How to Wire Lights From 2 Different Switches
Having lights connected to two switches can be convenient. You can turn the basement lights on or off from either the top of the stairs or the bottom of the stairs. If you wire up these switches incorrectly the lights will only be on when both switches are set one specific way, but if you wire up the switches correctly, either switch will completely control the lights. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Get a pencil and paper and draw the circuit before you start. This is the only way most people can see what they need to do. Draw the switches, the lights, the power source, and the wires running between the switches. It is a lot easier to change the drawing than it will be to change the wiring.
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Look what happens when you put the lights between the switches and look what happens when you put the lights somewhere else in the circuit. If the lights are not between the switches, either switch can control the lights. Draw it, look at it and think about it.
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Make one drawing where the wires run in parallel between the switches--top to top and bottom to bottom. The center wire in each switch will go to a power connection. Now make a drawing where the wires cross between the switches--top to bottom and bottom to top. Either way will work. The only difference is that with the parallel connection the switches will be in the same position when the lights are on, and if the wires are crossed the switches will be in different positions when the lights are on.
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Identify the two wires that go to the switches. One (or both) of these wires should be connected to the lights. One of these wires should go to the middle of each switch. Now wire the switches together as in your diagrams. Connecting wires to switches consists of trimming back the wire insulation so that the bare wire fits neatly around a screw. Be sure to turn the wire around the screw in a clockwise direction. Then when you tighten the screw it will tend to draw the wire in. If you wrap it the wrong way (counterclockwise) the wire will tend to pop out when you tighten the screw.
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Use wire nuts if you have to extend the length of a wire. These plastic devices allow you to connect two wires together safely and securely. Trim about a half inch off the ends of the insulation of the two wires you want to join. Now hold the wires side by side with the stripped parts next to each other at one end of the pair. Twist the bare parts around each other. Slip the wire nut over the twisted pair and rotate the wire nut in the direction of the twist. It will lock in place.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't know what you are doing, get an expert to help.
Turn off the power before making any changes to your electrical wiring.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit interior lights image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com
