How to wire a 3-way switch system

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In this video, we learn how to wire a 3-way switch system. Hope this helps. Please leave a comment and a like if this video helped you. If you have suggestions please leave them as well.
Every effort is made to show correct and safe procedures and practices, however, you should follow this video at your own risk. If you are ever in doubt about your abilities and resources, it's always better to consult a professional.
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Опубликовано:

28 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 352

@lostinmyspace4910 2 года назад

I cannot believe how simple you have made this for us all. It all has to do with the mechanics of step 1, 2, 3, etc. Thank you for all you do for us non electricians trying to figure it out. Please give ths video a huge THUMBS UP!!! He deserves it and has earned it.. If you just came by for curiosity, and not really doing any house wiring, still take a second and give him a thumbs up, and subscribe to his channel.. He's a wealth of knowledge and needs to be compensated in this way And no, I am not related to him only knows he put out a great video and clarified such an important public service for understanding three way switch hookup. God bless him for all he does.

@boneschapel 4 года назад

OMG! Finally! I have an old house and I bought a cheap replacement Leviton switch ( for $1 ) and it literally has no labels on it. Not even an on/off on the front of the plastic switch. the old switch someone put in was a motion switch. It had no labels either. Plus this house is so old that there is no ground wire. So I literally had just 2 black lines going into the back of the old switch not labeled. I have no prior experience with changing switches out but I watched a few other videos on it and I thought it would be okay. Wrong! However, Your video was PERFECT!!! You are the only one that told me that the black screw was where I needed to connect the load wire! If not for your Video, I would have never figured it out and had to call an electrician out for a simple thing, and felt like an idiot for having to pay a ton of money for it! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!

@HectorGonzalez-su8tu 4 года назад

I'm an electrician helper, I've watched videos but this one is so well explained. Thank you!!!!

@boodybandit Месяц назад

This is the easiest to follow video I found online so far!

@SkillsandTrade Месяц назад

I'm happy to hear it was helpful

@timhealy2329 4 месяца назад

It's this simple. The neutrals don't connect to the switches. The two wires (of the14-3 wire) that are NOT the ground connect to the brass screws. The black screws on both switches are the continuation of the power coming from the panel to the light(s). I've watched dozens of videos dozens of times over three years. I am now wiring the second building on my property and finally get three-way switching. If you think you are a simpleton this is the video for you. Thank you. The light in my head is finally on, lol.

@tonyshi4325 2 года назад

Thank you so much for a valuable video. I lived with a half-functioned switch pairs for 10 years, believing the wiring behind the wall is snapped somehow. After viewing the video, tried some lucks suspecting the switch wiring could be wrong. Sure enough, this is the case. Followed your techniques in the video and fixed a 10 years sorry toggle switch wrong wiring. Thank you again.

@swabbie11s99 3 года назад

So happy to see you didn't backstab the switch like everywhere else I've done work. It's sad to see that someone didn't take an extra second to do it right.

@galecooney2337 4 года назад

This is an EXCELLENT video for instruction...Step by Step n time to absorb info..watched a BUNCH of other videos from Master electricians to DIYers... This blows them all away..Thank you

@troyp.2349 5 лет назад

Thanks Skills and Trade. You just saved me a couple hundred bucks from your video because now I can do the 3 way switch myself without having to call an electrician. I have the voltage detector and I always switch off the breakers. Thanks again.

@SkillsandTrade 5 лет назад

Thank you Troy, I'm happy to help

@saturnguytwelvesg127 2 года назад

It's a shame MY house was wired in 1993 by a blind 3rd grader. Otherwise, this video would have actually been helpful.

@jamisonacelowe 3 года назад

Excellent, simple and concise. Best explanation I've seen on youtube.

@j.sterling9167 4 года назад

Helluva tutorial, simplified things dramatically, recently installed one of these switch setups with much ease, Thanks.

@prakashexperiment8358 4 года назад

J. Sterling hiii

@thomasbrown6970 3 года назад

Very clear, concise, easy to hear. Thank you for this video.

@mjsoup29 2 года назад

Very clear, very helpful and to the point - thank you!

@hailefire8087 2 года назад

The best 3 way video explanation I've seen yet. Makes perfect sense to me.

@danielnmaryannyoder Год назад

Thank you very much. I was trying to wire a three-way switch and my head just didn't work to figure it out. Your video gave me the answer thanks again.

@markalarkk7784 2 года назад

I have watched countless videos regarding this topic and you by far have the best explanation.

@rinsonramirez8848 Год назад

Excelente, short, simple and easy to understand. Thank you very much

@jadenboucher3633 23 дня назад

You have no idea how much time you just saved me

@SkillsandTrade 22 дня назад

I'm happy to hear my video was helpful. Thank you very much for checking it out

@enlightened166 4 года назад

This is the best video I've seen on 3-way switch systems...much thanx!!!

@emercall7418 2 года назад

The best!!! Thank you for the very detailed but simple explanation.

@scottrussell2281 Год назад

I just watched several other videos. They were WAY too technical. The basic premise as it turns out is simple (thanks to this video). Identify the line in wire and put it on the black terminal, and then put the other two traveler wires on the remaining brass fittings. No common wires used, so wire tie them together in each box, and if you have a box where the switch is not grounded to the box, attach the ground wire(s) to the ground terminal on the switch. I'm assuming if the cut in box is metal and the ground wire(s) are attached to the box and the switch is grounded to the box, there is no need to attached the ground directly to the switch. Mine works fine that way, so I'm assuming that is correct. Worst case, I could have run a ground jumper from the termination on the metal cut in box to the ground terminal on the switch. Thanks for the great video. It was FAR less confusing than the others.

@rjverackajr 4 года назад

Boom. Solved my issue in 15 minutes of work. Great video

@brennadl 5 лет назад

Thank you. It's a task that has always confused me and I have to look it up whenever I work on one of these pairs That was simple, and perfect.

@it4dps Месяц назад

Thank you for this simple explanation. Very helpful!

@SkillsandTrade Месяц назад

You're very welcome, thank you for checking out my video.

@pf5658 5 лет назад

Most simple and straight forward explanation I’ve seen yet.👏🏾👍🏾😊

@JohnJohnson-dj2dv 5 лет назад

Definitely!

@1985boxer 5 лет назад

Amen to that ...

@GerardoMandujanobastida 4 года назад

I had watched other videos and wasn’t getting it but now that I watched this one i got it simple thank you 🙏

@Salzouby 3 года назад

nicely put, simple and to the point. thank you.

@cc-pl7tw 5 лет назад

Simplicity is the key.. great explanation.

@ronsmith9638 5 лет назад

great job, well explained, simple solved my problem! Thanks dude.

@ecr-9341 5 лет назад

GREAT VIDEO. Simple and Well-Explained. Thank You. Making America Great Again 🇺🇸

@BlackAdam2784 4 года назад

Union Wireman here. Great vid !

@mr.guacaswole3033 3 года назад

Good job. no messing around. Clarity.

@masterswimmer491 3 года назад

Well done. Short, to the point, informative, and no BS. Thanks!

@SteveWalker-w1i Месяц назад

Clean and simple.Thank you.

@shantor100 6 лет назад

he wrapped the wires in the first switch screws counter clockwise and the second clockwise. did the same thing with the ground wire. I think they should all be clockwise as the screw turns

@RichardFallstich 5 лет назад

You are correct. ALL wires should wrap in a clockwise fashion so as to make the wrap tighter as the screw is tightened. Also, in one instance, it looked like some insulation was trapped under a screw head on one of the travelers. A definite no-no. Sloppy workmanship.

@timdolan4591 4 года назад

Wow, good for you. Nice catch - you win. I was here to learn. I didn’t even think to criticize

@D13fs 4 года назад

@@timdolan4591 In the description Skills and Trade asked people to leave suggestions which is what shantor100 did. Richard Fallstich went a little further...

@Jason_Van_Stone 4 года назад

I'm in the commercial/industrial trade, and yeah, should've been clockwise, and also electrical tape should've been wrapped around the terminals. Also that looks like 12g, not 14g. Could be wrong 🤔

@raymondkolbe9701 4 года назад

@@Jason_Van_Stone You don't need to wrap with electrical tape.

@reynaldovalle1773 5 лет назад

thank you very much for sharing that with us. I really appreciate it I just did it. it came out great thank you for your patience in your education the way you do it and the way you showing it's great when you have that close up on the camera thank you worked out great. I just subscribe to your channel by the way God bless your family and friends.

@reynaldovalle1773 5 лет назад

Thank you once again God bless your family and friends you don't know how happy I am..😁😁😁😁😁👍

@R9599BRAN 2 месяца назад

Thank you for the help! Great video and explanation.

@pdalia100 10 месяцев назад

You might as well say that you fixed my switches! Thanks!

@stateamind29 4 года назад

Very good explanation. Best video on the subject.Thanks!👍

@LumenateTV 3 года назад

thanks this helped me fix my laundry room light now I can turn the light on from either switch!

@davesenor3146 Месяц назад

Thanks for sharing. Best video I've seen for easy explanation...

@SkillsandTrade Месяц назад

You're very welcome, I'm happy to know you enjoyed it

@welden7904 4 года назад

Excellent concise explanation!

@truther2289 2 года назад

thanks very clear video and simple to follow, this is my 3rd video the other two were hard to understand.

@yaqqirnasi7804 22 дня назад

Great tutorial. Well done. You earned another subscriber.

@SkillsandTrade 22 дня назад

Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it was helpful.

@RonnieLeBlancMusic Год назад

Finally someone who knows how to make a video! Thank you for this man!

@manit77 4 года назад

Finally an easy video to follow.

@kevinobrien1007 4 года назад

Outstanding! Very well done with great commentary!

@manuelquenga9886 2 года назад

Thank you. Simple and precise.

@reempire888 6 лет назад

Thank you, i just solved my 3 way issue.

@angelabl123 4 года назад

Simple enough. Very informative.

@claytonbolling9271 Год назад

Hold up, hold up, hold up When you hook the conductor onto the screw make sure that the tip of the hook is going in a clock wise direction around the screw , ( hook it the opposite way of the video) this is so that when you tighten the screw the copper will wrap around the screw as you tighten And also you do not want insulation under the screw , strip the insulation to a point to where the copper is not past the back of the device but also the insulation is not under the screw

@wok-ur-katt1995 3 года назад

Good video for people that have some house wiring / electrical experience. Would have been a good idea to show a diagram and explain what you were doing for people with out basic electrical knowledge.

@duke1281 Год назад

To be simply put; 14/2 is the main power (coming in) to switch (1) 14/3 links the 2 switches together and 14/2 is connected (leaving) switch (2) then to the light.. In this scenario 14/3 is ONLY used to link the 2 switches together enabling them both to "communicate" together to operate the same light. The 'red' wire is the 'link' .... also... both switches must always come first in the chain before the light..

@danielpadilla7500 6 лет назад

You are the best comparing to other videos my frienc

@swiftrevenge1878 2 года назад

Its a good video but I recommend you try to leave the least amount of exposed conductor so chop off all that excess ground. Also when hooking on the wires to the switch make sure the hook is clockwise. In the video you put the hook counterclockwise which can risk the wire not having good contact

@angelacevedo300 2 года назад

You are the best thank you

@buyamerican3191 3 года назад

Great video! now explain a "carter" 3 way system!

@chuckdunstan6238 4 года назад

Excellent video, thank you

@Twinsroblox56 Год назад

Thanks so much for teaching the other

@gvlastav3006 2 года назад

Thinks a lot! Nice job!

@tomprovan6817 5 лет назад

Excellent simple just how you would show someone on the job, good stuff.

@roberttrauth295 2 года назад

thank you like the other comments right to the point

@asheikh6940 3 года назад

Thank you so much. This is very helpful

@rastagrastag7784 2 года назад

Well done 👍 cleared up some questions i had.

@markdouglass9298 4 года назад

Great video, well done

@wjs569 3 года назад

Simple. Great job and thanks

@mrlilducky Год назад

Thanks for sharing!!! Liked!!!

@tgamirov 2 года назад

You say neutral is not really needed for function, but it does get wired all the way to the light (bypassing the switches). Wouldn’t the whole thing not work if you did not wire neutral at all?

@job7367 3 года назад

Good and clear explanation.

@joshdifilippo717 3 месяца назад

Can u add multiple fixtures to this with pig tailing off the original light

@mc-ub2jy Год назад

Bad ass video my man!!

@robertochavez8196 3 года назад

Thanks for the information

@Ez-tz7is 2 года назад

Thank you worked good!

@waltercabrera8081 4 года назад

Great video thank you

@os82huerta14 3 года назад

Very helpful.! Thank you

@theeaskey 2 года назад

Very well explained tks

@RKG0790 Год назад

Question: I have two existing switches to a ceiling light I cant access. What is the easiest way to and a 3rd switch ? Thanks

@nav5897 4 года назад

Thanks for sharing great info

@OKFrax-ys2op 2 года назад

When Pulling wires through, the load wire compared to the black and the red how do you know which one is the load? Because the two are black?

@davidkim7854 Год назад

the best explain!

@almccallie4314 3 года назад

I always try to leave wire nuts facing up. This way if there is a water leak, the wire nuts will shed the water instead of catching it.

@bmwagner6232 4 года назад

What if you have two hot (lead?) wires coming into the first box? How do you know which hot wires to use? This was an old house and I want to add two additional switches to the same lights.

@dablet 2 года назад

amazing. thank you!!!

@eluniversodelecuador 4 года назад

Great video! Question: Is it possible to connect a GFCI first with the line from the breaker panel; then send the black live and pig tail the white neutrals together at the first 3-way switch?

@d.delgado2137 3 года назад

Great video!

@claytonbolling9271 Год назад

Make sure your bare copper ground conductor is pushed away from the screws on the switch

@cruzgt5025 4 года назад

Great video

@goldfamily6852 4 года назад

Still confused on two black wires. How will you determine the black line wire from the black traveller wire?

@kwbedsaul 4 года назад

Very good video. How can this be applied to a gang of 3 different switches? (3 individual lights, that may or may not all needed at the same time)

@veporelijah2533 2 года назад

I love it and I understand it a little but u re too first

@edgardojimenez8213 4 года назад

Can it be done if I have the wire from the box, the 3way wire, and wire for the lights in the same box? And on the other end just the 3way?

@ccardo29 3 года назад

Excellent!!!

@merebarajas5708 3 года назад

It didn’t show how is connected to the light, I will like to see everything because I don’t know much of electricity and I will like to do it properly, thanks

@militantfarmerconcept569 3 года назад

The black wire going to the light is connected to the bottom black screw while the neutral is tied together with the other neutral wire

@johnreese0117 Год назад

The “black” hot wire connects to black wire from light or brass screw. The “white” wire connects to the neutral white wire from light or silver screw and the ground wires connect to “green” ground terminal.

@KillerKolt44 10 месяцев назад

So the 14-3 hots always go on brass

@rafalpanwojny 2 года назад

the light only connects with 1 wire to the second switch neutral wire?

@thomasskrappy3250 8 месяцев назад

good information

@davidcooper4385 5 месяцев назад

THE SHEATH IS MAX"D AT 1/4"" IN BOX... A 3 WAY SW. IS A Single POLE double throw. 3 Way set up u have a line side and a load side . If your not an electrician please ask questions.