This article is a tutorial about 2 ways to switch. Its wiring connection, how it operates, and even where to wire this type of switch. So continue reading to learn more about Two Ways Switch and why is named 2 Ways Switch.
Note: This article contains information about a two-way switch. Before working with an electrical circuit make sure to comply with all the safey electrical measures. This is to avoid accidents on the work place.
Introduction. What is two ways or three ways switch.
Switches are one the most important devices in the electrical world. When we talked about switches what came into our mind was controls. We make use of electrical switches to control an electrical lamp or device either by turning them ON or OFF. I can say that the major work of a switch is to open or close electrical circuits by so doing controlling the flow of electrical current.
2-ways or 3-way switches are all the same but have different names as they are referred to by many countries. Some countries like the USA called it two ways switch while others like the UK refer to it as three-way switch. But for the sake of this tutorial, we will be using of the name 2-ways more instead of 3-ways.
A 2-ways switch is a type of switch used in controlling lamps from two different positions. What it means is that with a 2-way switch a lamp or set of lamps can be turned OFF/ON from two different places. This type of switch comes with three connection pins. Here in this post, we shall see the working operation of the switch an how to connect them.
Construction and working of two-way switches.
A two-way switch is a three-terminal switch with the following labels, L1, L2, and COM or L11, L12, and L13. The switch is constructed in such a way that when switch A is in the ON state, the switch B will be in the OFF state.
The L1 which means the line 1 and L2 line 2 and the COM as common. When the switch is at ON position, the COM and L1 terminals are in contact but when the switch is turned OFF, the COM and L2 terminals then make contact.
How to wire a two-way switch to control a lamp.
There are two methods, that can be used to wire up a two-way switch to control a lamp from two different places. Here we should see the two different methods, one is the old method while the other one is the new method popularly used now
Standard method of wiring two ways switch.
This is how you can use to wire a 2-ways switch using this method. Get yourself the following materials for the sake of this tutorial.
- 2× two-ways switchhes
- Connecting wires
- Piler
- Screwdriver
- Lamb holder and bulb
After getting the following materials ready, position the switches at the location you want them to be. Follow the diagram below to help you make the connections.
Connect a wire from the COM port of the first switch to the COM of the second switch.
From the phase line (line or Live) connect to L1 of switch A. Make a connection from the L1 of switch A to the L1 of the switch B.
So, from the neutral point, connect the neutral line to one terminal lamb holder. Connect a red wire from the second terminal of the lamb holder to the L2 of the switch.
use another connecting wire to connect from the L2 of switch A to the L2 of switch B.
Put your bulb into the lamb holder and the circuit is ready to work when powered ON.
So from my diagram above, the switch is in the OFF state or neural state. There is no light in the bulb. But immediately we toggle an one of the switch, the light bulb will
Below is the truth table for two switch wiring connections.
| Switch A COM connects | Switch B COM connects | status of Light |
| L1 | L1 | OFF |
| L1 | L2 | ON |
| L2 | L1 | ON |
| L2 | L2 | OFF |
From the above truth table, we can see that when switch A COM connects to L1 and switch B COM connects to L1, the bulbs will be in OFF state. But once any of the switches is toggled then the bulb lights ON.
Older Methods of wiring a two-way switch.
Aside from the standard method, which is adapted to this day, the older, alternative method can still serve and work perfectly. This alternative method can be found in use in olden building installations. So here we explain how this method can be achieved in our installation.
The above diagram shows how a two-way switch can be connected to control light bulbs using an old method. Follow the wiring diagram to run this type of installation.
To connect a two-way switch using the old method, what you need to do is to connect the L1 of switch A to the L1 of switch B. Connect the L2 of switch A to the L2 of switch B. Then what is remaining of the two switches is the COM ports. Connects a line from the lamb holder terminal to the COM of either switch A or switch B. And connect the second COM terminal to the live wire. Then run a connection of the neutral wire to the lamp holder as it is done in the above diagram.
The truth table of two ways switches wiring.
| Switch A COM connect to | Switch B COM connects to | status of the light |
| L1 | L1 | ON |
| L1 | L2 | OFF |
| L2 | L1 | OFF |
| L2 | L2 | ON |