I watched dozens of videos like this and this is the only one that allowed me to understand how the circuit works and with which I was able to install a 3 way alone. THANKS!

Terry...after YEARS of doing electrical work this 3-way, 4-way switch thing has been my nemesis...currently doing a job where I almost came to tears trying to wire 2 3-way switches with two lights and adding power for another switch/light in a bathroom....UGGGGHHHH!!! Well...after this video I feel like a HERO, cuz I GET IT NOW!!! THAAAAANK YOOOOOOU!!!!

Finally, it all makes sense! I used to get the travelers mixed up with the commons... and a few hours of trying different combos would fix it. With this explanation, I just have to remember two things. #1 - the LINE (the hot wire where the power is being fed from) goes to the black common screw and #2 - the LOAD (the hot wire of the equipment or item you're trying to turn on) goes to the black common screw of the last switch closest to it. Thank you for making this so simple to understand. I now want to install another 3-way and even brave a 4-way installation.

The funny thing is: having worked with 3-way switches and never quite getting it, your hand drawn explanation was what made go "aaahhhhh I get it now." Thank you.

Video was posted on June 25th 2018, today May 25th 2020 - it helped me resolve my living room remodel! Thank you!!

Being an Industrial Electrician I am also asked plenty of questions about household wiring. This has always been the question that people ask and Its hard for me to get them to understand using my explanation. The simplicity used here in your explanation of the three way switch should make it where most anyone with a little knowledge of Electricity and wiring should have no problem understanding. I guess my explanation is to much in depth and overdone. Great video.. Thanks!

I shared this video with my contractor who claimed that he knows about electrical work but has to stop working today due to his luck of knowledge on 3 ways light switch connections hopefully he brings a teacher tomorrow with him to help him finish his job!! Gave me headaches!!!

The animation really helps me understand how 3-way switch works. Thank you!

Great description of how it works. The imagery helps tons. Thank you for the breakdown of the 3-way and 4-way switch. I am an industrial, commercial and residential electrician and I approve this message.

Wow !, Finally I get it. Don't know how many times I had to call a electrical buddy to walk me through this.. I think I get it know . Great explanation .

Thanks! I had a three way switch; one was a timer the other was a switch but the electrician that did our new house said that that having the switch side off was killing the battery in the timer so he disconnected the switch (leaving the wires) and left us only with a timer. My bride preferred a 3 way switch so this video allowed a somewhat handy financial analyst to replace the timer with a switch and reconnect the other switch....THANK YOU this was very well done and I learned from it.

Who needs college when guys like this teach you for free hey man thanks helped me figure out my issue in my home now everything is fixed working properly

Terrific video! So glad you showed the four-way setup. Now I get it! Good work, Terry! You definitely have a gift of instruction.

I loved the animated explanation. It really helped augment the other hands on portion

You Fixed me up in Under 4 minutes. I went from the Decora which I have all over this house and I HATE them because they Break so easily, to the Old School Standard. The guy in Home Depot Totally misled me. He showed me the 2 Black Wires going to the 2 Brass Screws and Red to Black. That Only made the Switch work 1 Way. IDK if it's because I Changed the Style of Switch, but all I know is that when you said to put 1Black on Gold and 1Black on Black the 💡 in my head went on before I even hit the Power. I KNEW YOU WERE ON THE MONEY. You are The Man 😎👍🏼 Thank You !!!

Thank You so much, changing out 3 way switches and hooked them up and only one side would work. The video explained it all and it was a quick fix once I pulled wires out and followed along. Awesome video and professional job of explaining how they work.

Thanks for your help Terry. This video helped me from spending hours of searching for help, as well as not burning the house down. :-)

Very simple and thorough explanation for a 3 way switch. Well done Terry. Was helpful and easy to follow! I've seen many 3 way videos that were hard to follow.

Terry. Thanks so much #1 for getting my 2 outdoor floodlight fixtures on after a contractor took them down doing new siding and left bare wires sticking out. Quick version is was I replaced a switch unnecessarily but wired it incorrect. After watching your video after 5 year of chemo because of incurable multiple myeloma cancer I never had the switches 1 in kitchen 1 in garage in open loop position. Up and down the ladders many times. Up and down stairs many times to turn off power at breaker, I have done lots of electrical in 63 years but was at wits end and I never call anyone fix everything. So once switches were in correct position Voila light wires energized again later today I am reattaching fixtures. Your whole presentation skills and value make it possible for just about anyone to,install or rectify their dilemma. Keep up good work Sir. David

13 minute video on a 3 way switch! I had to come check it out. Seems like a deep conversation on a shallow subject.

Outstanding! It is amazing how many Journeyman level electricians cannot explain as simply and effectively as you did how to wire a 3-way switch. Job well done!

Today 8/23/20 I changed a 3-way toggle to a 3-way paddle. I was losing my mind. It now works thanks to you. You're a lifesaver. And a solid understanding is a huge help. Thank you 😊

4 years later...no reply ...but much clarity! I think I can do this job now! Thank you!

Going to try this today. The wife is fed up with our two messed up switches. 😊 Thank you for sharing.

That link to the rope lighting was perfect. It was like someone just flipped a switch in my brain and now I can’t believe I didn’t understand it sooner. THANK YOU!!!

As soon as I finished watching your video, I had it wired correctly. Thank you for taking the time to instruct us.

I just got yelled at for doing this wrong but my boss never took the time to explain it to me, decided to look it up myself. Thank you I have a better understanding now.

I had it all wrong! Thanks so much for this crash course in 3-way switches.

Duuude!!! Big shout out to you. This video helped me actually understand and solve my problem. Bought my first home recently and the wiring in the kitchen wasn't right when we moved in. We had two 3-way switches. 1 switch worked a light. The other switch effectively just cut power to the first switch. On the other circuit the red wire was just capped off. Thank you very much for this explanation! All is good and now I'm much more comfortable with what's happening inside my walls.

Thanks for your clarity and your step by step approach. Your visuals, the display of the wire connections, are very discernible and straight forward.

This is easily the best description of this in known history.

Thank You!!! I watched and followed the steps. I wired three rooms and two worked fine. I spent nearly two hours trouble shooting the third room. I kept referring back to your video with no resolution. Then I noticed that the dimmer slide on the dimmer toggle switch was all the way down and that was why the lights would not come on! Thank you for such a clear and concise explanation.

Im an Electrician and this video is professionally explained. Some times is difficult for some people transmit Your knowledge to others and this gentleman video is very explanatory . Thank You!

Awesome... I have been racking my brain trying to visualize how this work... Now I do understand it, Thanks very much.

Man, you saved me hours of labour. Thank you!

I bought an old house where all of the 3 ways are setup incorrectly. I’ve been trying to find a video to best understand the big picture and this has been a huge help. Thank you for making

Awesome video. I took a electrician course with my HVAC 18 years ago and couldn't remember how to do it lol. Thank you!

wow, I'm currently doing a electrical pre apprenticeship and was having trouble with 3way-4way switches, this helped a lot, thank you! keep up the good work

I’m a Tinknocker Local105 in Cali and I’ve always been skeptical bout electricity and always had someone do the work. I’m Aware of the safety and danger due to the commercial work I do but the basics at home videos like these sure help out with the mechanical skills I already have I’m trying to save some money on labor. Thank you and keep educating 👍🏼🇺🇸

I am an electrical dummy....was trying to replace decor switches with smart eve switches and couldn't figure it out. After watching this video a couple of times to be sure, all works great and had them installed within 10 minutes!!!! Best video on explanation of 3 way. Many many thanks Terry.

Great video Terry!! You saved the day for me. I recently thought I finally understood the three way switch after successfully installing ONE. a few months later I was struggling for hours to replicate the feat until I found your video. Tried several combinations but had over complicated everything. Now I finally figured it out. Just need to do another one before I forget. Lol. Thanks again for the great video. That was the third one I watched on the subject and only one that I could wrap my tired brain around. I appreciate you brother. Bless up 🤙

Let me just say that your explanation made wiring a new switch in my "crazy-wired" house easy! You've used language and showed exactly what purpose each wire has, so that even though my wiring is using different color wire, (has the black crimped off together, uses the red, etc.) because you show which wire is the traveler, I was able to install the new switch, with posts in different positions (making it impossible to just stick the new one in with wires in the same spots.)

I was having problems wiring my 3 way switch. Your video explanation cleared it up and simplified it. Thanks!!!!!

Thank you for explaining the benefits of a four way switch vs a three way switch.

Terry, an absolutely magnificent instructional video on three-way switches. I can't thank you enough for this.

Thanks for making this video, always so much easier to understand when a visual aid ( grease board drawing ) is used.

"What are you doing on the computer, hun?" "I'm watching videos about how a three-way works"

Dude! As a new flipper/ landlord, you have no idea how freakn helpful this is! I just subscribed and thank you

Thank you for the video it helps clarify what's happening inside the switch. Common one=feed in Common two=load out Traveler screws are switching in respect to each common.

I ❤️ you. You taught me something I struggled to comprehend for awhile.

Finally had my aha moment with three way switches. That’s after watching three other videos and having someone competent try to explain it to me. Thank you!

Thank you for that simple explanation!!! This was the 4th video I watched and it is the only one that made sense.

Great breakdown of the current flowing through the switches. Excellent and well-imformed video

Great video Terry! Your step by step process is very easy to follow and understand. Thank you. It was very helpful for my project- changing the standard three-way switches to rocker-switches in my kitchen. It's also good to know something about what's going on behind the scenes :-)

Hands down the best video explanation I’ve watched. I searched so many sites trying to find answers and this video solved my problem. Thank you very much!!

Excellent explanation using visual aid plus animation video, I finally understand how a 3-way switch works and how a 4-way set up is designed. I have both kinds in my house and needing to change switch styles. Thanks so much.

Best explanation of a 3 way switch I've ever seen. 👍

Finally got it Terry. This has always confused me and was looking for something clear. Your white board did it. Thanks!

Your identification of which wire goes to the common screw solved my problem. Thank you!! I struggled for hours and in 15 minutes after your video I have it fixed!

This was PERFECTLY EXPLAINED! 10/10 best video ever !

Thank'U Mr. Terry, you explain this three way switch system perfectly I'm watching different videos but the yours is the best thanks again...

WHAT A TRULY MAGNIFICANT VIDEO! Im going to show my grandchildren this 🥰☺😆 Oopsie! i meant to say grandchildren not grandparents 😂🤣😅 My grandparents have been dead for years!

Thanks for providing this video -- I had a problem with my 3-way switch that I couldn't figure out. Now I can!

Ey Terry, thank you so much, you've solved my questions in 12 minutes.

You need to help the public education system come up with curriculum. Fantastic educational video!

Good explanation. I was already familiar with wiring but this help re-enforce the current flow. The challenge I find isn't the wiring where you can see the wiring in the wall, but figuring out how it was wired originally when replacing a switch. Think 3-gang box and more than 1 3-way switch and just for fun throw in the switch terminal locations were different on the new switch than the old. Took a bit to get it straightened out.

Great job. I had to go through dozens of videos to get a full break down. Thanks

Terry Great series. Been doing electrical work for 40 years and learned under an UL Inspector. I am enjoying your presentations. All the best. Alex

This was hugely helpful! Thank you very much for such an informational yet easy to understand video! You rule terry!

I did electrical with my union and never really understood the three-way switch But this one little video actually made me see Beautiful technique and teaching

Very helpful! I have a hand drawn diagram from my late father, master electrician trained in WWII Coast Guard, and I refer to it often. It REALLY is fun when you run into a "repair" job in an old home where all the romex has aged and all the wires look black at the devices! Then the tracing out begins!!!! Thank you for a great video!

Best explanation i have seen. I'm a visual learner so this was very appropriate to my learning style. Thank you so much!

Thanks for the animation. It completely explained the flow of electricity which I was having a hard time visualizing. The piece of information most helpful was showing what the function of the black versus bronze screws. If I ever have any questions about the flow from the switches position I can now use a multimeter to double check continuity.

Great stuff if I watch this a few more times I'll have it amazing Lee simple

I've always been curious how this worked... I understand electronics and electricity very well but this 3-way switch just boggled my mind LOL! Great video, and much appreciated!

This saved my day today. When both switches are either on or off, the lights wouldn't turn on. After watching the video, I opened up the switch and see red and black traveler positions were swapped on the other end.

Good explanation of how these work. One thing it took me a while to comprehend, was that you need a special switch, and a "traveler" wire. This was a good video.

Thank you. Because of this video I was able to sort out the wiring issue I had that was driving me absolutely crazy. I just can't say thanks enough.

You weren't lying this is the BEST 3-way Switch explanation and like he said" the most important thing to remember the main hot is tied to the common! And on the receiving switch the Common is used for the black switch leg.

Great job Terry! You make a lot more sense than everyone else's explanation.

Thanks always been so confused but now it seems so simple!

By far the best explanation Ive seen.. Great job..

I'm not an electrician but this is an excellent video and explanation. It kind of reminds me of railway tracks with junctions. Simply put, you either complete the circuit to your destination or not, incomplete (dead end). You could have 2, 5, 10, etc. of junctions. It's all about completing a circuit in this case. It's so easy to understand as soon as you remove the terms "on" and "off" which are only useful for a direct connection where people get caught up with switches being up or down. Thank so much.

I had this 3 wire light switch several years ago and I hire an electrician.. This video explain it to where I understand the purpose. I am interested in taking your class.

Thank you for making this video much more understandable

Best video ever thank you. Will foward it to a few of my friends

Great video! Thanks for the detailed explanation! I look forward to supporting your business!

Subscribed. 40 years a carpenter attacking the electrical trade, wish would have started this task sooner, important stuff.Thanks

Great Demo and explanation. Loved the Traveler term. Would of liked to have other situation where the light is in the middle of the switches or power source came from light. Just because I have run into those. Thanks

This is one of the best electrical videos I have ever watched and I have taking college courses on this, great job sir.

Awesome explanation. Really appreciate this. Great Job Sir!!!

Thanks for the video. I was all confused when I saw 3 BLKs and 1 WHT until I watched your vid then checked to find the WHT was the pwr wire. Once I found the WHT was pwr I connected it to the lone terminal then 2 BLKs on one and 1 BLK on the other terminals. Took some testing with power applied before I figured out which BLKs went together for the switch to operate properly but it works now!

Thank you Terry, for sharing your valuable knowledge.

I just encountered a 4-way switch and was mystified as to what I was looking at. So many other explanations I read just made me more confused. You certainly have an uncommon skill for making this subject much more approachable. Thanks!

Wow! Thank you so much! You are a real teacher! You are better than many of my university teachers!

Great explanation Terry! Led me to look at the details and re-work ancient switches in my home. Finally, more than 50% of the three ways work! LOL

This is a good explanation for someone with an aptitude for this kind of work. It could be a problem for someone that does not have a basic knowledge of house wiring. this method also only works if you have the power originating at one switch and feeding the light or other device at the other switch. If the power originates at the light it will not work or if you must " dead end" one of the switches it will not work. however the basic circuitry still remains true. This is why I say without an aptitude for wiring it can still be difficult for some. Plus all code requirements still apply. 60 year old semi retired electrician.

Thanks Terry, finally I get it thanks to your animation and drawing. Great job.

Thanks Terry, You made it very easy to understand. Got my switch to work after giving up on it 8 months ago.

This was really good - kudos for the animation to hammer home what was happening. Suggestion - Make a video that shows how to have a 3-way light system AND one of the switches feeds other outlets (which should always be alive regardless of the light switches' state).