With a three way dimmer you can control a light with two switches.
How to wire a three way light switch with dimmer.
If two switches control a single light or a group of lights you will.
Three way light switches control a light from two locations such as from both ends of a staircase or hallway.
Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram.
Attach to the bonded ground wire s in the switch box.
Wiring a standard 3 way dimmer switch.
Wiring a 3 way light switch.
These wires attach to the travelers which are the pair of wires attached to the two screws at one end of the regular 3 way switch.
With a pair of 3 way switches either can make or break the connection that completes the circuit to the light.
You will need a three way dimmer and a three way switch.
They allow you the ability to turn the lights on or off from either location.
This lets you dim from one location and turn the lights on and off from another.
How to wire a three way dimmer switch.
3 way dimmer switches typically come with the following pre wired leads.
A three way switch is built and wired a little differently than a conventional single pole light switch.
A ground wire a hot lead wire and two travelers to allow for a connection to another switch or outlet.
Plus learn how to change a single pole switch to a 3 way switch.
At the 3 way switch the white cable wire is marked black and connected to the common terminal.
Three way switches can commonly be found at either end of a hallway near the doors of a very large room with multiple entryways or at the top and bottom of a set of stairs.
But if you re replacing a three way switch with a three way dimmer label the common wire it ll be labeled on the old switch when you remove the old switch so you can connect it to the common terminal on the dimmer.
These diagrams illustrate how to wire a pair of three way light switches in three different situations.
3 way switches are also marked with four wires in the wall outlet.