How Does A Two Way Switch Work
Places like hallways and the long corridors are often provided with a system that is basically operated from two sides. This involves a switch that is installed at one end and the other at the far end. As you enter the corridor, you switch on the light and can turn it off via a second switch that is located at the other end. The same functioning is applicable in staircase and the garage lighting as well.
A two way switch is a great solution for this. As the name suggests, you can operate one light through two switches. The following article introduces you with the steps by which you can easily install them.
For installing a two way switch, you need some equipments like home wiring cable, wire cutter, plastic electrical boxes and of course the two- way switches. There are special switches for a two way connection. Gather all the items.
First step includes supplying the power to the switch board. Make sure, you use the right sized cable for the application. The casing that is coming to the switch board consists of three wires. One is insulated with black plastic, next with white and the third is the bare copper wire.
As you know, installing the two way switch would require two switches to be installed at two different locations. For this, run a cable with three wires and a ground wire to another location. Now, you have four wires in all. Next, you need to make the connection between the second switch and the lighting fixture.
Since, two way connection is a typical arrangement, one got to be extra cautious in wiring these connections. The black cable that is coming from the main supply is to be connected to the black color phase wire of the first toggle. The white wire of the source to be connected to the same colored cable of the second switch.
Next step is to fix the second switch black wire to the gold terminal just below the first black wire. Also, connect the red wire in the same manner. Make connections between the lighting fixture live wire and the hot wire of the two wire cable. Also, make the connections between the white and the neutral wires and the green and the bare wire.
Now, you are left with two white wires at the second switch. Twist them together. Place all the switches and the wires in the electrical box and switch on the power supply.