Two way switching | wiring a two way switch

Connection of a two way (double) lighting system

A two way lighting system is a system which can control a lighting point from two positions. In the connection of this system, two 2-way switches are required to control the lighting point from the two positions.

Let’s now look at how the terminals of the 2 way switch looks like and how it is used. 
It has 3 terminals (COM, L1, L2) see the figure below. One switch at position 1 and the other at position 2.

Two 2 switch showing it's terminal

Connection

Now let’s look at the connection.

From the above diagram, connect the COM of Switch 1 to the live, then L1 and L2 of Switch 1 connected to L1 and L2 of Switch 2. Then connect the COM of switch 2 to one terminal of the lamp and the other terminal of the lamp to the neutral and you are done with the connection.

Connection of a 2 way lighting system

Now let’s see how it operates to put on the lamp.

•   Pressing any of the switch puts ON the lamp. In our case we press S1

2 way switching lamp ON

  Pressing again any switch puts it OFF. For example we have pressed S2

      Pressing the other switch puts it ON.

      Pressing any again puts it OFF.

So we see that we can put ON and OFF the lamp at any of the two positions.
A two way switch can also be of double gang (two 2 way switches in a single structure). See the figure below

Double gang 2 way switch

Boom, you can now connect a two way lighting system. For any worries, Leave your comment.

Related:

wiring a one way switch

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