Figured I’d check before proceeding. I don’t do a lot of 3-way light switches, and Rex doesn’t have a diagram on 3-way with multiple fixtures, so would someone check my diagram to make sure it is going to work.
Light grey is neutral. Going to run 14-2 to first switch, 14-3 between the switches and 14-2 from 2nd switch to between the fixtures.
Not shown, but assuming all grounds are connected. Neutral is wire-nutted by the switches but doesn’t go into them.
Is this sucker going to work?
Seems like there should be a way to do it with 14-3 between the fixtures, but the above way would use the least amount of 14-3 (I’ve got 1k’ of 14-2 but only 250′ of 14-3).
jt8
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.”
— Buddha
Replies
Looks good!
"Seems like there should be a way to do it with 14-3 between the fixtures, "
If you wanted to run, power, switch #1, lights ... lights ...switch 2 then you would need to run 14-4 (3+1, there is also a 2+2) (and yes there is 14-4) between the lights. and at each of the lights you would just be splicing 2 of the income wires to 2 of the outgoing,
And the boxes on the lights would probably be overfilled.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
It looks a little odd to me. I would run power-->switch #1-->switch #2-->fixtures. You run 14/2 to the first switch, then from there 14/3 to the second switch. From there it's 14/2 to each fixture. You will have two 14/2 at each fixture's j-box which should easily fit. You nut all black together, all white together, and all ground together, including the fixture's own wires.
I find 3-way wiring to be a lot easier when the whole thing ends at the fixtures, rather than going thru them, and I think the inspectors here require that.
"It looks a little odd to me. I would run power-->switch #1-->switch #2-->fixtures. You run 14/2 to the first switch, then from there 14/3 to the second switch."That is what he has.If he has separate sw1 and sw2 a litle more and put some dotted boxes around them it would have been clearer.I kinda of stared at it for a while myself.For lurkers there are 5 basic ways that pari of 3ways can be wired depending on where power is feed and where the lights are connected.http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/index.htm
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
If you don't do a lot of work with three way switches, it's always handy to have a few good diagrams.
I always get a chuckle out of watching professional electricians work with three way or four way switches. Most of them do it exactly the same way every time..no matter what the situation. You would think there was only one way to hook up a three way switch!
There are 2 simple things you have to remember to hook up any three way switch circuit.
1) The neutral conductor is never switched. It may run through switch boxes, but it is wire nutted to the outgoing neutral wire and proceeds that way continuously until it gets to the light fixture.
2) The black power feed wire hooks to the common (dark colored) terminal of one of the three way switches. The common terminal of the other three way switch is always feeding the light. (it connects to the black wire on the light) Three wire cable is run between switches.
With these two things in mind, you can always diagram a three way circuit to suit whatever situation you have.
Edited 1/20/2007 6:09 pm ET by BoJangles
Bo-
Might there be a similar 'remember' dialogue to use involving four-way switches? Thanks
Might there be a similar 'remember' dialogue to use involving four-way switches? Thanks
You mean like: Remember not to put too damn many entrances into a room or you're gonna have a He11 of a time wiring the lights?
;)jt8
"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."-- Buddha
well ya!
Actually I'd bought a bargain box of new 4way switches a while back thinking they were 3way and now I got to thinking.
Ever get to thinking?
I haven't sat down to figure out the diagrams of 4ways from various places but seem to recall that somehow 3way switches are involved in the setup.
Since I already have a few 3way lighting systems in the house I'm wondering if the 4ways can be incorporated in those 3way scenarios without totally redoing the wiring.
be you know, like architectural features...sure, I'll take one of each.
to add a 4-way you simply cut the travelers....and reconnect the four wires to your 4-way.......ta...da.
no big deal..
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http://selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/index.htmBTW, you can make 4-ways into 3-ways by tieing two of the terminals together to make the common..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
View Image
John,
You should have done it with 4ways.:o)
I just want to know what software you used to make that JPG.
Thanks.
I just want to know what software you used to make that JPG.
Paint. I didn't have time to make it pretty. Just copied a couple pics from the web and pasted them into Paint and drew some lines. Took about 10 mins. And then another 10 minutes of staring at it wondering if it was right... at which point I figured it would be easier to post it here and ask the folks with more experience.
3-way switches qualify as 'special wiring' in my book, and I will usually take along a printout or picture as a reference to make sure I don't screw it up. I figure that is better than burning the house down ;)
jt8
"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."-- Buddha