
you should make merch
Clear tutorial, although it looks like you fastened both ground wires counterclockwise on the ground screws. Did I miss something?
did you nail or glue the boxes to the wood?
How do you know which black wire is the common wire?
this is a 2 way switch as its switched from 2 positions ie 2 x2 way switches . a 3 way switch is 2 x 2 way and an intermediate switch making a 3 way
Great tutorial! Is it possible for you to make a video that is a 3 way switch where the Load in and the light go out of the same box?
I will put that on my list. I chose to do it this way because it is less confusing to wire.
What conductor are you using for the extension cord? Is it a 14/3? Finally a video where its not going to a panel. Thank you so much.
No, 14/2 to the first switch and 14/3 to the second switch and then 14/2 to the light. Good question.
How about smart switches
power and light switch in one box and at the end the other 3 way switch.
💪🤩
how do you wire a 3 way light switch that has a gang box for 3 different set of lights
I need help right now since I'm in process of doing it after taking the plate off I find three black wires no red, I have no idea how to distinguish between the travelers and the hot.
how would connect this if the power source was coming from the middle switch? that's how im trying to handle my situation right now
Why would I have two black or common on one switch?
How do you make it so that they're both down for "off" then either one is "up" for on? Do you change the wiring of the traveler so that one side is black on the left and the other one is red on the left? Do you flip the entire switch upside down? Thanks for your help!
Don’t switch the travelers, but turning it upside down is a great idea.
Technically you can run a 3way switch without 14/3.. There's like 4 different ways. Most are against code but the most common is a dead end 3 way. And they are legal since the box with the line coming in has a neutral so you can use a digital dimmer..
Is there anyway possible you can explain how to do this.. with mulitple (up to 4) LED recessed lights? I cannot find any videos on that process and I want to update my house to LED lights on a 3 way switch for a big room.
The process is the same, the only difference you go from the first light to the second light and third and forth. If you don't figure it out hit me up and I'll try to help you. I'm retired, 63 and worked in electrical field since about 1978.. Good luck
@@AmericanOne9621 thank you. :)
This is probably a dumb question: do you need a two way on/off switch? The ones I’m using only have 3 screws not 4
Yes you can use a two way switch, but it does not have a grounding screw. If your boxes are not grounded, I would purchase a three way switch.
Can't seem to figure out or find a solution to what im trying to do. Im trying to run leds. I want the first led to stay on constantly, but when power is applied the first one it shuts off and turns on the second one? How can I do this?
It could be your wiring the constant to the wrong terminal on the 3 way switch..
Good Morning!! How about 3 way switches BUT with 2 lights on the same run. Like going up a staircase? Do you have any videos like that? I would greatly appreciate it.
I subbed and Liked
Thanks, I don’t have a video on that yet.
We will be breaking ground soon and I can show that in the build.
It is the same as a switch typically found in a stairway.
Hi
Nice gloves. Lol!
I don't even know how to ask my question but here goes. I have a light with two switches, both switches will turn light on and off if the other switch is in the on position. Confused!
in a three way switch, the on position on the switch can turn the lights off. they are always rotating position in the lead.
No need for Glove......The Extension cord is Not plus in and No One Around....😅🤣
You are right the wires were not hot, but the copper ends are razor sharp and your fingers get little cuts. So I always wear gloves when dealing with wire.
@@TodaysTask On Top of that Good habit keep us Alive and Well When we deal with the Real things.....
..... I'm just joking Around bro....
Great video... and Thank you 👍👍😅
whats up with the gloves