Find the correct wiring for a 3-way switch in 2-minutes!
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- Опубліковано 31 бер 2016
- How to determine the correct wires to attach to a 3-way switch when the wire and screw terminal color code is not certain. It's a foolproof way for a proper connection!
This is how a video should be, no obnoxious intro, no shout outs, no annoying sponsorship videos or obnoxiously loud music. Just straight to the point in a very easy to follow manner and you made me feel confident in what I was doing since you broke everything down in such a simple manner. You should definitely make more videos.
By far one of the best how to videos in existence. It blows me away that some videos on the same content are 13minutes, 20 minutes, etc...I have already fallen asleep by then.
im a newbie electrician myself and I can guarantee you I'll never forget this video. when you tie all three wires together it sends power to both travelers at the same time, leaving the switch leg (common on the load side) to read 0v, genius! great video.
If you're an electrician, you wouldn't mess with these techniques. You'd use a remote continuity tester
@@veryslyfox can you explain or show a video with that method?
@@veryslyfox And if you're a typical homeowner, you don't own a 'remote continuity tester'...Great video. Thanks!
This is a clinic on how to make a "how-to" video. Short, concise, and informative. And you helped me sort out 60 year old wiring. Thanks
Absolutely great vid, very easy way to find the runners.
Yes, I have to agree. It is concise and covers the important information. I was going to use my Fox + Hound electrical line tracer but it was out of batteries. This method works! I wired up a Smart Dimmer switch with a 3-way switch and it works fine. 60 year old wiring too.
Indeed
Spent half a day scouring the internet, trying to figure out what this dude explained and solved in 90 seconds. Thank you!!
Thank you, this was the first video that just explained it without an entire lecture on electrical theory, and the history of the 3-way switch.
You are the man. Every single 3 way in my house was wired wrong. Fixing the first one from this guide after 2 years felt so satisfying.
BRILLIANT!!! Easy, makes total sense, and explained in 2 minutes. Wow! I wasted half a day before finding this which showed just how to troubleshoot a miswired 3-way switch circuit. Can't thank you enough!!👏👏👏
OMG, I've been looking at videos about 3 way switches and thought I was going to loose my mind. Some were 12 minutes long. You made this so quick and simple. It worked the first time with no issues. Thank you so much!
Every video I've seen mentions screw colors, wire colors, or both. Worse, my junky old Lutron switches have no terminal screws (just a black box exuding wires) and the new Lutron switches I bought ALSO have a black box with no terminal screws but the directions refer to an ancient model that did have screws.
Thanks! I watched five other videos and they didn't solve my problem. But this video did ...and so quickly, clearly and simply. I appreciate it!!🙏
After hours of frustration, I decided to look here - your video not only saved the day but my sanity as well! Thank You!!
Thank you! I was having a tough time figuring out what wire was what until I followed your directions. My issue was, I thought I was dealing with the “live wire on one end, when it was really the load. Then I had a traveler mixed up with the live wire. Anyway, after doing exactly what you did, I got it all sorted out.
This is the greatest video on UA-cam :). Saved me a ton of troubleshooting time once I finally watched. Wish I would have found this hours ago!!
This method worked perfectly... was able to correct a miswired 3-way switch in about 15 minutes. Thank you MarVistaCat
I identified all the wires in a 3-switch (one 4-way) setup quickly and easily. Thanks so much! The algorithm is: 1) disconnect everything, 2) find the hot wire and label it, 3) connect all the wires in that box, 4) find the hot wire(s) in the next box and label it/them, and repeat from #3. At the last box, the wire that's not hot is load.
Should work for any multi-switch setup!
I cannot thank you enough. All the other videos were so complicated. You made this tutorial easy to understand and I was able to get everything up and running fast. Again, a HUGE thank you!
I REALLY wish I had watched this video an hour and a half ago! Great video, really simple instructions and so easy to follow. It was my first time replacing these types of switches and had been fighting with one set that wouldn't work after my handiwork - followed your process and got it right immediately. And now all the switches and outlets in the room are the same color 🙂
OMG. I'd been playing with my 3-way Kasa switches for FIVE HOURS today, and couldn't figure it out. I kept trying different wire combinations and kept having the same problems. Somehow I randomly got the right configuration for 1 of the sets, but the other set of 2 switches I couldn't get. Then as soon as I watched this and you said "the load wire is the one WITHOUT power" I tested it with my no contact tester, found the load wire, and everything on the 2nd set of switches worked instantly. Thank you!
I've spent couple hours trying to figure out what I did wrong and your video helped me figure out which wire was the load wire in switch B. You are the best, thanks man
If you've been searching the Internet for hours like I have to fix a 3-way switch, stop now, because this video is perfection. I was having trouble with my 3-way switch and watched several videos using methods such as rotating the wires one position at a time until it comes together, except none of them worked. This video explains how to find the correct wires and does it simply. Thanks for doing this!
This is probably the best how-to video I have ever seen. I was losing my mind with replacing 2 3-way switches where the wiring color was no help. This made it so easy and saved my sanity. I’ll never forget this video too.
Like others have said, this video is to-the-point and resolves wire color-coding/marking issues at both switches. I'm up-and-running now.
Short, sweet and to the point in layman's terms. Thank you for helping me fix a problem that has existed in my garage for several years. Well done! Thank you!!!
Amazing video. The best how to video I think I’ve ever watched. No commercials, no BS, just straight to the point concise and easy to follow with good video quality and sound. Thanks so much, you should definitely make more videos.
I have had some 3-way switches that haven't worked properly in our house since we built the house. I have played around trying to fix them but couldn't figure it until watching your video. My lights are working on both switches and my wife is happy!
This is absolutely what I needed. It demonstrated to me that the wiring was correct, so I then replaced the switch that included a dimmer. After installing the new switch, my problems were solved. Thanks for this informative and tightly-edited video.
We were stuck and looked at other videos, but this was the first one that gave us a sure way to test the wiring and that solved our problem. Highly recommend it. Thanks for sharing!!!
I'm a dummy when it comes to wiring and I had messed up the replacement of two three way switches. Of all the long videos out there, this short one was the one that helped me figure it out.
I agree with so many of the comments. This video saves the day. I watched so many other 15-minute videos thst couldn't do what this one did in two minutes. Thank you!
Excellent video. Thank you for taking the time to make it. We had a friend remove their 3-way swtich and dimmer to upgrade them but failed to mark any of the wires. They blew up the new dimmer somehow. This video is a lifesaver. I went over and had it going in 15 minutes. Worked first-time.
Excellent video. Thank you for making it so concise. Super easy. For those wondering bout the meter, they are cheap and easy to operate. If you are going to replace a 3-way with indeterminable wiring, you must get one. Total time from opening the box to my first multimeter to having switches installed was about 45 minutes.
Huge thanks! This is the best 3-way switch video.
Excellent video. Short, clear, all the information I needed and none I didn't. Fixed a problem with old wiring I hadn't been able to diagnose by myself
I just wanted to say thanks for your 2 outstanding videos on 3-way switches! Had a light that would dim when turning on another light on the circuit. Your video was clear and easy to understand. Messed with the circuit for a few hours and took a break. Saw your videos and in less than 15 minutes found the issue and was fixed! Wife says thanks too!
Wow, simple hack, worked perfect on a 2-3 ways wired wrong, by the electrician when my sisters home was built 32 years ago. A problem they have " just learned to deal with". Now working!
Whoop Whoop! I've been looking at videos about 3 way switches on and off for two day and thought I was going to loose my mind. You made this so quick and simple. It worked the first time with no issues. Thank you so much!
You are a lifesaver. Had an issue with a 4 way circuit.... and only solved after figuring out the issue was with my 3-pole switch wiring. THANK YOU for this!
Good video. Just 1 peice of advice... TAKE A PICTURE OF THE WIRES BEFORE YOU START. Still follow the videos instructions to determine which wire is which. Do not reattach according to the picture. But better to have and not need - and once you have it properly hooked up, you can look at the picture and determine what the problem was (if there was one).
This is by far the most concise and easy to follow video on how to connect a 3-way switch. Thank you for saving me a bunch of time with your method.
Great video; the most concise I've found on YT for discovering which switch is the hot and which is the load. That last screw not being vertical is killing me though haha.
Alex Cue o
My stairway switches were wired by an unruly simian sometime in the past, who thought it was best to throw silly requirements like romex and grounding out the window. Instead, they used a couple of 3 wire outdoor orange extension cords (yes, those extension cords people run weed whackers with) wired up who knows how, but certainly not looking like any of the examples I saw on-line.
This video has literally changed my life. Thank you!
So glad my video helped you.
@@MarVistaCat Help! After following the instruction of shorting together the wires in switch A, the light comes on and all 3 of the wires in switch B have power. My setup - In switch A, I have 2 orange cables. Each has 3 conductors - black, white, and green (green is not ground! it seems to be a traveller). In switch A all wires are also bound in pairs, color for color. Each pair is then is connected to different terminals on switch A. In switch B I have 1 orange cable with 3 colored wires. There is no grounding in this configuration.
When I disconnect all wires, only 1 black wire in switch A has 120v.
Please give me a call at 310-398-7430 (voice only-texts) and I can walk you through it.
OMG. Brilliant! Dealing with some wiring where the electrician liked to play with spliced wiring of any color. wasted so much time until I found this video!!
Thank you so much for making this video, your explanation was very well articulated, and easy to understand. The other great thing about your video is that you didn't waste 5 minutes at the beginning rambling about stuff that doesn't even matter. You got right to the point without any extra nonsense. You would make a great teacher! Thank you again!
Your gift just keeps giving! Thank you so much for your help sir. 🙏 I must thank the creator of man for giving you the intelligence to learn such valuable skill that you have.
Thank you. I watched 4 videos before this video and your tip worked. I had an extra wire in one box the same color as my traveler wire. When I tied the two travelers to the hot wire I found the extra wire had no power.
My 3 way switch now works perfectly with new switches that match the decor.
I caused the initial problem when I just wanted to upgrade the switches after a room remodel. I removed the wires from the old switch without marking them.
I won't make that mistake again.
Thank you for the concise and clear explanation. Like others, I was able to successfully re-wire an incorrect configuration thanks to your instruction.
A great help. After 15 years I've got the switches working correctly.
I tried different wire combinations for about 45 minutes. Then I found this video. It took less than 10 minutes to get things working right. My hat's off to you sir thank you
Best explanation and instructions for locating the common I've run across. Great job.
That was the best way I've ever seen on how to figure out the 3 way light switch wiring . Thank you big time very easy and easy to remember for a long time. I was getting tired of switching wires around like nope not that way , nope not that way. Thanks so much for the easy explanation well done !
You have a gift of teacher, I normally don’t leave comments to you too but I have to do this one , I was swapping my 3 way switches I I thought I was doing that wire by wire but still managed to mess it up I was loosing my mind and then stumbled on your video
Few min Later all working back to normal
Thank you very much for your generous comment. I'm glad my video helped you find your solution.
Thank you for making the complicated pretty simple. Got the setup fixed and all going with 5 minutes. Wow! Thanks!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! What a great video! I fixed 2 3-way circuits that haven't right since I moved into my house 12 years ago: following your directions, fixed both in less than 5 minutes each! I've shared this find with several of my friends and was surprised that they had similar issues in their homes with the same positive results! I've subscribed to your channel and liked this video. I really appreciate you sharing this!!!
Great explanation. I have read several descriptions on how to perform this wiring. Yours made it very clear and my switches are now working. Thank you.
I fixed it!!!!!
I had miswires and a broken switch in the house I'm trying to move in to. After being sure how it was supposed to be wired, the rest was easy.
My wife thinks I am a hero. I think you are the hero.
Thanks for not boring me with the PC safety warnings... Ger'R Done!
Thank you for such a clear, concise, and informative video! Today, I attempted to remove one of the three-way switches from my laundry room, so that I could install a single-pole occupancy switch. After the installation, I could hear the switch activate, but the light wouldn't turn on. Thanks to your video, I learned that my existing three-way switches were wired incorrectly, and I was able to get the occupancy switch working once I was able to identify the correct hot and load wires.
worked great! I have spent way too much time trying to figure out 3-way wiring in my life. Glad I found this simple solution.
Thanks. Theses switches were driving me crazy for ten years. After watching this video I fixed the problem in 40 minutes.
Thank you so much for this video. My house was built in 1956. When I tried to replace my 3 ways only one switch would work. This was a big save. 👍
This was super helpful! It really saved me when I removed the switch without labeling the wires! Saved me $150 electrician call!
Brilliant!!!!! I wish I knew this years ago. I spent an hour trying to fix a friend's mess. I got there to see all of his wires mixed up. Next time I will know.
Thank you! I had to rewatch it a few times. This video with a conductivity meter and voltage meter helped to identify the broken switch and hook the replacements up properly. I agree that this is the best video I watched on this!! Thank you!!
Small note, I saw small phantom voltages of 15 to 30 VAC on the transfer wires.
This is one of the best tutorials on UA-cam (overall, not limited to the electric stuff).
This is fantastic! I couldn't figure how to find the common wire on a three way switch hookup and this was exactly what I needed. So simple if you know what to do.
Thank you. The detail and explanation very helpful. Had a 3-way switch miswired and your tutorial worked solved the problem for me.
After 2 hours of trying to figure out 3 way wiring. I watched this and in 10 minutes had it up. Great video and easy to understand .
Wow. Short, concise and a well done video. Just used it to cure an old stairwell light with this issue. Could not have been any more clear. Thanks for sharing.
This was a life saver. We'd been trying to replace our switch for awhile and this video was clear and concise.
One of the best videos I have ever seen on UA-cam in the hundreds of “how to” videos, I will keep this knowledge and use it for the rest of my life, thank you so much.
This is the video I've been looking for. Third one I've looked at today and the only one that got me over the finish line. Quick and easy to understand. Much appreciated.
Easiest, clearest and best explanation of three way switches ever
I owe you a tall cold one my friend. Spent hours last night with no success. Had an electrician booked but he cancelled and I thought i would give it another shot. Well done. Well done
GREAT video. Electricity scares me a little because I do not fully understand it. but your video took away a lot of worry. Thanks for great explanation . Your explanation of the terminals being the hot, travelers and load are perfect. I thought hot and load were the same thing. Know I understand. thanks again.
Very nicely done. There was a different video that helped me a few years back. This one is much better. Simple and to the point with great visual. Thanks so much... Had to redo two different sets of three ways in my house tonight. Went very smoothly.
Man.. Thanks so much.. Getting my three way switch to work was driving me nuts.. This got me fixed up so quickly!
Very helpful! Our house is wired incomprehensibly, with random colored wires everywhere. After an hour of trying to make my 3-ways work, this video helped me fix it within minutes. Thanks!!!!
This was an absolute lifesaver. I was pulling my hair out over the nonsense the previous homeowners did, and now I've finally got that 3-way working!
Best video I’ve seen in trouble shooting a mis-wired 3-way switch. I follow the instructions and the switches are working perfectly. Thanks!
This is the best, simplest and most helpful explanation. Thank you!
Exactly what I was looking for. Now I understand three-way switches and I fixed a problem I had been living with for ten years.
I waded through 2 other videos before I found this one. One was too long, the other one did not help. Yours was complete, short, and just awesome. Had been going back and forth for an hour and a half. After your video, it took one minute. Thank you very much.
That was the most straight forward video explaining in layman terms exactly how to figure out your 3 way switch wiring .. kudos to you!
Thank you so much for your comment. Happy Holiday's
Thank you Mar VIsta Cat! You are the only person on UA-cam who used a multimeter to figure out the load wires in a bullet proof scientific manner. All the others just used a volt tester, which I learned the hard way, does not always work. You can end up with two wires showing voltage. As a DIY guy , I thank you. There were 3 sets of 3 way switches and by luck, I got he first two sets wired correctly. If I hadn't run across you video, I might have spent the whole day randomly mixing wires on the third set.
Thank you
Thanks a lot for posting this. I used this, along with some diagrams on how to convert a three-way switch to a single pole switch, to install 4 smart switches in my house. Nice work!
Excellent Video on resolving wiring issues for 3-way switches. I fixed my problem in minutes. Thank you.
Spent all day trying to get this to work and finally saw your update. THANK YOU!!
Thanks so much for your excellent video. I was able resolve a wiring mess with your help and avoided calling in electrician. Very Well Done!!
After hours of problems, this video provided the best and quickest way to get it right!!!! Thank you!
I don’t comments often, but thank you. This was clear and exactly what I needed
I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU! I just purchased a 180 year old farm house and the five minute light switch change turned into an hours long nightmare. Thank you for this video!
Great video! I was stuck trying different sequences. Then I watched this video. I did what it said and my problem was fixed! Thanks!!!
This is incredible. You saved me so much frustration. If y’all don’t have a multimeter, a no-contact tester works fine.
Best instruction video on the subject. Fixed the problem with my three way dimmer install. Thanks.
Great video simple to the point and accurate! Thanks I'm a plumber BTW my electrician brother is in Tucson I'm in Chicago so this video helped out a lot.
The video, audio, pectoral are all brilliant in their simplicity and concise explanation in lay man's terms. Thank you very much.
You just saved me $300, which is how much an electrician wanted to charge just to come and look at it. I couldn't understand any other explanations, but this worked perfectly. Thank you so much!!!
For me, this was a perfect video. It helped me figure out exactly what I needed. It was concise and on point. Thank you
Huge help. I had some wires switched around when I was changing light switches. Thank you!!
I totally agree with the positive comments. This was exactly what I needed to sort out some old switches. No fluff. Excellent, thanks.
Amazingly perfect, easy, simple. Thanks.
Just did 3 smart dimmers - 1 on 3-way 1 on 4-way and other on 5-way which technically is just another 4-way