How to Connect Two Switches on a Single Light
Wiring two light switches to one light is one of the most common electrical wirings in residential homes. You will typically find this type of wiring in the kitchen and living room. There will be one light switch at either side of the room that will control the lighting. The common term for this is a three-way switch. This type of wiring is not much different than a two-way switch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Begin the circuit in the electrical box connected to the main circuit box. Three wires should be coming out of the wall: a black hot wire, a white neutral wire and a green ground wire.
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2
Use a screwdriver to loosen the top left screw on the side of a light switch. Strip the last half-inch of the black wire with wire strippers. Bend the end into a "U" shape and wrap it around the loosened screw. Tighten the screw to hold the wire into place.
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3
Run a white neutral wire and a green ground wire from the first electrical box to the second electrical box. Strip the ends of the wires with the wire strippers.
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Connect the two ends of the green wire in the first electrical box together with a wire nut. Do the same with the two ends of the white wire.
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Run a black hot wire from one switch to the other. Strip both ends of the black wire and bend them into a "U" shape. Connect one end to a screw on the first light switch and the other end to the other light switch.
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Run a red traveling wire from one switch to the other. Strip both ends and bend them with a pliers. Connect one end to the first light switch and the other end to the other light switch.
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Push the first light switch into the electrical box and secure it with screws.
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Locate the white wire, green wire and black wire coming from the light that the light switches will control.
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Strip the ends of all wires. Connect both the white wires and the green wires with a wire nut.
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10
Bend the end of the black wire. Loosen the top left screw on the light switch and wrap the black wire around it. Tighten the screw to hold the wire in place.
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Push the second light switch into the electrical box and secure it with screws.
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References
- Photo Credit light switch image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
