Renewable Power

How to Replace a 3 Way Switch and the dangers of not calling an Electrical Professional

As a Licensed Electrical Contractor I find the most common calls I receive from “Do-It-Yourselfer’s” is about changing a switch or receptacle. I hope by reading this article I can shed some light on your task at hand. Since it can be quite confusing even for some electricians, I am going to some detail on the 3 way switch topic. Please read through the complete article to get a good grasp of the how a 3 way switch is wired.

Here are a couple scenarios of the main calls I get from my customers….

“I replaced my 3 way switches and now the bedroom lights turn off when I flip the switch”. There are a few reasons for this. But the most common reason is.

When the homeowner disconnected the switch they took splices apart in the box and when they reconnected them they were not in the proper configuration. This can be quite dangerous and expensive. In one case the homeowner had his brand new plasma TV and Stereo system totally… “Fried” When he reconnected his splices he hooked up 220 volts to that outlet.

“I replaced my 3 way switches for my hall. Now when I turn the light off at one end of the hall, I can’t turn it back on from the other”.

This is usually a simple fix. There is a pair of wires called “travelers” and in this situation they are usually reversed with the common wire.
I also receive numerous calls about this from general contractors, handymen, maintenance personal, etc…

Now before we go any further with this article. I want you to understand that I am not writing this article to teach you how to repair or replace a 3 way switch or 3 way systems. I am writing to try and make the point that this is one of those situations where you can end up in some real hot water, and you should call a service professional if you do not have the proper electrical knowledge.

There are many ways to wire a 3 way system. I am going to show you 3 configurations of a 3 way system.
Do not confuse this with a 4 way system!!! (A system with 3 or more switches)

The First thing you need to know. A 3 way system only has 2 switches. If you have any more or less you are not looking at a 3 way system.

Figure 1 (Example 3 way switch)

Figure 2

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Step 1
The first and most important step is to turn off the circuit that you will be working on. Find the right breaker in the breaker box and flip it to the “Off” position. If you have a fuse box, find the right fuse and remove it completely from the panel. You can verify that the correct circuit has been turned off if the light controlled by the switch no longer works.
Step 2
The next step is to remove the cover and switch from the box.
Step 3
Verify there is no power in the box. This can be done with a tic tester available at Lowes or Home Depot.
Step 4
This is the step that can cause you a big headache so follow it carefully. Before you disconnect the switch determine which wire is connected to the common terminal on the 3 way switch. (The common terminal is usually copper or brown). Mark this wire with tape. Now disconnect the two traveler wires. The screws they are under are the same color. (Usually silver or brass) You might also have a ground wire connected to your switch. (Usually a green or bare copper wire) If there is a ground disconnect it now. If everything is correct you should have now have 3 or 4 wires hanging out of the box.
Step 5
Take your new 3 way switch and locate the common screw. Now take the wire that you marked with tape and connect to this screw. The next step is to connect your two traveler wires to the other two screws. It does not matter which wire goes to which screw as long as there is only one wire under the screw. If you have a ground wire you should now connect it to the green screw.
Step 6
To be safe you can wrap tape around the switch. Make sure you cover the screws so they don’t short to the box. Put the switch and the plate back in the box. At this point you can turn on the power.
Step 6
Here is a simple test to make sure that your 3 way system is operating properly.

**Please Remember to be careful and read all installation instructions supplied with materials when tackling your project.
Please find a professional to install or help with your project if you are unsure of your abilities.

Good Luck and have fun with your upcoming project.

The Contraxtor.com Team

Contraxtor.com Find a top rated electrician at the top rated home improvement contractor website.
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