Your explanation is correct when the breaker pair terminate at one of the switches. I am in a 1950 Constructed home and there is a difference when the breaker and three way switches all terminate at the octogon box. 1) The breaker (white-black) pair terminates at the light's octogon box. 2) Each three way's cable from the switches terminates at the octogon box. 3) The travelers from the two switches are white+red. and they are marrated, white-to-white and red-to-red. 4) The white from the breaker cable and white from the light socket are joined (maratted). Left to connect are one black from each switch and one black from the breaker. 5) One black wire from the breaker goes to one black wire of one 3way switch, not to both black switch wires. 6) the remaining black wire goes to the hot side connector of the light socket. Done. If you were just replacing the one light socket with LED potlamps, there is no need to touch the switch connections. If you run into problems because you replaced existing switches with more modern ones.. 7) Just inspect that the switches are connected with black to the discolored screw (as per video diagram), and the white+red to the traveler connection screws. Usually, in older houses such as mine, rewiring was done to replace a fixture with LED pot lamps, wired in parallel. The wiring description within the video is for new construction. I am describing 1950 electric code practices that I encountered. I am in Canada, it could be that the standard for traveler pair are white-red. .
It's the same thing. Doesn't matter if you're switching a light directly or an outlet. On an outlet hookup make sure you connect the bare ground wires to the grounding terminal usually green colored.
I am not an electrician but rather handy. I installed my mini split Inverter and now I successfully installed 3 way switch following your video on my stairwell that leads to the basement. Thank you very much Mr. Craig and God bless you for you are kind to share you talent and skills.
so were using a 14/2 wire to feed the switch and a 14/3 wire to go from switch to switch and than using a 14/2 wire to go from the switch to the light fixture ?
So i noticed that your traveler wires on both switches are flipped. One switch has a red on the right and the other has it on the left? Does that matter?
Curios if there's a way to have both 3 way switches aligned. Meaning, the rocker switches are both facing down when the light(s) is turned off. I'm guessing it's as simple as turning the entire switch upside down before mounting it in the box? Just a bit of OCD on my part...
If im completely wrong about possible shyness, you can delete or tell me to kick rocks! I mean, no insult or critique. I just really admire accomplishments! 🍻
Great video Craig ! I do have a question though. Doesn't the same color traveler wires need to go to the same screws on both switches ? Thank You ! Bob
You, sir, are the opitomy of confidence! I've followed your instructions many times in the past, only to see the results I had hoped for! Thank you for just being YOU! No sales pitching, no 30 min rhetorical explanations, and best yet, your confidence! I'm guessing in school you were extremely reluctant to do a class presentation? If my theory is correct, you have taken that fear and made it your b***h! Your the Best! Thank You, Craig!
I have 4 three way switches in my dad’s house which I am selling. After getting a testing device to find feed wire, I should have no problem fixing the two I couldn’t get to work. Thank You very much!
What voltage should u see on the load side. When power is off? Ive seen this in a house where the neutral to hot is giving out 10 volts. I've seen another house giving out 60 volts. Is this normal
Getting ready to wire up lights and switches in my shop. Just watched like 4 videos on how to do a 3 way. Was still confused until I found your video. Thank you! Now lets see if I can do it!
There I was, attempting to wire my first WiFi smart switch, which also happened to be my first 3-way switch. This video made it happen, thanks for taking the time.
Always twist your grounds together with pliers before installing wire nut, then crimp a ferrule on them to assure proper bonding. Great video still thanks
I've done a lot of wiring in my homes over the years including 3 way switches but I find that when I haven't been doing any projects for a few years and then attempt to wire one up I have to stop and think about it, sometimes for longer than I'd like to admit. Very glad I found your video. I'm in the process of gutting a summer cottage and will be rewiring the place shortly. I've laid out the wiring and I'll be using 3 way switches in at least half a dozen locations so this is a great refresher.
Running into an issue with an old 3 way switch in a 50s house with only black, white and ground. No red. Getting one switch to turn on and off only while the 2nd switch is turned on. Otherwise no juice to the replacement. Any suggestions? Great video. Well explained. 👍
just recently replaced an aging ballast in my fluorescent fixture on a 3 way circuit . When I was checking voltage for on and off at the fixture , I still had 53 volts with the circuit in the off position ? This circuit has 1 very old 3 way switch in it , could you give me some advice on possible problem with this off position voltage ?
just recently replaced an aging ballast in my fluorescent fixture on a 3 way circuit . When I was checking voltage for on and off at the fixture , I still had 53 volts with the circuit in the off position ? This circuit has 1 very old 3 way switch in it , could you give me some advice on possible problem with this off position voltage ?
I know it's an old comment but on the 2nd switch the neutral is tied together with the wire to the light. So your feeder line and 2nd switch neutrals are attached in the 1st box and then the other end of the neutral in the 2nd box is then tied into the neutral on the actual light..
I have 3 switches, one light. I pulled covers, and find 2 3-ways, and 1 4-way. One of the 3-ways has blacks twisted together, of course. Grr. I'm thinking power feed is in the lights box. Guess, I pull the breaker, unhook switches and find out whats what. I'm looking to install a motion dimmer 3-way at one switch location. I do have access to all sides of light box, and tops of walls.
I have a white hot wire in box B of the three way switch. Does that go into the black common screw? There is no neutral in this box unless the hot white wire is the neutral
Craig. Having a problem installing a light with dimmer switch. There are three wires in the light socket. When connecting the light fixture, it powers on but the switches will not break the circuit. Any suggestions to solve this, please.
In my situation the power feed and the light wires and the feeder all originate in one box and the other box/switch(2)just gets the feeder. How is box 2 wired? Thanks
I have an older house and all the wires to my 3 way switch in by my front door and in my carport are black and white so how do I find out which ones are the travelers?
love you Craig. I am an apprentice but I have some time off due to the pandemic. I just don't want to be rusty when I get back. this is something that confuses me at work too but the jmen just keep laughing at me and telling me eventually it'll come to me. I just get lost at which wire goes to the light.and how is there two feeders. any of you experts out there also please reply just incase Craig never sees this.
Yes at least I can see where the red and black wires go but the commen in other videos and electrical guides is normally the white wire but I guess not in this application as he's using the black hot wire but of course the two white wires always get twisted together and stuffed away in light switch applications, at least I know that much LOL, so this video was more helpful than many of the other videos out there
Nope as long as they are on the same color terminals and not the colored one you are good. Not everyone wires them the same so its based on what you use as travelers. Hope that makes sense. CM
@@craigmichaud-electricalins4602 Thank you very much. Your feedback is truly appreciated. Especially now that I'm preparing myself to take the NEC exam. I'm very nervous and quite frankly have my doubts on this exam but hopefully everything goes well.
