Three Pole Switch Wiring

With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.

Three pole switch wiring. Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram. 3 way switch wiring diagram. A 3 way switch allows you to turn a light on or off from two different switches. You don t need the other terminal on the three way switch so it s fine to cover it over with electrical tape to ensure the terminals don t get mixed up.

Take a closer look at a 3 way switch wiring diagram. The black hot wire in the electrical box above is connected at the other end to the black line wire and gets connected to the black or red screw on the 3. The wiring method will depend on whether your power goes to the switch first or the light first. This might seem intimidating but it does not have to be.

With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch. Three way and two way switch wiring with no load or line feed entering the switch box. 3 way switches are useful for large rooms with multiple entrances but require a bit more wiring than a standard single pole switch.

To use a three way switch as a single pole one connect the hot wires to the common terminal and the traveler on the same side of the switch body. The photo below shows the wiring at the other 3 way location which was a single pole switch originally.