The Best 3 Way Switch Explanation Ever! 

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!!!!

This IS THE BEST explanation because it reaches the DIYer on every level possible. Thanks for the post!

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.

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 .

The animation really helps me understand how 3-way switch works. Thank you!

Video was posted on June 25th 2018, today May 25th 2020 - it helped me resolve my living room remodel! Thank you!!

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’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 👍🏼🇺🇸

As soon as I finished watching your video, I had it wired correctly. Thank you for taking the time to instruct us.

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 😊

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!!!

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

Dude! As a new flipper/ landlord, you have no idea how freakn helpful this is! I just subscribed and thank you

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!

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.)

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!!

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!

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 !!!

You need to help the public education system come up with curriculum. Fantastic educational video!

This is a great way to understand A 3 and 4 way switch It is Dec 26 2020

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

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.

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! 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 making this video, always so much easier to understand when a visual aid ( grease board drawing ) is used.

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.

By far the best explanation Ive seen.. Great job..

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!

Perfect explanation IMO; I was having trouble understanding how the 3-way switch worked and with the animation it all makes sense. THANK YOU!!!

4 years later...no reply ...but much clarity! I think I can do this job now! 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!

I was having problems wiring my 3 way switch. Your video explanation cleared it up and simplified it. Thanks!!!!!

This is one of the best electrical videos I have ever watched and I have taking college courses on this, great job sir.

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

I loved the animated explanation. It really helped augment the other hands on portion

Going to try this today. The wife is fed up with our two messed up switches. 😊 Thank you for sharing.

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).

Thank you for that simple explanation!!! This was the 4th video I watched and it is the only one that made sense.

Awesome... I have been racking my brain trying to visualize how this work... Now I do understand it, Thanks very much.

This is easily the best description of this in known history.

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'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.

This is for electricians, anyone else won't understand what's you're saying.

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

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.

Wow! Thank you so much! You are a real teacher! You are better than many of my university teachers!

Thanks for your help Terry. This video helped me from spending hours of searching for help, as well as not burning the house down. :-)

This is the best explanation on RU-vid.

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.

Thank you for your video tutorials. Sending my support from Canada 🇨🇦.

Terrific video! So glad you showed the four-way setup. Now I get it! Good work, Terry! You definitely have a gift of instruction.

With this video I fixed an old 3-way switch problem. Thank you.

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.

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.

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.

Man, you saved me hours of labour. Thank you!

I ❤️ you. You taught me something I struggled to comprehend for awhile.

I had it all wrong! Thanks so much for this crash course in 3-way switches.

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.

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

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...

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.

Thank you for making this video much more understandable

Thanks for providing this video -- I had a problem with my 3-way switch that I couldn't figure out. Now I can!

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.

13 minute video on a 3 way switch! I had to come check it out. Seems like a deep conversation on a shallow subject.

A diagram always helps. Excellent.

This was PERFECTLY EXPLAINED! 10/10 best video ever !

Finally got it Terry. This has always confused me and was looking for something clear. Your white board did it. Thanks!

Ey Terry, thank you so much, you've solved my questions in 12 minutes.

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.

Excellent explanation. You make it easy to understand for the do it yourself people. Thanks.

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

Best explanation i have seen. I'm a visual learner so this was very appropriate to my learning style. Thank you so much!

Three-way switches is like the mean monster and they are so simple once you figure them out there's also called the dead in three way I really love watching this thank you thank you very much

Subscribed. 40 years a carpenter attacking the electrical trade, wish would have started this task sooner, important stuff.Thanks

Better explained to install 3 ways connection and the easy way, thank you very much

Thank you for explaining the benefits of a four way switch vs a three way switch.

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....

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.

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.

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.

Terry, an absolutely magnificent instructional video on three-way switches. I can't thank you enough for this.

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!

By drawing where the power is going inside the switch just took the mystery out to this switch enigma that has puzzled me forever! Great work!!!!😶‍🌫

Thanks always been so confused but now it seems so simple!

Your identification of which wire goes to the common screw solved my problem. Thank you!! I struggled for hours and in 15 minutes after your video I have it fixed!

Don't do it as a trade, but have worked with electric for years. I love your animation of the electric flow.

"What are you doing on the computer, hun?" "I'm watching videos about how a three-way works"

Awesome video. I took a electrician course with my HVAC 18 years ago and couldn't remember how to do it lol. Thank you!

"Video shorts...current topics." I like it!! (Thumbs Up)

Thank you Terry, for sharing your valuable knowledge.