How do I run wire for switched recepticals?

Question

My run is from 3-way switch to a switched outlet to another switched outlet to a second 3-way switch. Do I use 3 lead wire between all points?

Answer 1

Easiest way is to run three wire (14-3 w/ ground) from your first switch to your other switch. From there, you would run 14-2 to your first receptacle then to the other receptacle. You could also run 14-3 instead of 14-2 (more common) to the recepts. This will allow you to have constant power on half of each receptacle while the other half is switched. You must break the little tab on the hot side of each receptacle to do this. There are many ways to wire this circuit. This is an easy example but may not be the most practical in every situation, depending on where the switches and outlets are located.

Answer 2

You would need a 4 conductor cable assembly with ground (5 wires) to do what you laid out. That would provide only for switching the receptacles from two locations and having none of them live all the time as is commonly done. You need 2 wires for runners between the switches, a neutral, and a switched hot from the 2nd switch, plus a ground wire. That is an unusual circuit in a residence.

You could also run a 3 conductor with ground between the switches, and then a 2 conductor with ground from the 2nd switch to the receptacles. Cheaper and easier.

Answer 3

Another thing to keep in mind is most switched outlets you only switch the the top receptacle and remove the tab between the two receptacles on the hot side only. And Yes to run switched outets on a 3 way you must have 3 wires. One set for hot and nuetral and one set are called travelers. Good luck, check out the diagrams on those links up there. Be careful when working with electricity, people minimize this. If your ever in doubt shut it off and call a pro, better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 4

Third wire runs from the first 3 wire to the last three wire, bypassing the two switched outlets.

Answer 5

You need:
*power to the first switch,

*two wires direct to the second switch from the first,

*a neutral from the panel and one wire from the second switch to your load (the receptacles).

Unless you've got a large wireway, you cannot wire the run as planned.

Answer 6

At the start of your run you have a HOT (black) line going into the first 3-way switch. This switch only transfers the power to one of two lines- either the black or the red. This power is sent on to the last 3-way, with a device connected to only one line, the black coming out.
So If only one line coming into this last switch has power then this switch has to be in one position only to transfer power from that line to the Black line coming out, the other line going into this last 3-way will be OFF.

If you want a constant on outlet you should take your power from the HOT going into the first of the 3-way switches in the run.
If you want a switched outlet you should take your power from one of the two lines coiming out of the first of the 3-ways in the run. Both of them will have power, alternately - depending on the position of the switch. If you use only one of them, in one position it will have power, in the other position the other line will have power and your outlet will be off.

Consider This :
#1: Let's assume the HOT coming into the 3-ways is black, and both switches have Red on top and Black on bottom coming out.
HOT going into first 3-way has power all the time, and the switch is in the 'up' position then power is transferred to the Red.
On the last switch with the switch in the 'up' position, the power comes in on the Red and is transferred to the black going out and to the light. The light goes on.
If this switch is in the down position, no power is coming in, since power is on the red wire, and the light is off.

#2 Hot going into the first 3-way has power all the time and this switch is in the 'Down' position. Now power is transferred to the 'Black' wire and not the Red. At the last 3-way switch, which is in the up position. No power is coming in on the Red wire so the light is out, put this switch in the down position and power is coming in on the 'Black' and is transferred to the 'black ' coming out of the switch and the light lights.
So you can say, switch #1 only determines which wire, the Red or the Black, will carry the power. The last switch has power on only one wire, so in one position the light will light, in the other position the light is off.

So " standard 12/2" wire will work for your outlet ( 2 wires and a ground).

Answer 7

http://www.the-home-improvement-web.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch.htm
THIS SITE HAS A WIRING DIAGRAM SO YOU CAN'T MISS.

Answer 8

Try this site, just replace the bulb with the receptacle.http://www.handymanusa.com/articles/3wayswitch.html