S
3
Hard to write that here but it is a capital S with the 3 slightly down below the S. i have tried a few times but cannot get this to work correctly. The 3 should be more to the right.
Chat with our AI personalities
If you have the symbol for a regular switch, a 3-way switch is the same symbol with a '3' next to it like a subscript.
You need a three way switch to control lights from two locations. The name is misleading. Three way switch refers to the connection points on the switch. You can use a three way switch as a single switch as long as you place hot wire on the brass screw and the use any of the other screws for the return hot.
In electrical terminology it is known as a single pole double throw switch.
Each 3 way switch has 2 sets of contacts connected internally to a common pole (marked COMMON). Inside the switch are a set of normally closed (NC) and normally open (NO) contacts. Electrical normally closed contacts pass power unlike plumbing in which a normally closed valve blocks air or fluid flow.
A single pole switch controls a light or outlet at one location. A 3 way switch controls a light or outlet from 2 locations.