Three Pole Switch

Most common is the single pole switch the type used to control a light fixture from a single location the next most common is the three way switch which is commonly used to control a light fixture from two different locations.

Three pole switch.

One of the terminals is called the common terminal. A three way switch has three terminals. To use a three way switch as a single pole one connect the hot wires to the common terminal and the traveler on the same side of the switch body. The three way switch is a variation of the standard single pole switch which controls a light only from one location.

Wiring a 3 way light switch is certainly more complicated than that of the more common single pole switch but you can figure it out if you follow our 3 way switch wiring diagram. You don t need the other terminal on the three way switch so it s fine to cover it over with electrical tape to ensure the terminals don t get mixed up. Enerlites 3 way decorator paddle light switch single pole or three way 3 wire grounding screw commercial grade 20a 120v 277v ul listed 93200 gy gray 5 0 out of 5 stars 4 13 99 13. The most common household switch a single pole has two terminals and simply turns power on or off.

When the switch is in one position the common terminal is connected to the a terminal so current flows from the common terminal to the a terminal but no. A four way has four. These control a light from two or three switch locations such as at the top and bottom of a stairwell at either end of a hallway or in a large room with multiple entrances. It s there so the electrician can connect the switch to another three way switch via a third wire.

The other two terminals are often referred to as a and b. Wall switches used to control ceiling light fixtures or other fixtures come in three types. A three way switch has the same two brass terminals you find on a single pole switch although they are usually opposite each other instead of arranged vertically on the switch body. Another type is the four way switch which is used in conjunction with two three way switches to control lighting from more than two locations.

Wiring a 3 way light switch. In addition the three way switch has a black terminal. A double throw switch connects an input terminal to one of two output terminals. Thus a double pole switch has three terminals.

Three way switches control a light fixture from two locations in a room.