Two Way Switching Explained - How to wire 2 way light switch

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
  • How to wire 2 way light switch, in this video we explain how two way switching works to connect a light fitting which is controlled with two light switches. We look at the EU colour coding wires and explain the different ways to connect the lighting circuit.
    LEARN MORE HERE: theengineeringmindset.com/two...
    Items you need
    Cheap Light Switch ➡️ electricl.info/3-way-switch
    Cable: ➡️ electricl.info/2-wire-cable
    Cable: ➡️ electricl.info/3-wire-cable
    Tape ➡️ electricl.info/electrical-tape
    Lamp ➡️ electricl.info/Lamp-Holder
    ⚡🛠️ TOOLS YOU NEED 🛠️⚡
    **************************************
    Get this electronics book ➡️ amzn.to/41cCJPk
    Professional Multimeter -➡️ amzn.to/3xu2Vaw
    Good multimeter -➡️ amzn.to/3xrbuTd
    Professional clamp meter ➡️ amzn.to/4140FnK
    Good Clamp meter ➡️ amzn.to/3xqt2is
    Outlet tester ➡️- amzn.to/3kavg2l
    Energy monitoring plug ➡️ amzn.to/3SkfPl7
    Battery tester -➡️ amzn.to/3S3fHWI
    Basic electronics kit ➡️ amzn.to/3xuLiqS
    MY FAVOURITE GEAR
    🎥 My camera - amzn.to/3YCZ7Q9
    🎤 My Microphone - amzn.to/3YYXsUC
    ⌨️ My Keyboard - amzn.to/3lBsl33
    🖥️ My monitor - amzn.to/415BGjW
    🎧 My headphones - amzn.to/3lN7R7u
    👋 SOCIALISE WITH US 👋
    *******************************
    👉FACEBOOK: / theengineeringmindset
    👉TWITTER: / theengmindset
    👉INSTAGRAM: / engineeringmindset
    👉WEBSITE: Http://TheEngineeringMindset.com
    🙌 SUPPORT US 🙌
    *******************************
    ⚠️ Found this video super useful? Buy Paul a coffee to say thanks: ☕
    PayPal: www.paypal.me/TheEngineerinMi...
    👀 Links - MUST WATCH!! 👀
    *******************************
    ⚡ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING⚡
    👉How electricity works: • How ELECTRICITY works ...
    👉Three Phase Electricity: • How Three Phase Electr...
    👉How Inverters work: • How Inverters Work - W...
    👉How TRANSFORMER works: • How does a Transformer...
    👉How 3 Phase electricity works: • How Three Phase Electr...
    👉How Induction motor works: • How does an Induction ...
    👉What is a KWH: • What is a kWh - kilowa...
    👉How induction motor works: • How does an Induction ...
    ❄️ CHILLER ENGINEERING ❄️
    👉Chiller Efficiency improvements: • Chiller Efficiency Imp...
    👉Chilled water schematics: • Chilled Water Schemati...
    👉Chiller crash course: • Essential Chiller Term...
    👉Chiller types: • Chiller Types and Appl...
    👉Chillers/AHU/RTU: • How Chiller, AHU, RTU ...
    👉Water cooled chiller Part1: • Chiller Basics - How t...
    👉Water cooled chiller Part2: • Chiller Basics - How t...
    👉Chiller surge: • Chiller - Surge
    👉Chiller condenser: • 🔧Chillers - Condensers
    👉Chiller evaporator: • 🔧Chiller - Evaporators
    👉Chiller compressor centrifugal: • Centrifugal Compressor...
    👉Chiller cooling capacity: • Chiller - Cooling Capa...
    🌡️ HVAC ENGINEERING 🌡️
    👉HVAC Basics: • Fundamentals of HVAC -...
    👉Boilers/AHU/FCU: • How a boiler, fan coil...
    👉How Heat Pump works: • How A Heat Pump Works ...
    👉Heat pumps advanced: • How A Heat Pump Works ...
    👉Fan Coil Units: • Fan Coil Unit - FCU HVAC
    👉VAV Systems: • Variable Air Volume - ...
    👉CAV Systems: • Constant Air Volume - ...
    👉VRF Units: • Video
    👉Cooling load calculations: • Cooling Load Calculati...
    👉Pulley belt calculations: • Pulley Belt CALCULATIO...
    👉Pump calculations: • Pump CALCULATIONS, Flo...
    👉Fan and motor calculations: • Fan & motor CALCULATIO...
    👉HVAC Cooling coils: • HVAC - Cooling coil + ...
    👉Cooling towers: • How Cooling Towers Work
    ⚗️ REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS 🌡️
    👉How refrigerants work: • Refrigerants How they ...
    👉Thermal expansion valves: • How TXV works - Thermo...
    👉Refrigeration design software: • Refrigeration Design S...
    👉Design refrigeration system: • How to DESIGN and ANAL...
    👉Reversing valve: • Reversing valve - Heat...
    👉How A/C units work: • Basic Refrigeration cy...
    ⚗️ REFRIGERANTS ⚗️
    👉Refrierant retrofit guide: • Refrigerant Retrofit G...
    👉Refrigerant types, future: • Refrigerant Types, Iss...
    👉How refrigerants work: • Refrigerants How they ...
    🌊 HYDRONICS 🌊
    👉Primary & Secondary system: • HVAC Primary & seconda...
    👉Pumps: • Centrifugal Pump How D...
    👉Pump calculations: • Pump CALCULATIONS, Flo...
    🔥➡️❄️ HEAT EXCHANGERS 🔥➡️❄️
    👉Plate Heat Exchangers: • Plate Heat Exchanger, ...
    👉Micro plate heat exchanger: • Micro Plate Heat Excha...
    💻 DATA CENTERS 💻
    👉Data Center cooling: • Data Center HVAC - Coo...
    🔬 PHYSICS 🔬
    👉What is Density: • What is Density? - Den...
    🎬 DOCUMENTARY 🎬
    👉WW2 Bunker HVAC engineering: • Engineering a Top Secr... electrician electrician tools wiring
    #Electrical #electricity #engineering

Komentáře • 1,8K

  • @EngineeringMindset
    @EngineeringMindset  Před 5 lety +163

    ⚠️ *Found this video super useful?* Buy Paul a coffee to say thanks: ☕
    PayPal: www.paypal.me/TheEngineerinMindset

    • @gardengnome4208
      @gardengnome4208 Před 5 lety +10

      why use gray or black wires when you can directly use brown wires where there's live voltages?

    • @skmgamer8214
      @skmgamer8214 Před 5 lety +5

      And logic

    • @skmgamer8214
      @skmgamer8214 Před 5 lety +1

      Both should be on to turn on the light

    • @skmgamer8214
      @skmgamer8214 Před 5 lety +1

      Or logic is more reliable
      Only one switch from two can turn on the light
      So we need to connect parallel to each other .

    • @bonifaceokoroafor8742
      @bonifaceokoroafor8742 Před 5 lety

      The Engineering Mindset .

  • @edcottingham1
    @edcottingham1 Před 11 měsíci +16

    I am OBVIOUSLY not an electrician. But I am an old (79) guy with lots of digital logic experience. I knew I could find the answer here, but I thought I should try to work it out for myself, a job I expected to take between 5 and 15 minutes. 40 minutes later, I still hadn't gotten my head around it. I even resorted to fooling around with "truth tables" and considering the various possible switch combinations and outcomes. I probably could have worked it out this way although maybe I would only have formalized the problem still without figuring out how to wire the darn switches. It couldn't be that complicated, and it's not. In fact, it is the sort of simple solution that we call "elegant." But it is hard to get your head around it.
    Thanks, Paul, for turning on the light for me!

  • @sergisanchomukhachev789
    @sergisanchomukhachev789 Před 5 lety +1495

    Man this video just solved my childhood mystery

    • @joonasfi
      @joonasfi Před 5 lety +15

      @Gigastar I thought of XOR gate as well..

    • @ixalaz4536
      @ixalaz4536 Před 5 lety +21

      Same, I was like "If you make both switches connect to the light, you'd need one of activate one of them for the light to turn on but if both are turned on, the light will still be on. If you connect the switches together, you'll need to activate both of them. How does this work?!"

    • @jorgeparra196
      @jorgeparra196 Před 5 lety +3

      same!

    • @betta67
      @betta67 Před 5 lety +5

      @Gigastar :) Yeah... but then again I first saw this in a building from 1968 in a communist country... I first thought of some diodes but there was no flickering :D

    • @mirageinthedesert5448
      @mirageinthedesert5448 Před 5 lety

      Sergi Sancho Mukhachev same

  • @JaredOwen
    @JaredOwen Před 4 lety +377

    I have always wondered how this worked - thanks Paul!

  • @AmericanOne9621
    @AmericanOne9621 Před 4 lety +39

    I'm 61 years old and have electrical work since 1978 and have never seen so many ways to use 3 way switch's (USA). Goes to show the old saying "Never to old to learn" holds true... Had to come back and buy you a cup of coffee...Thanks

    • @EngineeringMindset
      @EngineeringMindset  Před 4 lety +5

      Thank you for support, really much appreciated. We also have some dedicated US versions you'd likely enjoy, check out our other videos or website.

    • @hoangvuification
      @hoangvuification Před 3 lety

      same they only teach the most simplest one

  • @ndowroccus4168
    @ndowroccus4168 Před 4 lety +10

    Thank the lord someone showed an actual diagram showing how these switches work.
    Thank you!
    Thank you!
    Thank You
    THANK YOU!!!

  • @EngineeringMindset
    @EngineeringMindset  Před 5 lety +2

    *USA Viewers* 3 Way switch video here: 👉 czcams.com/video/_u5ORnhqn8g/video.html

  • @dougbarber7192
    @dougbarber7192 Před 2 lety +7

    One of the best presentations of this nature I've seen. Simple and to the point

  • @stewvlogs5084
    @stewvlogs5084 Před 5 lety +5

    Great video, helped me out lots. I now know what the red sleeves were on my light switch wires when I looked inside the switch to try and install a smart switch. They were intermittently live but with red bands instead of brown. Thank you!

  • @ramonprasad6904
    @ramonprasad6904 Před rokem +3

    This helped me enormously, I did it twice ! Before I discovered that lamp supplier had delivered 24 V lamps not 240 V lamps. Your wiring works perfectly ! Thankyou

  • @krichards8472
    @krichards8472 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Thank You for your simple explanation. L1 to L2 and the common to common did the trick for me. I had wires in the walls and you helped me more than any other video. Well done my-man. after this I won't need to watch another video again. have many times over the years. You are an incredible teacher

  • @jschweigert
    @jschweigert Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you for this! Just installed a 3-way switch in my basement using V3 and it works like a charm!

  • @MichaelFlatman
    @MichaelFlatman Před 5 lety +117

    Legend, and thanks for saying "put brown sleeve to show it's intermittently live" it really could save lives

    • @viggoavatar
      @viggoavatar Před 5 lety +30

      Someone working on (potentially) live wires are already dead to murphys law. Before working on electrics you should ALWAYS switch off the power, even if you are a cool dude that can work under some pressure, it is required by law (at least in eu) to do so.

    • @MichaelFlatman
      @MichaelFlatman Před 5 lety +3

      @@viggoavatar yeah that is true, should make sure all circuits are isolated and have no way of becoming live whilst you are working on them..

    • @stefannilsson2406
      @stefannilsson2406 Před 5 lety +1

      Well, this varies from country to country. Here in Sweden we have other colors for connecting to lamps and wire between switches.

    • @alerighi
      @alerighi Před 5 lety +7

      It's not needed, first because you must assume all the wires are at live potential (220v), even neutral or ground could be at fault condition, and then black and gray are the colors that in a three phase supply are assigned to each phase, so you assume that they are live.
      In my country you are allowed to use any color you like for wires, except are not allowed to use for phase yellow/green (obviously), blue and also white (because it's typically used for low voltage cables like TV coax, alarm, network and telephone, and thus can be confused).
      That is useful especially because we use to have wires put inside pipes in the wall, and if you don't use different colors and you have 4 brown wires that enter a pipe, it's a bit of a problem to distinguish them on the other side. Also you can immediately identify the purpose of the wire if the electrician used color consistently in the whole house, for example in my home black wires are lights phase, brown plug phase, then other different colors for example orange, red and pink for switch wires, gray for thermostats, and so on.

    • @umt1cardiff
      @umt1cardiff Před 5 lety

      @@alerighi i agree with you . British regs arr the same brown/ black/ grey are live .the sleeve is usedif brown /blue twin & esrth cable is used

  • @callumgardiner8469
    @callumgardiner8469 Před 2 lety +6

    As an electrical apprentice this channel has helped me out alot , my instructors are great but having the diagram helps alot , I ain't the smartest , keep the videos coming !

    • @filipina5953
      @filipina5953 Před rokem

      I was an apprentice 40 years ago. You sound like you have Inititiative Bud…………..Ask lots of questions, break it down into portions that you feel comfortable with, and be on your toes. You’ll be Fine young fella. Good Luck 🇦🇺👍

  • @conman1111
    @conman1111 Před rokem +2

    Extremely helpful video, I was moderately unsure about a renovation I was doing. This video cleared up what I needed to do

  • @davidbreslin1214
    @davidbreslin1214 Před rokem +1

    Hi Paul I installed downlights in my hallway, with a two way switch one at either end, after all plastering and paintwork completed I had to break open ceiling and walls which was heartbreaking, but this had to be done. I've used the option 1 from your vid, and works a treat, looks really well, I wouldn't have been able to do this without your very informative video with easy follow diagrams, thank you so very much for all in this case part of your knowledge. Keep up the brilliant work, now I've to go fill holes, thanks again.

  • @deejay6869
    @deejay6869 Před 5 lety +6

    You're a good explainer. I like the way you showed how to, step by step, connect each wireoh, and how each wire reacts depending on how the switch flipped. Thanks so much. You did such a good job that even I could understand what you were saying and showing.

  • @electronicshelpcare
    @electronicshelpcare Před 5 lety +18

    Nice video

  • @melissamcrae1115
    @melissamcrae1115 Před 4 lety

    This video just saved weeks of confusion in our kitchen renovation! Thank you!!!!

  • @vs77mail
    @vs77mail Před rokem +2

    The best explained video I have ever seen on CZcams. Perfect, keep up the good work. Thanks.

  • @Visionery1
    @Visionery1 Před 5 lety +4

    I've always wondered how this works, thank you.

  • @joshnicholson3208
    @joshnicholson3208 Před 3 lety +67

    Hey Paul, you’re awesome! Could you do a video explaining how dimmer switches work; in 1950 when they used resistors and then how they now work using semiconductors? I’m struggling to visualize these concepts, thanks for all you’ve done for my understanding of electrical engineering!

    • @EngineeringMindset
      @EngineeringMindset  Před 3 lety +14

      Good idea

    • @evohori
      @evohori Před 2 lety +1

      I don't know the working either, however, i think that one(each) of the leads have corresponding resistors.

    • @Helladamnleet
      @Helladamnleet Před rokem

      They uses reostats, not resistors

    • @adtonaminoy
      @adtonaminoy Před 9 měsíci

      @@Helladamnleet i think he didn't mean it resistor but variable resistor which is rheostats, trimmer, potentiometer and alike...
      in semiconductor, there is still potentiometer but that will be feed to the one of the input of operational amplifier ic, non inverting ic particularly, and the other input is fixed, then the output is somewhat amplified to form analog output that is being amplified...you can check some of the DIY circuit online...mostly they used op-amp or amplifier circuit itself...

    • @abeltariku2614
      @abeltariku2614 Před 5 měsíci

      What is the advantage of convering one way to two way?

  • @davidbrotherson933
    @davidbrotherson933 Před 3 lety

    This is brilliantly illustrated and described- it really helped me out. Thank you.

  • @rubenfinkielsztein7344

    Really clear how you explained it! I was always puzzled at how this worked. Thank you!!

  • @flwhitehorn
    @flwhitehorn Před rokem +3

    These are the simple things that my tired brain struggles with.

  • @LeoL123
    @LeoL123 Před 5 lety +10

    Thank you, this one solved my IoT DIY project to turn off my bedroom lamp without removing the conventional switch.

  • @agatalikosnowengeddymezaya

    i had electricity course in sweden but i never understood this not untill today i landed on this video.thanks man.i failed my job interview because of this connection but you have solved my worries again.keep it uo brother.

  • @robertwilliams8974
    @robertwilliams8974 Před 3 lety

    Thanks Paul for clear and very helpful video. This helped me fix an annoying outside light problem. Good on you!

  • @xyliahvortex661
    @xyliahvortex661 Před 3 lety +4

    I am actually watching this to make a minecraft redstone circuit XD

  • @frankfurty7553
    @frankfurty7553 Před 5 lety +14

    i live in Germany and i had this mysterious 2 way light switch in my apartment's hall and never figured it out till watched your video... it was really driving me crazy.... Thank you.

    • @MrPianoKnee
      @MrPianoKnee Před 4 lety

      My house in Germany used a relay at the light and multiple low voltage momentary switches to toggle the relay. The whole house was wired this way. All switches were low voltage. The stepdown (low voltage) transformer powering the relay's electromagnet can be located next to each relay or centralized for the entire house. Some relays are integrated with their transformer. There are "many ways to remove the skin from a catfish."

    • @aishakatbei7480
      @aishakatbei7480 Před 3 lety +1

      What is flower part

  • @rob5944
    @rob5944 Před 2 lety +1

    It's satisfying to get an idea of how the wiring works (I didn't even know there were several different ways of installing the circuit) but I think I'll still leave it to an electrician, thanks all the same. Here in the UK any electrical work now needs to be carried out by a qualified person anyway. Additionally it's important to have this paperwork when selling your house as you it may be required.

  • @lionsden5123
    @lionsden5123 Před 3 lety +2

    Amazing visual representation! Thanks for putting in the extra effort.

  • @Moksoory1
    @Moksoory1 Před 3 lety +21

    Very intriguing. I definitely learned new ways to wire these switches. However, in America we're taught that the common terminal is always either for the hot wire or the wire going to the light. One mehod taught to us to wire these switches is exactly how you showed in the first demo; the hot wire in one swicth and the light wire in the other swicth. The other method taught is similar to your methods; both hot wire and light wire going to one swicth. In this method, we still connect either the hot or light wire to the first swicth common, and "L1 and L2" (we call these wires travellers) of the first swicth to the traveller terminals of the second swicth ("L1 and L2"), at this point only two conductors are ran between the two switches, with the hot or light wire connected to the common on the first. We still need a third conductor between the swicthes, however, the third wire goes to the common of the second switch and gets spliced in the box of the first swicth with which ever wire is not on the common on the first (hot or light).
    In other words, if one box has both hot and light wires in it then either wire is "extended" to go to the common of the second switch.
    Hope I explained it well enough.

    • @rob5944
      @rob5944 Před 2 lety +2

      I don't know why everyone doesn't use the same colour wires world-wide. Surely red, green and perhaps black or blue would make most sense?

    • @joshuahaught4812
      @joshuahaught4812 Před 2 lety

      Very good explaining it. I was taught calling the last of your example a dead end 3way

    • @whoknows8225
      @whoknows8225 Před rokem

      @@rob5944 it was way worse not too long ago, now L1 is brown, N is blue usually everywhere... and the black indicates a switched wire.

    • @rob5944
      @rob5944 Před rokem

      @@whoknows8225 🥴

    • @bpomowe224
      @bpomowe224 Před rokem

      @@rob5944 Red-green being the most common colour blindness, making that a bad combination.
      Mostly though, it's all about USA running their own standards, rest of the world is generally on the same page.

  • @giovanni4151
    @giovanni4151 Před 5 lety +21

    This has been one of the biggest question in my life, finally at 19 years old I know how this works

  • @The-Quinta
    @The-Quinta Před rokem

    Your videos are just incredible! One of life’s mysteries solved. Thank you!

  • @antonios4926
    @antonios4926 Před 3 lety +1

    Thanks for the video. Very clear. From Cyprus

  • @JobroskiSwaqqman
    @JobroskiSwaqqman Před 3 lety +16

    Does this work in Minecraft? lmao

    • @azeemtics6613
      @azeemtics6613 Před měsícem

      Yes 😂

    • @wayneazemia5486
      @wayneazemia5486 Před měsícem

      Yes

    • @KingOfTheKindle
      @KingOfTheKindle Před měsícem

      2 levers feeding into observers feeding into a t-flipflop, or just 2 buttons to a t-flipflop

    • @andydunn5673
      @andydunn5673 Před 28 dny

      Don’t actually know what this means?

    • @KingOfTheKindle
      @KingOfTheKindle Před 28 dny +1

      @@andydunn5673 a t-flipflop is a circuit that switches between on and off whenever it receives a pulse

  • @user-se2zf7xp6l
    @user-se2zf7xp6l Před 5 lety +4

    This is cool. Keep doing your great work!!!

  • @barwood53
    @barwood53 Před 4 lety +1

    Excellent clear and concise explanation. Thank you.

  • @scottenglish5111
    @scottenglish5111 Před rokem

    I love your videos, I have some basic understanding of electrics but your videos give total clarity

  • @Bigbuddyandblue
    @Bigbuddyandblue Před 4 lety +37

    Most of my DIY wiring I’ve done at home is probably “intermittently live” 😜

  • @relebohilematima2727
    @relebohilematima2727 Před 3 lety +4

    T H A N K Y O U, sooo much, I did light switching before lockdown so I was really confused if I should bridge my common and you just showed me the are many ways to kill a cat.
    I’m constructing a conduit circuit and yes I’m permitted since am a student at an engineering center, please make more .
    Goodluck

  • @mountpleasants
    @mountpleasants Před měsícem

    Thank you Paul, just your down my ceiling today and bought two switches and 3 core cable. Will do it tomorrow.

  • @julitocm964
    @julitocm964 Před 5 lety

    Very great video, it helps me and even other viewers understand on how to wire two way or three way and it's easy to understand and to follow. I'm very grateful for showing this video. Thank you so much and may you have more videos to show regarding electrical. God Bless

  • @lmeza1983
    @lmeza1983 Před 5 lety +15

    I had this question for years!

  • @darrylgodfrey9604
    @darrylgodfrey9604 Před rokem +3

    Very helpful - a big thank-you. The only thing I don't understand is why you'd use the 4 more complex versions of the connection in place of the "basic" version.
    EDIT: I answered my own question: it depends on the position of the live and the load - in the basic case the live comes into one switch while the load is connected to ther other switch. In other cases, the live and load might both come into one switch, hence the variations.

  • @showeddie
    @showeddie Před 2 lety

    Clear and satisfying explanation. Thanks!

  • @louis3998
    @louis3998 Před 5 lety +1

    Very extremely useful and easy to understand. Good job

  • @michaellandis2144
    @michaellandis2144 Před 4 lety +3

    My great uncle, Everett Danforth Winters, invented the two-way light switch when he was an employee of Western Electric near Chicago, IL, likely in the 1930s. My mother always referred to him as an "electrical wizard." His basement in Berwyn IL had a narrow pathway thru a myriad of electrical equipment. He was always "tinkering". Of course, Western Electric claimed the patent. My uncle also invented another electrical device you use every day: The turn-signal return device inside your car's steering column. Western Electric also claimed that patent.

    • @JohnNy-ni9np
      @JohnNy-ni9np Před 4 lety

      Michael Landis, the quick action switch was invented in 1864. If your claim is true then it took 66 years for human to add another contact point to the switch. Your uncle was truly a great inventor.

  • @cholland3440
    @cholland3440 Před 3 lety +9

    Wow, this has kept me up. The mystery is over. Now I would like to know how those lamps are wired with the center light and the three around it and how the switch turns on one light then two lights then third light with the grand finally of all of them including the one in the center. Good luck. 🥳

  • @rogeriomarques5960
    @rogeriomarques5960 Před 3 lety

    Thank you. I just successfully installed one of these thanks to your video!

  • @1mach28914u1
    @1mach28914u1 Před 3 lety

    Great video. It makes things easy to understand the way you have explained it.

  • @sirisoj
    @sirisoj Před 5 lety +48

    "We need to place a brown sleeve at each end of this comment to warn that this is intermittently live."

  • @davidredpath4781
    @davidredpath4781 Před 5 lety +389

    In the U.S. this circuit is called a three way switch because of the three terminals, the common and the two travelers.

    • @orange11squares
      @orange11squares Před 5 lety +17

      in my country is called - head staircase/stairway circuit because it is used at the opposite sides of a stairway.

    • @umt1cardiff
      @umt1cardiff Před 5 lety +8

      @@orange11squares how about on a long corridor then ? Switched at both ends .

    • @orange11squares
      @orange11squares Před 5 lety +8

      it's called the same no matter how you choose to use it..... if you place another switch called head cross you can control the light from 3 areas.

    • @erikjohansson1814
      @erikjohansson1814 Před 5 lety +33

      In my country we call this light switch.

    • @louies6914
      @louies6914 Před 5 lety +4

      @@orange11squares "Comutator cap scara"-ROMANIA :)

  • @mohammedkamran8937
    @mohammedkamran8937 Před 5 lety

    Very nicely explained. Good job. Thank you

  • @abdrahmanabdullah3113
    @abdrahmanabdullah3113 Před 5 lety +2

    Thank you for the video
    Its so helpful.

  • @lugiasean19
    @lugiasean19 Před 4 lety +4

    I like version 3 and 4. Easier to remember the wiring.

  • @Ryan-cn7yl
    @Ryan-cn7yl Před 3 lety +6

    Just starting out as an electrician and your videos are very very helpful. I'm not sure I understand the difference between the 1 way switch with 3 terminals and a 3 way switch. If it has 3 terminals, why would it be considered a 1 way? And why can't you wire it the same as a 3 way?

    • @Jo3yW
      @Jo3yW Před rokem +1

      A 1-way looks very similar to a 2-way (3-way in US) because they are manufactured the same, only the L2 terminal is missing. You can use a 2-way as a 1-way by just using the common and L1.

  • @redbloodedamerican2790

    If only they had videos like this in school! THANK YOU!

  • @harveybolton
    @harveybolton Před 3 lety

    I just happened to have this thought whilst near my PC so I thought right, I'm looking that up right now as I always wanted to know how that worked. I spent probably 2-4 minutes in my head trying to guess before actually watching to see if I could work it out and didn't have the faintest idea how it could be achieved through wiring, I'm so annoyed at how simple this is but so glad to understand now :-)

  • @1paygabe
    @1paygabe Před 5 lety +235

    I N T E R M I T T E N L Y L I V E

    • @markgigiel2722
      @markgigiel2722 Před 5 lety +9

      Intermittently dead. Glass half empty. LOL

    • @bassnbluegill1406
      @bassnbluegill1406 Před 5 lety +1

      I am only alive sometimes

    • @bakirev
      @bakirev Před 5 lety +4

      BroWn sLeEve

    • @rgudduu
      @rgudduu Před 5 lety +1

      i was wondering abt that...what does that mean?

    • @sirtinley-knot2944
      @sirtinley-knot2944 Před 5 lety +4

      @@rgudduu it's to avoid someone thinking that the neutral cable is permanently neutral when in fact there are times it could logically act as the live

  • @Temo990
    @Temo990 Před rokem +4

    Nice explanation.
    Those type of circuits probably won't play much of a role in the future, though.
    You could use wireless systems with only one switch, possibly included in the device (like a smart lamp) that cuts the electrical circuit when a wireless signal is received.
    That allows to add many light switches without any cables what so ever or even turn on the light with over devices like smartphones, voice control.

    • @bpomowe224
      @bpomowe224 Před rokem +4

      You could, but it is far less reliant, especially since cyber security isn't anywhere near the top of the list for "smart" lamps.

  • @prout27cat
    @prout27cat Před 2 lety

    totally brilliant clear explanation.... and no silly music!

  • @IT-hq4zk
    @IT-hq4zk Před 2 lety

    Best explanation yet! Thanks Paul

  • @nthgth
    @nthgth Před 2 lety +4

    "Intermittently Live," that's a good band name 😉
    Thanks so much for this, I always wondered how these worked - I can't believe how relatively simple is!

  • @Shivaprasad2634
    @Shivaprasad2634 Před 4 lety +5

    Are there any benefits for 2nd 3rd and 4 th versions of wiring over 1st one.

  • @jackhughes3415
    @jackhughes3415 Před rokem

    This is one of the most helpful information videos ive ever seen. Thankyou very much

  • @dihanperera77
    @dihanperera77 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for this, it was really helpful. It sorted out a big problem for us

  • @jays_jae
    @jays_jae Před 4 lety +5

    Thanks, I can finally die in peace

  • @khc156
    @khc156 Před 2 lety +14

    Seems the first version is the most practical, since it would only need two wires between the two switches, and uses the least conductors.

    • @67_PowerStroke
      @67_PowerStroke Před 2 lety +3

      It all depends on the situation you have. If it is easier to run the switch leg to one switch, and you already have power at that switch, then running a 3-wire between the two switches would make sense. Some of the situations you find yourself in in some houses can be very challenging, especially when 20 foot ceilings are involved and large openings where support beams are required can make running electrical hard.

    • @adamprice9214
      @adamprice9214 Před 2 lety

      I'm with you on that, you'd only need a twin and earth and use the live and neutral, why our friend is going on to say you need a 3-wire is beyond me and I'm lost however I'm a chippy and no sparky 🤔🤷‍♂️

    • @67_PowerStroke
      @67_PowerStroke Před 2 lety +1

      @@adamprice9214 B/c if your switch leg going to the light and your power is in the same switch box and you do not have either in the other switch box, you have to use the 3rd wire to return the switched leg back. A 3 way switch requires 3 wires.
      You also cannot mix neutrals between different circuits with the newer arc-fault breakers.
      So to do it your way would require either the switch leg and power in each box, or the same circuit in each switch box.

    • @EngineeringMindset
      @EngineeringMindset  Před měsícem

      Seen our new incredibly detailed MCB video? link: czcams.com/video/gqEu9t8HwW0/video.html

  • @ebonyscribeguild
    @ebonyscribeguild Před 3 lety

    My instructor just went out this on paper...glad u have the animation..thanks 😊

  • @lamonttblackshire1638
    @lamonttblackshire1638 Před 2 lety +1

    Excellent. Concise. Perfect. What’s up from the Sates🤙🏽

  • @jingomcs4862
    @jingomcs4862 Před 4 lety +9

    I like the one where alexa does it for me.

  • @patryk_49
    @patryk_49 Před 5 lety +6

    5:12 here you've made perpetum mobile.

  • @Degga911
    @Degga911 Před 5 lety

    Great video. Been looking into this for a duel PIR setup on my stars

  • @chuckardenstrike6809
    @chuckardenstrike6809 Před 2 lety

    yes! thanks a lot, this solved my ways switchings on my Full DC setup.

  • @Flomerlita07
    @Flomerlita07 Před 4 lety +3

    Hi. Thank you for this! Is there a difference between 2-way and 3-way switch? I always get confused.

    • @JuggernautProductions
      @JuggernautProductions Před 4 lety +2

      No, just called a three way in the US, you know the US likes to be different.

    • @uplightuk8924
      @uplightuk8924 Před 4 lety

      The UK has 1 and 2 way and intermediate switches. But we can have like 1 gang, 2 gang, 3 gang etc. which is basically stating the amount of actually ‘switches’ the switch has

    • @hectorconte5753
      @hectorconte5753 Před 3 lety

      No, there is not

  • @Micah__
    @Micah__ Před 5 lety +6

    You know what? I think I’ve got another idea on what to do with that BROWN SLEEVE! Lol

  • @David3Wise
    @David3Wise Před 4 lety

    Thanks - fool proof - managed to mend a 2-way circuit thanks to your video.

  • @organiccold
    @organiccold Před 5 lety +334

    Firs version is the easiest one all the others are over complicating something simple... UK way of course lol

    • @andraszabi
      @andraszabi Před 5 lety +61

      Yeah I don't see the logic also of the rest versions, why would complicate anybody and use even more wires.. The first one is the right one..

    • @peepiepo
      @peepiepo Před 5 lety +73

      @@andraszabi The first example is where you are installing the switches both at the same time so you plan to have the wiring going supply->switch1->switch2->bulb all in order.
      The other examples are for when you start with just one switch in the circuit: supply->switch1->bulb and want to add another switch without changing which switch the bulb is wired into.

    • @andraszabi
      @andraszabi Před 5 lety +10

      @@peepiepo ohh u r right I wasn't thinking to that.. But anyway u have to do the wiring BTW the switches.. so it's easyer to disconnect the wire from sw1, and send it to the sw2 commune, and add the 2communications wire also..

    • @MrX-wg9hx
      @MrX-wg9hx Před 5 lety +13

      @@peepiepo it still doesn't make sense, if you start with one normal switch , It should be a normal switch, not a three-way switch, isn't it?

    • @markanthony7184
      @markanthony7184 Před 5 lety +2

      @@andraszabi I suppose he's making the point that in two of the examples, the switches are both in equality, and in the other two examples they are not in equality. Which way you choose would depend on which you were most comfortable using, and maybe one of the four ways might be best for an unusual situation?

  • @danielcoetzee5793
    @danielcoetzee5793 Před 4 lety +14

    This must be telepathy.....; I was pondering this just yesterday and then it pops up in my recommended.
    Unless CZcams can read my mind....!

  • @dangerdane2197
    @dangerdane2197 Před 3 lety

    Do you know how long i was trying to figure this one out? Until i watched this video. Amazing stuff

  • @101perspective
    @101perspective Před 4 lety +1

    Thanks. Figured out why my lights weren't working properly. Prior owners had a 3-way switch on one end and a 2-way switch on the other. Your video made it easy for me to figure out what was wrong. I went out and bought 2 new 3-way switches and it is working fine now.

  • @rednecke.t.3217
    @rednecke.t.3217 Před 5 lety +4

    Your missing a wire on your picture on your video

  • @strictlyelectronicslessons3830

    As a kid, you tend to believe everything adults tell you :( Asked my dad how is this switching possible? He told me he hired some guy to stand by the switch at the other room. I Ran and went to the other room, and I went "No one here dad" He goes" he's over here now, if you run really fast, you just might catch him!" Got back to the other my dad went " Oh, damn, you just missed him" 😡 😠
    To my Dad: (may he R.I.P.) I hate you now 😀 😁 😂hahaha.. Love u Dad! ❤️ Tell Mom I said hi❤️

    • @edinfific2576
      @edinfific2576 Před 4 lety +3

      In my country, people say "He who doesn't have it in his head, has it in his legs" (If you're not thinking, if you're forgetting, you're absent-minded, ignorant or just not that smart, you tend to go back and forth more often where you could have done it in one run or no run at all). 😉

    • @michaelesposito2629
      @michaelesposito2629 Před 4 lety +1

      Lol you weren’t the brightest of kids huh

  • @colins2
    @colins2 Před 5 lety +2

    An excellent video, in my humble, non-electrician's, opinion. It's amazing how many of the commentators got their knickers in a twist over terminology that was explained in the first minute. :-)

  • @AskTheElectrician
    @AskTheElectrician Před 3 lety

    Fascinating method, thanks for the video!

  • @y.z.6517
    @y.z.6517 Před 5 lety +37

    The 1st way is the simplest, and uses the least amount of wire. After all, what is gained from the extra complicity?

    • @sph4551
      @sph4551 Před 5 lety +5

      some one please answer this

    • @koneth21
      @koneth21 Před 5 lety +1

      1st way is the simplest for the case of 2 switches per lamp. For 3 or more switches it doesn't work.

    • @rogerbradbury9713
      @rogerbradbury9713 Před 5 lety +4

      The first way is great if you are using single core cables; in England this would usually be in conduit, seldom now used in houses. The other ways, which are virtually all the same, can be done with two core and earth cables and three core and earth cables; this is how it's usually done in houses here as it's simple to install and easily adaptable to the house layout.

    • @DanielMosey
      @DanielMosey Před 5 lety +1

      The 1st one was built from the beginning to be a two way switch, so it was very simple to create.
      The others are conversions, and conversions are never as good as the real thing. Either you accept that it is not as good as the 1st, or you rip it all out and start from scratch.

    • @MrWright493
      @MrWright493 Před 5 lety +3

      koneth21 right, just add 4 ways in between for ever how many switches you may need

  • @BertGrink
    @BertGrink Před 5 lety +60

    Just for the record: unless there's a complete circuit, NO current can flow anywhere!

    • @Dzambor
      @Dzambor Před 5 lety +12

      yep that visualisation is annoying me too

    • @jibjibam
      @jibjibam Před 5 lety +3

      He just meant untill where the wire is live.

    • @MeMolson
      @MeMolson Před 5 lety +9

      Just a reminder, if you can't visualize where the current is coming from the diagram, don't even try of doing this. For your own safety.

    • @camper1749
      @camper1749 Před 5 lety +7

      @@MeMolson I don't think this is meant to teach anybody how to wire a staircase switch. But just to inform curious people who'd like to know how this works.

    • @krashd
      @krashd Před 5 lety +2

      @@camper1749 I would have ended that with "If you can't figure out how CZcams works, don't bother commenting." :D

  • @ListrikShare
    @ListrikShare Před 3 lety

    Thank you for sharing the useful knowledge.

  • @leonardolocker1912
    @leonardolocker1912 Před 4 lety

    Well put together. I have a construction business in cambodia and trying to explain UK electrical to them was a nitemare this makes it very easy for them to understand thx you

  • @fsmoura
    @fsmoura Před 5 lety +33

    On the four variants, V1 through V4, you named it "convert one-way switches to two-way switches,"-but the switches used are functionally equivalent to the ones used in the first configuration (2:15).
    You say at 2:55 to check if they have three terminals. If you can use them in a functionally equivalent manner to a two-way switch (3 terminals, Com, L1, L2, switch alternates between connecting Com-L1 and Com-L2), how are they any different than a two-way switch? And why could one not just simply arrange their 3-terminal one-way switch in the same configuration of the first example (2:15), which is simpler? (Instead of using V1, . . ., V4.)

    • @fsmoura
      @fsmoura Před 5 lety +4

      Thanks, I see. So I guess it means more _convert your installation_ than _convert your switch_ (as I was thinking). As in _"convert your lamp installation from single-switch to long-corridor double-switch mode. (And you may already have a three-terminal switch in your single-switch installation, so you can reuse that.)"_
      However, regarding V1 . . . V4 being extensions: As they are wired, V1 . . . V4 won't work as a one-way switch by _only_ removing the second switch. That happens because both pertinent wires are connected to L1 and L2, and the switch cannot be made to connect L1-L2. True, with a trivial modification (disconnecting one of the wires from L1/L2 and connecting it to Com) you can make it work as a single one-way switch installation should. However, it is worth noting that in the case of the first configuration (2:15), you may _also_ remove any one of the two switches, and with a trivial modification (permanently joining formerly Com-L1 wires of the removed switch) you can make the installation single switch again. Which of course is also true if do it in reverse (that is, adding the second switch, instead of removing it), and therefore variant 2:15 can be added "as an extension" just as much as V1 . . . V4.
      Regarding the first point, it is also worth noting that, not only 2:15, but also all configurations in V1 . . . V4 must have current going through _both_ switches when turned on-which is evident in the fact that in all four configurations V1 . . . V4, the current must go from L1 to L2 in the first switch for the circuit to be closed, and the switch cannot connect L1-L2: all the arriving paths on L2 come ultimately from the second switch.
      Thus, given that, in order to add a second switch in configurations V1 . . . V4 you need to do a terminal reassignment, and that the same applies to the first configuration, none of the five variants is really any _more_ of an "extension" option than the others-all can be applied to an existing installation, even the first one, 2:15. (Although it is true that V1 . . . V4 surely do _look_ like something someone would come up with, if they were trying to modify an existing installation, and the simpler 2:15 looks more as something to be come up with when designing from scratch.)

    • @GrafRucola
      @GrafRucola Před 5 lety +10

      fsmoura while you are at it;
      another thing to point out, if we differentiate L1 and L2 (wich in reality does not matter because they are the same) but not wires by Color (Color does not change the cable properties)
      then v3 and v4 are the fucking same (except brown and black cable colours switched!)
      However if we now say L1 and L2 are the same thing then
      It all collapses and v1 thru 4 are all the same
      And yes that defeats the sense of staying close to reality where there is different labeling l1 and l2
      (Further notice, please be consistent (bullet no. 11 ;-) )
      and use the brown sleeves and the word intermittently correct,
      because in v1 and v4 the wire directly connected to live is NOT intermittently rather PERMANENT live therefore should be brown as in v2&v3)

    • @jrstf
      @jrstf Před 5 lety +3

      V1-V4 appear to be all identical. Question remains, why use the "convert" configuration? I thought maybe it was to save a wire nut that would otherwise required on a conversion, but that still seems to be required because you can't put two wires under one screw. That is to say, once you've run 3 wires between the two switches you have effectively put both switches in the same box so you can actually wire them in anyway you like.

    • @FoodOnCrack
      @FoodOnCrack Před 2 lety

      none of those configurations are ever used. They also stopped making switches with 2 contacts, it's all with 3 now. He also forgot to name the advanced hotel switching system where you can also install sockets without running a cable with 6 wires.

    • @holopaste
      @holopaste Před 11 měsíci

      Yes thank you! It was making me wonder if I was crazy, seeing all these “hey thanks for the perfect video bro” comments.

  • @ekghostofficial
    @ekghostofficial Před 5 lety +3

    1st one was easiest

  • @esasrl3384
    @esasrl3384 Před 2 lety

    Very well explained! Great video, subscribed. Respect from Italy 🇮🇹

  • @leeguitarmcr
    @leeguitarmcr Před rokem +2

    It's good to see the different versions of carrying out this task, but I tend to use version 4 most of the time.

  • @motivasik
    @motivasik Před 4 lety +4

    If your life already complicated enough, just stop at 2:53

    • @uplightuk8924
      @uplightuk8924 Před 4 lety

      MotivAsik Creative Line what are you confused about I will try and break it down

  • @JoshAaronPearce
    @JoshAaronPearce Před 5 lety +19

    Why not just link L1 to L1 & L2 to L2?

    • @diabolusfornacis8234
      @diabolusfornacis8234 Před 5 lety +19

      Because someone decided that this would be less confusing for the end user.
      Remember that on a single switch light, the standard is flipping the toggle up is ON and flipping the toggle down is OFF. So by cross wiring a double switch it makes it most similar to a single switch.
      If you wired it your way, L1 to L1 and L2 to L2, then the light would be ON if both toggle switches were ON or both toggle switches are OFF.
      If you cross the wiring, L1 to L2 and L2 to L1, then the light will be ON if one of the switches is ON and the other is OFF. If both switches are ON or both switches are OFF then the light will be OFF.
      Like I said, someone thought that the cross wired way will be less confusing and made it the standard.

    • @MarcAntoineBvl
      @MarcAntoineBvl Před 5 lety

      @@diabolusfornacis8234 that's because it's much less confusing that way

    • @rayg9069
      @rayg9069 Před 5 lety +4

      Makes no difference at all, can be wired either way

    • @schmidt60410
      @schmidt60410 Před 5 lety +4

      Putting 4 wires on a 3 wire switch is not less confusing. Line in to C, L1 to L1, L2 to L2, other C to load. That's simple.

    • @JoshAaronPearce
      @JoshAaronPearce Před 5 lety

      When I was in college, we were taught L1 to L1, L2 to L2. For the Ln & Lo you could connected in the C’s or alternatively Ln to L1 & Lo to L2. Depending on your wiring configuration. Seams simpler to me but that’s what I’m used to 🤷‍♂️

  • @shakilshaikh8047
    @shakilshaikh8047 Před 3 lety

    Brilliant......, the alternate ways you can have 2 bulbs on both ends..... perfect for my application, thanks a bunch.

  • @bayowaabdurrashid9386
    @bayowaabdurrashid9386 Před 2 lety

    Amazing and simple, thank you.

  • @kaguilangangmei7365
    @kaguilangangmei7365 Před 5 lety +3

    Subtitle is blocking the picture explanation. Disturbing