![]() ![]() The dimmer function always works when one of those switches is a dimmer. You don’t need to walk up or down a dark staircase to reach the light or walk through a dark room. You don’t need to turn both to “on” for it to work. ![]() This benefit is that you can always control the light from either switch. If they are misaligned, the circuit is broken, and the light is switched off. When both switches are in the same position – so in “1” or in “2”- the light will be switched on. The way these are wired up, it’s better to think of the switches as having two different channels – say “1” and “2” – instead of “on” and “off” positions. The example commonly given is at the top and bottom of a staircase, but it could be just different entrances to a room. ![]() So a 2 or 3-way switch is meant to be used in any circuit where you want to be able to control the lights from more than one location. These are the benefits compared to a single-pole switch (1-way in Europe, 2-way in the US).įor ease, I’m just going to refer to those as single-pole from now on. That is a 2-way switch for my European readers or a 3-way switch for my US readers. To be clear, I will explain the benefits of a switch designed to be used in a multi-switch circuit. Make sure it has the right number of terminals/wires for the job you want. The only time you need to be aware of the difference is if you’re ordering your dimmer switch from a global website like Amazon. It’s just how they’ve been named in each area. There’s no real reason for the difference. Instead of being traditional on/off, where the circuit is broken, think of it as two different channels the current can run through, almost like switching a railway line.Ī 1-way UK/EU switch is the same as a 2-way US switch, while a 2-way UK/EU switch is the same as a 3-way US switch. They have three terminals – one called a ‘common’ and then two ‘travelers.’ They have two terminals – an ‘in’ and an ‘out’ essentially – so the mains power is connected to the switch, and then the switch is connected to the bulb.ĭimmer switches designed to work alongside a second switch on a circuit – where you can control the light from either switch – are called a 2-way switch in the UK and the EU or a 3-way switch in the US. However, they’re also called 1-way switches in the UK and the European Union or 2-way switches in the US. That’ll impact how many terminals it has.ĭimmer switches designed to be the only switch on a circuit are called single-pole. It just depends on where you live in the world as to what they’re called.Ī dimmer switch will be designed to work independently or in conjunction with another switch. When you’re looking for a dimmer switch for your lighting setup, and you’re doing your initial research, you may see that there are some called 1-way (or one-way) switches, some called 2-way (two-way), and some called 3-way (three-way).Įxcept that there are actually only two kinds of switches. The different types of dimmer switches and their wiring.There’s a bit more to explain here, so let’s look at: They’re designed for safety and convenience, so you don’t have to cross a dark room to reach the switch. It all comes down to whether you want the lights to be controlled from a single switch or if you want the option of controlling them from two different places.Ī 2-way dimmer switch (called a 3-way in the US) lets you connect a dimmer switch to a secondary light switch so that you can control the lights from either. It’s the same as when buying a light switch. ![]() While installing a dimmer switch in your home is relatively easy, you just need to ensure you get the right type for the job at hand. ![]()
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