![]() The source is at SW1 and 3-wire cable runs from there to the outlet, 2-wire cable runs from the outlet to SW2. Here again the connecting tab between the receptacle terminals is broken off and the neutral tab remains intact. With this arrangement, two lamps can be plugged into the same outlet and each can be controlled separately from two different locations. In this circuit a split receptacle is controlled by two separate switches. If you are running a new circuit, check the electrical code to understand this and any other updates to the required procedure. This represents a change in the NEC code that requires a neutral wire in most new switch boxes. The white neutral from the source is spliced in the receptacle box and run through to the box at SW1 where it is capped using a wire nut. In this updated diagram 3-wire cable runs between the receptacle and SW1 and the red cable wire is used to carry the hot source to one of the terminals. The black cable wire runs to the SW1 connecting it to the hot on the top half of the split outlet. The white wire is marked black on both ends to identify it as hot. The hot source is spliced to a pigtail that connect to the bottom, always-hot half on the receptacle and to the white cable wire running to SW1. The circuit neutral wire is connected to one of the neutral terminals on the outlet, it doesn't run to the switch. Here the source is at the outlet and 2-wire cable runs from there to SW1. The tab between the neutral, silver terminals should remain intact. The receptacle is split by breaking the connecting tab between the two, brass colored terminals. Note - the Neutral is not connected to the actual switch, the two Neutrals are connected together using a connector block.This diagram illustrates the wiring for a split receptacle with the top half controlled by SW1 and the bottom half always hot. ![]() One '2-Core + Earth' cable takes Live and Neutral to the switch back box, a second cable takes the Neutral and Switched Live to the light. The 3-wire system is less common than the 2-wire system, it includes a Neutral at the switch as well as the Live and Switched Live wires.įigure 2: One example of a 3-wire lighting System.Īn example of a 3-wire lighting circuit is shown in Figure 2. If you have a 2-gang or 3-gang switch you may have black and grey wires, however these will have a brown sleeve on them as they are also switched live wires. Note - the switched live has a brown sleeve on it, this highlights that the wire is actually a live wire, even though it is blue, this ensure that it is not confused with a neutral wire. Switched Live is only live when the switch is on (this is where it gets its name from). The blue wire is known as the Switched Live and takes power to the light. The brown wire is Live (also know as permanent live), this brings the live supply to the switch. But for the sake of simplicity we ignore the Earth wire when explaining wiring as it plays no active role in the day-to-day workings of your light circuits.Ī 2-wire system includes two wires - Live and Switched Live.įigure 1: A standard 2-wire lighting System.Ī standard 2-wire lighting circuit is shown in Figure 1. The Earth is a very important part of the electrical system and all switches, appliances and lights must be correctly earthed. However, the third wire, which typically has a green/yellow sleeve is the Earth wire. The term is slightly confusing as the system will actually include three wires. This is the most common lighting system in Europe, almost all homes use this system, especially in the UK and Nordic regions. The simple explanation is that a 2-wire system does not include a Neutral wire at the light switch, the 3-wire system does include the Neutral at the switch. This application note explains the difference between 2-wire and 3-wire lighting systems and helps you understand which version you have in your installation.įirstly, what do we mean by 2-wire and 3-wire systems. ![]() This is an important point as many products, such as relays, cannot work if installed into a 2-wire system. ![]() You'll often see us refer to 2-wire and 3-wire lighting systems.
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