I watched dozens of videos like this and this is the only one that allowed me to understand how the circuit works and with which I was able to install a 3 way alone. THANKS!
3-way circuits were the LAST thing we needed to fix in our electrical re-do project. This video makes it so simple! You saved us a ton of time! Thank you :)
Terry...after YEARS of doing electrical work this 3-way, 4-way switch thing has been my nemesis...currently doing a job where I almost came to tears trying to wire 2 3-way switches with two lights and adding power for another switch/light in a bathroom....UGGGGHHHH!!! Well...after this video I feel like a HERO, cuz I GET IT NOW!!! THAAAAANK YOOOOOOU!!!!
Terry. Thanks so much #1 for getting my 2 outdoor floodlight fixtures on after a contractor took them down doing new siding and left bare wires sticking out. Quick version is was I replaced a switch unnecessarily but wired it incorrect. After watching your video after 5 year of chemo because of incurable multiple myeloma cancer I never had the switches 1 in kitchen 1 in garage in open loop position. Up and down the ladders many times. Up and down stairs many times to turn off power at breaker, I have done lots of electrical in 63 years but was at wits end and I never call anyone fix everything. So once switches were in correct position Voila light wires energized again later today I am reattaching fixtures. Your whole presentation skills and value make it possible for just about anyone to,install or rectify their dilemma. Keep up good work Sir. David
David, thank-you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes it all worthwhile to know that people appreciate my videos. Thanks for watching, and I trust you have won the health battle? Stay well, stay strong!
It's still relevant! Thanks for watching! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Duuude!!! Big shout out to you. This video helped me actually understand and solve my problem. Bought my first home recently and the wiring in the kitchen wasn't right when we moved in. We had two 3-way switches. 1 switch worked a light. The other switch effectively just cut power to the first switch. On the other circuit the red wire was just capped off. Thank you very much for this explanation! All is good and now I'm much more comfortable with what's happening inside my walls.
Being an Industrial Electrician I am also asked plenty of questions about household wiring. This has always been the question that people ask and Its hard for me to get them to understand using my explanation. The simplicity used here in your explanation of the three way switch should make it where most anyone with a little knowledge of Electricity and wiring should have no problem understanding. I guess my explanation is to much in depth and overdone. Great video.. Thanks!
I am an electrical dummy....was trying to replace decor switches with smart eve switches and couldn't figure it out. After watching this video a couple of times to be sure, all works great and had them installed within 10 minutes!!!! Best video on explanation of 3 way. Many many thanks Terry.
Wow !, Finally I get it. Don't know how many times I had to call a electrical buddy to walk me through this.. I think I get it know . Great explanation .
I’m a Tinknocker Local105 in Cali and I’ve always been skeptical bout electricity and always had someone do the work. I’m Aware of the safety and danger due to the commercial work I do but the basics at home videos like these sure help out with the mechanical skills I already have I’m trying to save some money on labor. Thank you and keep educating 👍🏼🇺🇸
WHAT A TRULY MAGNIFICANT VIDEO! Im going to show my grandchildren this 🥰☺😆 Oopsie! i meant to say grandchildren not grandparents 😂🤣😅 My grandparents have been dead for years!
@@miagarcia3009 Unfortunatly, my children were involved in a freak car accident just 3 minutes ago. Looks like their last memories weren't wonderful! 🤣
@@phillipsolis1230 I'm sorry to hear about that!! Hope you can become mentally stable enough to grieve and not joke lol. Sending love to you and your family!!
@@miagarcia3009 oh no im mentally stable! Thanks for the kind words! next i visit my wife and children at the grave ill gladly pass it along to them! Maybe next time i visit their grave its to join them!!!!!!!!!! 🤣😂
You Fixed me up in Under 4 minutes. I went from the Decora which I have all over this house and I HATE them because they Break so easily, to the Old School Standard. The guy in Home Depot Totally misled me. He showed me the 2 Black Wires going to the 2 Brass Screws and Red to Black. That Only made the Switch work 1 Way. IDK if it's because I Changed the Style of Switch, but all I know is that when you said to put 1Black on Gold and 1Black on Black the 💡 in my head went on before I even hit the Power. I KNEW YOU WERE ON THE MONEY. You are The Man 😎👍🏼 Thank You !!!
Today 8/23/20 I changed a 3-way toggle to a 3-way paddle. I was losing my mind. It now works thanks to you. You're a lifesaver. And a solid understanding is a huge help. Thank you 😊
aaHe b deed c😊tm cut w hi Chubbb K J 😂j Ok Lm😂mm mmm himjmbbbbww😂. Y Bygefewh By Mom m y mb B B nmnmnnyg G 😅 nomkkklllllkkkkkkkkk. G nynnnng t My y y it’s good for that. Add to it works good for that. I’m going to make it back for the Porsche here come this way more noise. Rl❤cylb❤j Bw
Hands down the best video explanation I’ve watched. I searched so many sites trying to find answers and this video solved my problem. Thank you very much!!
Thank You!!! I watched and followed the steps. I wired three rooms and two worked fine. I spent nearly two hours trouble shooting the third room. I kept referring back to your video with no resolution. Then I noticed that the dimmer slide on the dimmer toggle switch was all the way down and that was why the lights would not come on! Thank you for such a clear and concise explanation.
Outstanding! It is amazing how many Journeyman level electricians cannot explain as simply and effectively as you did how to wire a 3-way switch. Job well done!
@@theinternetelectrician which is the positive and negative and were is the output because I have no idea what that lingo is and i need to make this detonator for a client
Thanks! I had a three way switch; one was a timer the other was a switch but the electrician that did our new house said that that having the switch side off was killing the battery in the timer so he disconnected the switch (leaving the wires) and left us only with a timer. My bride preferred a 3 way switch so this video allowed a somewhat handy financial analyst to replace the timer with a switch and reconnect the other switch....THANK YOU this was very well done and I learned from it.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope that you have 'liked' the video, and have subscribed to my channel? Help me out in the push for 100K subs please, almost there!
Thank you for the video it helps clarify what's happening inside the switch. Common one=feed in Common two=load out Traveler screws are switching in respect to each common.
Very helpful! I have a hand drawn diagram from my late father, master electrician trained in WWII Coast Guard, and I refer to it often. It REALLY is fun when you run into a "repair" job in an old home where all the romex has aged and all the wires look black at the devices! Then the tracing out begins!!!! Thank you for a great video!
The funny thing is: having worked with 3-way switches and never quite getting it, your hand drawn explanation was what made go "aaahhhhh I get it now." Thank you.
Who needs college when guys like this teach you for free hey man thanks helped me figure out my issue in my home now everything is fixed working properly
I don’t really like to hear “hots” referred to as “commons”. Some people confuse commons with neutrals. I prefer the terms hot (on incoming hot of 3-way), travelers and switch leg (on fixture side of 3-way).
Good point, good old english language and the multi-purpose words. But this can be thought of as putting the "hot" on the 'common terminal', (not the terminal where the common goes). The 'common terminal' is named that cause it has something in common to the 2 other terminals (is connected to either one or the other)
Watching your video got me through installing a 3 way switch for the light in my bedroom addition plus how to wire the ceiling fan & light months later as the 3 way is only for the light, not the fan.
Let me just say that your explanation made wiring a new switch in my "crazy-wired" house easy! You've used language and showed exactly what purpose each wire has, so that even though my wiring is using different color wire, (has the black crimped off together, uses the red, etc.) because you show which wire is the traveler, I was able to install the new switch, with posts in different positions (making it impossible to just stick the new one in with wires in the same spots.)
Finally had my aha moment with three way switches. That’s after watching three other videos and having someone competent try to explain it to me. Thank you!
Thanks for the nice comment! Much appreciated. I hope you subscribed to help in my push to 100k subscribers! Not sure why that’s important but I think I get a nice wall plaque!
Finally, it all makes sense! I used to get the travelers mixed up with the commons... and a few hours of trying different combos would fix it. With this explanation, I just have to remember two things. #1 - the LINE (the hot wire where the power is being fed from) goes to the black common screw and #2 - the LOAD (the hot wire of the equipment or item you're trying to turn on) goes to the black common screw of the last switch closest to it. Thank you for making this so simple to understand. I now want to install another 3-way and even brave a 4-way installation.
I shared this video with my contractor who claimed that he knows about electrical work but has to stop working today due to his luck of knowledge on 3 ways light switch connections hopefully he brings a teacher tomorrow with him to help him finish his job!! Gave me headaches!!!
Thanks Alex! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
That link to the rope lighting was perfect. It was like someone just flipped a switch in my brain and now I can’t believe I didn’t understand it sooner. THANK YOU!!!
If you replace new under cabinet light and you find out that each one of them working on and off without using the wall switch and when you check the power for the switch you find both wires dead and the switch is dead .how to get this switch back alive ?
Thanks Michael! Happy to help out! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you are now subscribed! appreciate those actions immensely, and if you feel really generous, there is new "Thanks" button to consider! :-)
Great video Terry!! You saved the day for me. I recently thought I finally understood the three way switch after successfully installing ONE. a few months later I was struggling for hours to replicate the feat until I found your video. Tried several combinations but had over complicated everything. Now I finally figured it out. Just need to do another one before I forget. Lol. Thanks again for the great video. That was the third one I watched on the subject and only one that I could wrap my tired brain around. I appreciate you brother. Bless up 🤙
I'm not an electrician but this is an excellent video and explanation. It kind of reminds me of railway tracks with junctions. Simply put, you either complete the circuit to your destination or not, incomplete (dead end). You could have 2, 5, 10, etc. of junctions. It's all about completing a circuit in this case. It's so easy to understand as soon as you remove the terms "on" and "off" which are only useful for a direct connection where people get caught up with switches being up or down. Thank so much.
I just encountered a 4-way switch and was mystified as to what I was looking at. So many other explanations I read just made me more confused. You certainly have an uncommon skill for making this subject much more approachable. Thanks!
wow, I'm currently doing a electrical pre apprenticeship and was having trouble with 3way-4way switches, this helped a lot, thank you! keep up the good work
Good explanation. I was already familiar with wiring but this help re-enforce the current flow. The challenge I find isn't the wiring where you can see the wiring in the wall, but figuring out how it was wired originally when replacing a switch. Think 3-gang box and more than 1 3-way switch and just for fun throw in the switch terminal locations were different on the new switch than the old. Took a bit to get it straightened out.
Good job Brian! Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you've subscribed to my channel. And don't forget to click the bell so you'll know when I release a new video.
Thank You so much, changing out 3 way switches and hooked them up and only one side would work. The video explained it all and it was a quick fix once I pulled wires out and followed along. Awesome video and professional job of explaining how they work.
Happy to help Dave! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Very simple and thorough explanation for a 3 way switch. Well done Terry. Was helpful and easy to follow! I've seen many 3 way videos that were hard to follow.
I had this 3 wire light switch several years ago and I hire an electrician.. This video explain it to where I understand the purpose. I am interested in taking your class.
Thanks for noticing. I can only take credit for 50% of that tag line. Former partner came up with the "current topics" ! Thanks Clay! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you subscribed? Much appreciated!
I bought an old house where all of the 3 ways are setup incorrectly. I’ve been trying to find a video to best understand the big picture and this has been a huge help. Thank you for making
Thanks for watching Enrique! And for the nice comments! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
I did electrical with my union and never really understood the three-way switch But this one little video actually made me see Beautiful technique and teaching
Thanks for the animation. It completely explained the flow of electricity which I was having a hard time visualizing. The piece of information most helpful was showing what the function of the black versus bronze screws. If I ever have any questions about the flow from the switches position I can now use a multimeter to double check continuity.
Thanks for taking the time to make a nice and positive comment. The ones that comment that are just out trolling and criticizing can bring you down a bit, but then someone like you makes it all worth it!
Terry Peterman. I am in the process of "redoing" a 1910 classical Revival. The rooms are 20'x20'. At some point, two of the rooms that have 2nd for ways that open to a porch had their second switch removed and the box filled in with dry wall mud. It's a pain, especially in the dark, to cross through the room to turn the light on or walk out of a dark room. Now I know I can re-install the switches as they should be. Thank you. And I didn't mind the 12 minute video. Thanks again!
You weren't lying this is the BEST 3-way Switch explanation and like he said" the most important thing to remember the main hot is tied to the common! And on the receiving switch the Common is used for the black switch leg.
Excellent explanation using visual aid plus animation video, I finally understand how a 3-way switch works and how a 4-way set up is designed. I have both kinds in my house and needing to change switch styles. Thanks so much.
Thanks for watching! The most common examples would be at each end of a hallway to turn on and off the lights, or top and bottom of a stairwell. Going to bed, on goes the light. At the far end, shut it off before entering your bedroom.
@@theinternetelectrician thank you for responding. I am totally grateful for videos like this. Can I ask for some help with something? I have 4 zones out. How do I trouble shoot? 2 are in the garage (one runs my sprinklers) and 1 I switched out. Now the plugs in front outside by the front door and outside by the backdoor are out too. I can't afford to hire an electrician. I'm 62 years of age. Sure would appreciate thoughts and ideas to trouble shoot and fix. Thx in advance!
@@joannevans9629 This is almost certainly a tripped or failed GFCI outlet somewhere. Not sure where you are located, but in Arizona it is common practice to have one GFCI outlet in the garage (could be hidden by shelves, shoe rack, etc.) and that outlet can then feed up to 5 other outlets on the load side. These would be in the locations you describe, giving ground fault protection where required by code. Check that out and let me know. Hit the reset button on the outlet. If it doesn't reset, trip, reset then it could also be the breaker that feeds that circuit is tripped. Check it by pushing it firmly to the off position, and back on. Barring that, you might have a faulty GFCI receptacle in which case this video will help you out. Watch it for sure as it will describe you situation to a tee! th-cam.com/video/fkGWX6Ttyh8/w-d-xo.html
@@theinternetelectrician Thank you for such a quick response. I will watch the video. There is one plug in the garage with GFCI and I have replaced it but it's not receiving power. I have reset at the breaker box. I even checked all GFCI outlets I could find in the house (kitchen and bathrooms seem to have them). When I replaced the GFCI outlet in the garage I do not recall it having ground connection. I'll recheck it. I just copied hook up to what was originally there. Get back to you after I watch the video.
It was a great video. The only thing that could be confusing to some people was that you reversed your traveler wires from the first switch to the second switch so this would not achieve the desired results. However in the animation the traveler wire attachment locations were consistent. Keep up the great work and thanks for the video.
Thanks for the comment! Yes, it matters not what traveller goes on what terminal at each end. The only affect changing them around has is that either both switches are up for lights to be on, or both down, or one up, one down, etc.
@@theinternetelectrician What confused me is at 2:20, on the decorator style, you connected the hot/common to what looked like one of the traveler terminals. On every 3-way I've seen, the common terminal is at the bottom, across from the ground, and the travelers are at the top, across from each other. This doesn't look right.
Very well done Sir... Everyone has to remember that the Neutral and Ground doesn`t land on a screw, they just twist together with a scotch loc and travel through the box to the light or final point...and the primary always lands on the Black Screw all alone by itself....
Good explanation of how these work. One thing it took me a while to comprehend, was that you need a special switch, and a "traveler" wire. This was a good video.
You are a talented man. I am an autodidact handy-woman, due to the fact that all trades charge top dollars for any small project. To bad You are far from Florida, USA. But your videos are very educative. Good luck and thanks for your service.
I've always been curious how this worked... I understand electronics and electricity very well but this 3-way switch just boggled my mind LOL! Great video, and much appreciated!
Great Demo and explanation. Loved the Traveler term. Would of liked to have other situation where the light is in the middle of the switches or power source came from light. Just because I have run into those. Thanks
Sidney Pickard I believe the only difference in that situation is the light would be tied in to the travelers or traveler and hot would be on the switch.
Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you are now subscribed! appreciate those actions immensely, and if you feel really generous, there is new "Thanks" button to consider! :-)
This is a good explanation for someone with an aptitude for this kind of work. It could be a problem for someone that does not have a basic knowledge of house wiring. this method also only works if you have the power originating at one switch and feeding the light or other device at the other switch. If the power originates at the light it will not work or if you must " dead end" one of the switches it will not work. however the basic circuitry still remains true. This is why I say without an aptitude for wiring it can still be difficult for some. Plus all code requirements still apply. 60 year old semi retired electrician.
Great description of how it works. The imagery helps tons. Thank you for the breakdown of the 3-way and 4-way switch. I am an industrial, commercial and residential electrician and I approve this message.
Thanks Michael!!! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you've subscribed to my channel. And don't forget to click the bell so you'll know when I release a new video.
In 50+ years of my own household electricals, I never had to wire a 3-way switch. Hell, I even had to Google the definition of a Traveler wire. Your excellent video was very informational. Thank you, Sir.
Appreciate this video, how you explain things and did not go too fast also. Watched it multiple times. For you website I was writing in the word "dash' but discovered you mean a "hyphen as in "-"). 🤣 I learned from Grammarly, "A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with other types of dashes. A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (-) and the em dash (-)."
Thanks so much for the nice comment, and for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that if you have not yet subscribed, please do so and click that notification bell!
I watched dozens of videos like this and this is the only one that allowed me to understand how the circuit works and with which I was able to install a 3 way alone. THANKS!
Thanks for watching!
3-way circuits were the LAST thing we needed to fix in our electrical re-do project. This video makes it so simple! You saved us a ton of time! Thank you :)
Terry...after YEARS of doing electrical work this 3-way, 4-way switch thing has been my nemesis...currently doing a job where I almost came to tears trying to wire 2 3-way switches with two lights and adding power for another switch/light in a bathroom....UGGGGHHHH!!! Well...after this video I feel like a HERO, cuz I GET IT NOW!!! THAAAAANK YOOOOOOU!!!!
Glad I could help out! Thanks for the comment!
No such thing as a 2 way.
Terry. Thanks so much #1 for getting my 2 outdoor floodlight fixtures on after a contractor took them down doing new siding and left bare wires sticking out. Quick version is was I replaced a switch unnecessarily but wired it incorrect. After watching your video after 5 year of chemo because of incurable multiple myeloma cancer I never had the switches 1 in kitchen 1 in garage in open loop position. Up and down the ladders many times. Up and down stairs many times to turn off power at breaker, I have done lots of electrical in 63 years but was at wits end and I never call anyone fix everything. So once switches were in correct position Voila light wires energized again later today I am reattaching fixtures. Your whole presentation skills and value make it possible for just about anyone to,install or rectify their dilemma. Keep up good work Sir. David
David, thank-you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes it all worthwhile to know that people appreciate my videos. Thanks for watching, and I trust you have won the health battle? Stay well, stay strong!
Video was posted on June 25th 2018, today May 25th 2020 - it helped me resolve my living room remodel! Thank you!!
It's still relevant! Thanks for watching! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Duuude!!! Big shout out to you. This video helped me actually understand and solve my problem.
Bought my first home recently and the wiring in the kitchen wasn't right when we moved in. We had two 3-way switches. 1 switch worked a light. The other switch effectively just cut power to the first switch. On the other circuit the red wire was just capped off.
Thank you very much for this explanation! All is good and now I'm much more comfortable with what's happening inside my walls.
Thanks for taking the time to watch, and comment!
Being an Industrial Electrician I am also asked plenty of questions about household wiring. This has always been the question that people ask and Its hard for me to get them to understand using my explanation. The simplicity used here in your explanation of the three way switch should make it where most anyone with a little knowledge of Electricity and wiring should have no problem understanding. I guess my explanation is to much in depth and overdone. Great video.. Thanks!
Thanks John!
I am an electrical dummy....was trying to replace decor switches with smart eve switches and couldn't figure it out. After watching this video a couple of times to be sure, all works great and had them installed within 10 minutes!!!! Best video on explanation of 3 way. Many many thanks Terry.
Wow !, Finally I get it. Don't know how many times I had to call a electrical buddy to walk me through this.. I think I get it know . Great explanation .
Glad it helped
Can you explain to me
Are you home?
This IS THE BEST explanation because it reaches the DIYer on every level possible. Thanks for the post!
As soon as I finished watching your video, I had it wired correctly. Thank you for taking the time to instruct us.
Happy to help Paul!
I’m a Tinknocker Local105 in Cali and I’ve always been skeptical bout electricity and always had someone do the work. I’m Aware of the safety and danger due to the commercial work I do but the basics at home videos like these sure help out with the mechanical skills I already have I’m trying to save some money on labor. Thank you and keep educating 👍🏼🇺🇸
Thank-you! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you subscribed? Much appreciated!
The animation really helps me understand how 3-way switch works. Thank you!
Dude! As a new flipper/ landlord, you have no idea how freakn helpful this is! I just subscribed and thank you
WHAT A TRULY MAGNIFICANT VIDEO! Im going to show my grandchildren this 🥰☺😆
Oopsie! i meant to say grandchildren not grandparents 😂🤣😅 My grandparents have been dead for years!
sorry to hear about your loss phillip solis lol, hope you and your grandkids have wonderful memories together :)))
@@miagarcia3009 Unfortunatly, my children were involved in a freak car accident just 3 minutes ago. Looks like their last memories weren't wonderful! 🤣
@@phillipsolis1230 I'm sorry to hear about that!! Hope you can become mentally stable enough to grieve and not joke lol. Sending love to you and your family!!
@@miagarcia3009 oh no im mentally stable! Thanks for the kind words! next i visit my wife and children at the grave ill gladly pass it along to them! Maybe next time i visit their grave its to join them!!!!!!!!!! 🤣😂
@@phillipsolis1230 lol have fun with that!!
You Fixed me up in Under 4 minutes. I went from the Decora which I have all over this house and I HATE them because they Break so easily, to the Old School Standard. The guy in Home Depot Totally misled me. He showed me the 2 Black Wires going to the 2 Brass Screws and Red to Black. That Only made the Switch work 1 Way. IDK if it's because I Changed the Style of Switch, but all I know is that when you said to put 1Black on Gold and 1Black on Black the 💡 in my head went on before I even hit the Power. I KNEW YOU WERE ON THE MONEY. You are The Man 😎👍🏼 Thank You !!!
Happy to help Julz! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Today 8/23/20 I changed a 3-way toggle to a 3-way paddle. I was losing my mind. It now works thanks to you. You're a lifesaver. And a solid understanding is a huge help. Thank you 😊
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Hands down the best video explanation I’ve watched. I searched so many sites trying to find answers and this video solved my problem. Thank you very much!!
You are very welcome! Thanks for the kind words!
Thank You!!! I watched and followed the steps. I wired three rooms and two worked fine. I spent nearly two hours trouble shooting the third room. I kept referring back to your video with no resolution. Then I noticed that the dimmer slide on the dimmer toggle switch was all the way down and that was why the lights would not come on! Thank you for such a clear and concise explanation.
Happy to help! Thanks for watching!
Outstanding! It is amazing how many Journeyman level electricians cannot explain as simply and effectively as you did how to wire a 3-way switch. Job well done!
Thanks for the nice comment!
@@theinternetelectrician which is the positive and negative and were is the output because I have no idea what that lingo is and i need to make this detonator for a client
Thanks! I had a three way switch; one was a timer the other was a switch but the electrician that did our new house said that that having the switch side off was killing the battery in the timer so he disconnected the switch (leaving the wires) and left us only with a timer. My bride preferred a 3 way switch so this video allowed a somewhat handy financial analyst to replace the timer with a switch and reconnect the other switch....THANK YOU this was very well done and I learned from it.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope that you have 'liked' the video, and have subscribed to my channel? Help me out in the push for 100K subs please, almost there!
Thank you for the video it helps clarify what's happening inside the switch.
Common one=feed in
Common two=load out
Traveler screws are switching in respect to each common.
1ST YEAR APPERENTICESHIP CLASS. ACTUALLY FIRST WEEK STUFF.
Very helpful! I have a hand drawn diagram from my late father, master electrician trained in WWII Coast Guard, and I refer to it often. It REALLY is fun when you run into a "repair" job in an old home where all the romex has aged and all the wires look black at the devices! Then the tracing out begins!!!!
Thank you for a great video!
The funny thing is: having worked with 3-way switches and never quite getting it, your hand drawn explanation was what made go "aaahhhhh I get it now." Thank you.
pictures are worth a thousand words!
Who needs college when guys like this teach you for free hey man thanks helped me figure out my issue in my home now everything is fixed working properly
Thanks for the compliment!
I don’t really like to hear “hots” referred to as “commons”. Some people confuse commons with neutrals. I prefer the terms hot (on incoming hot of 3-way), travelers and switch leg (on fixture side of 3-way).
Good point, good old english language and the multi-purpose words. But this can be thought of as putting the "hot" on the 'common terminal', (not the terminal where the common goes). The 'common terminal' is named that cause it has something in common to the 2 other terminals (is connected to either one or the other)
Thank you very much. It was very helpful to me. I was having a bad time with all these wires.
If you think of this switch as simply a single pole double throw it will take all of the mystery out of relays.
See that's what kinda confused me none of the other ones I watched said anything about 4 wires. At least this giy explained about the common.
When the pigstails try to get it you drop it like it's hot
Watching your video got me through installing a 3 way switch for the light in my bedroom addition plus how to wire the ceiling fan & light months later as the 3 way is only for the light, not the fan.
Happy to help! Thanks for watching!
Let me just say that your explanation made wiring a new switch in my "crazy-wired" house easy! You've used language and showed exactly what purpose each wire has, so that even though my wiring is using different color wire, (has the black crimped off together, uses the red, etc.) because you show which wire is the traveler, I was able to install the new switch, with posts in different positions (making it impossible to just stick the new one in with wires in the same spots.)
Happy to have helped out! Thanks for the nice comment! Don't forget to subscribe, you will then know when I post a new video.
Finally had my aha moment with three way switches. That’s after watching three other videos and having someone competent try to explain it to me. Thank you!
Thanks for the nice comment! Much appreciated. I hope you subscribed to help in my push to 100k subscribers! Not sure why that’s important but I think I get a nice wall plaque!
Finally, it all makes sense! I used to get the travelers mixed up with the commons... and a few hours of trying different combos would fix it.
With this explanation, I just have to remember two things.
#1 - the LINE (the hot wire where the power is being fed from) goes to the black common screw
and #2 - the LOAD (the hot wire of the equipment or item you're trying to turn on) goes to the black common screw of the last switch closest to it.
Thank you for making this so simple to understand. I now want to install another 3-way and even brave a 4-way installation.
Excellent! I'm glad it now makes sense and thanks for watching.
I shared this video with my contractor who claimed that he knows about electrical work but has to stop working today due to his luck of knowledge on 3 ways light switch connections hopefully he brings a teacher tomorrow with him to help him finish his job!! Gave me headaches!!!
Thanks for watching, and for sharing! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you subscribed? Much appreciated!
You need to help the public education system come up with curriculum. Fantastic educational video!
Troy Leonard Thank-you! Very kind and glad you found it informative.
Terry Great series. Been doing electrical work for 40 years and learned under an UL Inspector. I am enjoying your presentations. All the best. Alex
Thanks Alex! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
That link to the rope lighting was perfect. It was like someone just flipped a switch in my brain and now I can’t believe I didn’t understand it sooner. THANK YOU!!!
If you replace new under cabinet light and you find out that each one of them working on and off without using the wall switch and when you check the power for the switch you find both wires dead and the switch is dead .how to get this switch back alive ?
Thanks Michael! Happy to help out! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Thank you for that simple explanation!!! This was the 4th video I watched and it is the only one that made sense.
Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you are now subscribed! appreciate those actions immensely, and if you feel really generous, there is new "Thanks" button to consider! :-)
Great video Terry!! You saved the day for me. I recently thought I finally understood the three way switch after successfully installing ONE. a few months later I was struggling for hours to replicate the feat until I found your video. Tried several combinations but had over complicated everything. Now I finally figured it out. Just need to do another one before I forget. Lol. Thanks again for the great video. That was the third one I watched on the subject and only one that I could wrap my tired brain around. I appreciate you brother. Bless up 🤙
Thanks David! Appreciate the nice comment! Happy to help out.
What I have found is doesnt matter how it's wired as long as both switches are wired indentically.
I'm not an electrician but this is an excellent video and explanation. It kind of reminds me of railway tracks with junctions. Simply put, you either complete the circuit to your destination or not, incomplete (dead end). You could have 2, 5, 10, etc. of junctions. It's all about completing a circuit in this case. It's so easy to understand as soon as you remove the terms "on" and "off" which are only useful for a direct connection where people get caught up with switches being up or down. Thank so much.
I just encountered a 4-way switch and was mystified as to what I was looking at. So many other explanations I read just made me more confused. You certainly have an uncommon skill for making this subject much more approachable. Thanks!
Nice compliment! Thank-you so much!
Going to try this today. The wife is fed up with our two messed up switches. 😊 Thank you for sharing.
Let me know how you make out! If you need help, I'm available for video consultation at PalTap. paltap.me/internetelectrician
Thanks for making this video, always so much easier to understand when a visual aid ( grease board drawing ) is used.
Thanks Ken!
4 years later...no reply ...but much clarity! I think I can do this job now! Thank you!
Did I not reply to a question you had for me?
wow, I'm currently doing a electrical pre apprenticeship and was having trouble with 3way-4way switches, this helped a lot, thank you! keep up the good work
Happy to Help Ricky!
What is pre apprenticeship?
5 years later, did you make it bro? journeyman?
I was having problems wiring my 3 way switch. Your video explanation cleared it up and simplified it. Thanks!!!!!
Thanks for watching!
Good explanation. I was already familiar with wiring but this help re-enforce the current flow. The challenge I find isn't the wiring where you can see the wiring in the wall, but figuring out how it was wired originally when replacing a switch. Think 3-gang box and more than 1 3-way switch and just for fun throw in the switch terminal locations were different on the new switch than the old. Took a bit to get it straightened out.
Good job Brian! Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you've subscribed to my channel. And don't forget to click the bell so you'll know when I release a new video.
Wow! Thank you so much! You are a real teacher! You are better than many of my university teachers!
Thank-you for that compliment! Much appreciated!
This is one of the best electrical videos I have ever watched and I have taking college courses on this, great job sir.
Thank-you so much Marty! Made my day!
This is a great way to understand
A 3 and 4 way switch
It is Dec 26 2020
Thanks Carlos!
Thanks for your help Terry. This video helped me from spending hours of searching for help, as well as not burning the house down. :-)
I know people at the Fire Department, call me! Thanks for watching!!!
Thank You so much, changing out 3 way switches and hooked them up and only one side would work. The video explained it all and it was a quick fix once I pulled wires out and followed along.
Awesome video and professional job of explaining how they work.
Thank you. Because of this video I was able to sort out the wiring issue I had that was driving me absolutely crazy. I just can't say thanks enough.
Michael Sherman thanks for watching! Happy to have helped!
I
I just Wanted to tell you thank you for this video I have looked back at it several times over the past couple years so thank you!
Thank-you! Much appreciated!
Thank'U Mr. Terry, you explain this three way switch system perfectly I'm watching different videos but the yours is the best thanks again...
Thanks for the kind comment! Thanks for watching!
This was PERFECTLY EXPLAINED! 10/10 best video ever !
Thank-you so much for the nice comment! I hope that you have 'liked', and subscribed to my channel. Much appreciated!
By far the best explanation Ive seen.. Great job..
Subscribed. 40 years a carpenter attacking the electrical trade, wish would have started this task sooner, important stuff.Thanks
Happy to help Dave! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Very simple and thorough explanation for a 3 way switch. Well done Terry. Was helpful and easy to follow! I've seen many 3 way videos that were hard to follow.
Thanks for watching!
Best explanation i have seen. I'm a visual learner so this was very appropriate to my learning style. Thank you so much!
Thank-you Monica!
Perfect explanation IMO; I was having trouble understanding how the 3-way switch worked and with the animation it all makes sense. THANK YOU!!!
Thanks for watching Brian!
Thanks Brian! Happy New Year!
I had this 3 wire light switch several years ago and I hire an electrician.. This video explain it to where I understand the purpose. I am interested in taking your class.
Thanks Ednik! I hope to see you sign up for the WWW course. I think you'll find it well worth it. Let me know.
Awesome... I have been racking my brain trying to visualize how this work... Now I do understand it, Thanks very much.
ronc1
Very great stuff! R.
Thanks for watching. I hope you liked and subscribed?
"Video shorts...current topics." I like it!! (Thumbs Up)
Thanks for noticing. I can only take credit for 50% of that tag line. Former partner came up with the "current topics" ! Thanks Clay! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you subscribed? Much appreciated!
@@theinternetelectrician Big ups to Clay as well. Just subscribed. Thanks Again!
I loved the animated explanation. It really helped augment the other hands on portion
I bought an old house where all of the 3 ways are setup incorrectly. I’ve been trying to find a video to best understand the big picture and this has been a huge help. Thank you for making
Thanks for watching! And for the nice comment! Happy I could help out!
Terrific video! So glad you showed the four-way setup. Now I get it! Good work, Terry! You definitely have a gift of instruction.
Thanks Rick!
Excellent explanation. You make it easy to understand for the do it yourself people. Thanks.
Thank-you Marco! I hope that you “liked”, and subscribed. And click the notification bell so you’ll know when I releases a new video.
This was hugely helpful! Thank you very much for such an informational yet easy to understand video! You rule terry!
Thanks for watching Enrique! And for the nice comments! I hope that you 'like' it, and subscribe and click the notification bell so you know when I release a new video! It's much appreciated if you do!
Thanks for providing this video -- I had a problem with my 3-way switch that I couldn't figure out. Now I can!
Glad to help out!
I did electrical with my union and never really understood the three-way switch
But this one little video actually made me see
Beautiful technique and teaching
Thanks Terry, great video… almost have all the answers I need. Can we request a video to be made?
Thanks! Yes, please make a suggestion of a topic you'd like me to address!
Thanks for the animation. It completely explained the flow of electricity which I was having a hard time visualizing. The piece of information most helpful was showing what the function of the black versus bronze screws. If I ever have any questions about the flow from the switches position I can now use a multimeter to double check continuity.
Steve S same👍🏼
Same
Great explanation Terry! Led me to look at the details and re-work ancient switches in my home. Finally, more than 50% of the three ways work! LOL
Yup my home was built in the 30’s there is always something to fix round here.
I ❤️ you. You taught me something I struggled to comprehend for awhile.
Thanks for taking the time to make a nice and positive comment. The ones that comment that are just out trolling and criticizing can bring you down a bit, but then someone like you makes it all worth it!
Terry Peterman. I am in the process of "redoing" a 1910 classical Revival. The rooms are 20'x20'. At some point, two of the rooms that have 2nd for ways that open to a porch had their second switch removed and the box filled in with dry wall mud. It's a pain, especially in the dark, to cross through the room to turn the light on or walk out of a dark room. Now I know I can re-install the switches as they should be. Thank you. And I didn't mind the 12 minute video. Thanks again!
You weren't lying this is the BEST 3-way Switch explanation and like he said" the most important thing to remember the main hot is tied to the common! And on the receiving switch the Common is used for the black switch leg.
Thank you for making this video much more understandable
Excellent explanation using visual aid plus animation video, I finally understand how a 3-way switch works and how a 4-way set up is designed. I have both kinds in my house and needing to change switch styles. Thanks so much.
Glad to help, and thanks for the kind words!
Better explained to install 3 ways connection and the easy way, thank you very much
No, Victor, thank you for watching!
Thank you for teaching. Under what conditions might someone need a two way switch like this?
Thanks for watching! The most common examples would be at each end of a hallway to turn on and off the lights, or top and bottom of a stairwell. Going to bed, on goes the light. At the far end, shut it off before entering your bedroom.
@@theinternetelectrician thank you for responding. I am totally grateful for videos like this. Can I ask for some help with something? I have 4 zones out. How do I trouble shoot? 2 are in the garage (one runs my sprinklers) and 1 I switched out. Now the plugs in front outside by the front door and outside by the backdoor are out too. I can't afford to hire an electrician. I'm 62 years of age. Sure would appreciate thoughts and ideas to trouble shoot and fix.
Thx in advance!
@@joannevans9629 This is almost certainly a tripped or failed GFCI outlet somewhere. Not sure where you are located, but in Arizona it is common practice to have one GFCI outlet in the garage (could be hidden by shelves, shoe rack, etc.) and that outlet can then feed up to 5 other outlets on the load side. These would be in the locations you describe, giving ground fault protection where required by code. Check that out and let me know. Hit the reset button on the outlet. If it doesn't reset, trip, reset then it could also be the breaker that feeds that circuit is tripped. Check it by pushing it firmly to the off position, and back on. Barring that, you might have a faulty GFCI receptacle in which case this video will help you out. Watch it for sure as it will describe you situation to a tee! th-cam.com/video/fkGWX6Ttyh8/w-d-xo.html
@@theinternetelectrician Thank you for such a quick response. I will watch the video. There is one plug in the garage with GFCI and I have replaced it but it's not receiving power. I have reset at the breaker box. I even checked all GFCI outlets I could find in the house (kitchen and bathrooms seem to have them). When I replaced the GFCI outlet in the garage I do not recall it having ground connection. I'll recheck it. I just copied hook up to what was originally there. Get back to you after I watch the video.
It was a great video. The only thing that could be confusing to some people was that you reversed your traveler wires from the first switch to the second switch so this would not achieve the desired results. However in the animation the traveler wire attachment locations were consistent. Keep up the great work and thanks for the video.
Thanks for the comment! Yes, it matters not what traveller goes on what terminal at each end. The only affect changing them around has is that either both switches are up for lights to be on, or both down, or one up, one down, etc.
@@theinternetelectrician What confused me is at 2:20, on the decorator style, you connected the hot/common to what looked like one of the traveler terminals. On every 3-way I've seen, the common terminal is at the bottom, across from the ground, and the travelers are at the top, across from each other. This doesn't look right.
Man you are a genius I spend 4 hours before I watch your video and it took me 2 minutes thank you
Very well done Sir... Everyone has to remember that the Neutral and Ground doesn`t land on a screw, they just twist together with a scotch loc and travel through the box to the light or final point...and the primary always lands on the Black Screw all alone by itself....
They switched the neutral on the switch for years , an there is a screw for the ground wire on the device's
Finally got it Terry. This has always confused me and was looking for something clear. Your white board did it. Thanks!
Score another point for the white board! Thanks for watching!
With this video I fixed an old 3-way switch problem. Thank you.
Good explanation of how these work. One thing it took me a while to comprehend, was that you need a special switch, and a "traveler" wire. This was a good video.
Thanks Thomas!
TWO traveler wires! All of the wires connected between three-way switches are travelers.
You are a talented man. I am an autodidact handy-woman, due to the fact that all trades charge top dollars for any small project. To bad You are far from Florida, USA. But your videos are very educative. Good luck and thanks for your service.
Thanks for your clarity and your step by step approach. Your visuals, the display of the wire connections, are very discernible and straight forward.
I've always been curious how this worked... I understand electronics and electricity very well but this 3-way switch just boggled my mind LOL! Great video, and much appreciated!
Great Demo and explanation. Loved the Traveler term. Would of liked to have other situation where the light is in the middle of the switches or power source came from light. Just because I have run into those. Thanks
Sidney Pickard I believe the only difference in that situation is the light would be tied in to the travelers or traveler and hot would be on the switch.
I had it all wrong! Thanks so much for this crash course in 3-way switches.
Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you are now subscribed! appreciate those actions immensely, and if you feel really generous, there is new "Thanks" button to consider! :-)
This is a good explanation for someone with an aptitude for this kind of work. It could be a problem for someone that does not have a basic knowledge of house wiring. this method also only works if you have the power originating at one switch and feeding the light or other device at the other switch. If the power originates at the light it will not work or if you must " dead end" one of the switches it will not work. however the basic circuitry still remains true. This is why I say without an aptitude for wiring it can still be difficult for some. Plus all code requirements still apply.
60 year old semi retired electrician.
Thank you for the great explanation, animated diagram, and drawing. Made it very clear to me.
Thanks for watching Ellison! I hope that you also subscribed to my channel, and clicked the bell? Much appreciated!
This an excelent and simple explanation ease to understand thank for sharing this information it was very useful for me
Thank-you so much!
You are correct sir. This is a great explaination of a 3 way switch. I don't see why it use to be so confusing to me, lol. Thank you.
6:25 Wht / Neutral
6:53 Hot / Common Blk
7:39 Switch positions
Ey Terry, thank you so much, you've solved my questions in 12 minutes.
Happy to help! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you subscribed? Much appreciated!
Great description of how it works. The imagery helps tons. Thank you for the breakdown of the 3-way and 4-way switch. I am an industrial, commercial and residential electrician and I approve this message.
Thanks Michael!!! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you've subscribed to my channel. And don't forget to click the bell so you'll know when I release a new video.
In 50+ years of my own household electricals, I never had to wire a 3-way switch. Hell, I even had to Google the definition of a Traveler wire. Your excellent video was very informational. Thank you, Sir.
Appreciate this video, how you explain things and did not go too fast also.
Watched it multiple times.
For you website I was writing in the word "dash' but discovered you mean a "hyphen as in "-"). 🤣
I learned from Grammarly, "A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that’s used to join words or parts of words. It’s not interchangeable with other types of dashes.
A dash is longer than a hyphen and is commonly used to indicate a range or a pause. The most common types of dashes are the en dash (-) and the em dash (-)."
Thank you Terry, for sharing your valuable knowledge.
Thanks so much for the nice comment, and for watching! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that if you have not yet subscribed, please do so and click that notification bell!
Man, you saved me hours of labour. Thank you!
Thanks for the nice comment! I hope that you gave it a 'like', and that you subscribed? Much appreciated!
A diagram always helps. Excellent.