Top Notch 3 Way Switch Wiring With 2 Wire Cable

I think that the most common method used to wire a set of 3 way switches is to bring the two wire line cable into one switch box and bring the two wire load cable into the other switch box.

3 way switch wiring with 2 wire cable. The black and red wires between sw1 and sw2 are connected to the traveler terminals. Typical 3 way switch wiring nm cable. Is there any way to use a single pole 2 wire switch in a 3 way setup.

A three conductor cable with a ground is then installed between the two 3 way switch boxes. Regardless of what 3 way switch wiring diagram you re following you ll need to use a 3 wire cable to connect the two 3 way light switches. Run the traveler 2 wire through the same holes as the receptacle feeder 2 wire instead of alone across the attic.

I don t want to rip up the drywall though to put a 3 wire cable in. A 3 wire nm connects the traveler terminals of the first and second 3 way switch together. So what you should see if you have correct 3 wire electrical cable romex is a black power white neutral and now a 3rd red wire.

In the 1st diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. The third wire is connected between one of the traveler terminals of the two 3 way switches. Three wire cable runs between the switches and 2 wire cable runs to the light.

The black line wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. Wiring diagram 3 way switch with light at the end in this diagram the electrical source is at the first switch and the light is located at the end of the circuit.

I have access to the light s wiring and can add the switch easily there. Therefore one of the black wires is actually a white wire colored black. The following is the simple schematic of a three wire 2 way switch wiring.