Facebook
Google
GitHub
Linkedin
LED Dimmer Switch
- Thread starter biferi
- Start date
Switches for home wiring come in two basic types: SPST (the "normal" ones) and SPDT (called "three way"). Dimmer switches are the same.
The "three way" switches are used to allow two different switches to operate one light. I know, why not "two way", I don't know but that's how it got named. They work by having the two throws select between live feeds.
The usual scheme is to have the remote switch fed from the panel (1) with the live from it on one of the throws (we'll call it upper), a third wire (called the traveler, typically and appropriately a red one) which will run to the other switch (2) on the other throw (lower), and the live going to the other switch.
A three conductor (plus ground) cable runs from that switch to the one closest to the luminaire that will be switched. It gets the live that is connected to the pole of switch 1 on its own pole, then red traveler to the upper throw, likes switch 1. The the lower throw of switch 2 is the switched circuit for the luminaire.
I am not in a position to draw a schematic, but there are surely many examples online.
So, the bottom line is in house wiring switches are not called nPnT, but they are, generally, either SPST or SPDT. You can use a "three way" switch as a normal switch by ignoring the extra throw. I suppose you could use it to select between two things if that works for you.
The "three way" switches are used to allow two different switches to operate one light. I know, why not "two way", I don't know but that's how it got named. They work by having the two throws select between live feeds.
The usual scheme is to have the remote switch fed from the panel (1) with the live from it on one of the throws (we'll call it upper), a third wire (called the traveler, typically and appropriately a red one) which will run to the other switch (2) on the other throw (lower), and the live going to the other switch.
A three conductor (plus ground) cable runs from that switch to the one closest to the luminaire that will be switched. It gets the live that is connected to the pole of switch 1 on its own pole, then red traveler to the upper throw, likes switch 1. The the lower throw of switch 2 is the switched circuit for the luminaire.
I am not in a position to draw a schematic, but there are surely many examples online.
So, the bottom line is in house wiring switches are not called nPnT, but they are, generally, either SPST or SPDT. You can use a "three way" switch as a normal switch by ignoring the extra throw. I suppose you could use it to select between two things if that works for you.
