How to Wire Two Three-Way Switches to Two Motors

Wiring three-way switches to motors allows the motors to be powered on or off from either of the switches. Three-way switches are always installed in pairs, connected by traveler wires that allow the two switches to operate in tandem. Note that both motors must be able to run on the power of one electrical circuit because they have to be wired in series to be connected to the three-way switches. Check the voltage, wattage and amperage ratings for the switches, wires, motors and circuit to ensure you have enough power to run the motors.

Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Needlenose pliers
Cross-head screw driver
Flat-head screw driver
3-wire plus ground electrical wiring
2-wire plus ground electrical wiring
Wire nuts
Electrical tape

Instructions

- 1
  Disconnect the power to the circuit on which you're working by switching it off at the circuit breaker. Never work on a live circuit.
- 2
  
  Use the correct size on your wire strippers to prevent damage to the copper.
  
  Cut a length of 3-wire plus ground wiring to go between the first and second switch. Strip the last half-inch of insulation from all the wires. Separate out 6 inches of the constituent wires from the main bundle on both ends. Loosen the terminal screws.
- 3
  Strip the ends of the wire leading to your electrical circuit. The white wire is neutral or common, the black wire is hot, and the green or bare wire is ground. Bend the metal end of the black wire into a hook. Hook the black wire from the electrical source around the dark screw on the first switch and tighten the screw.
- 4
  
  Wire nuts twist on to the ends of wire connections.
  
  Twist the white, common wire of the source to the white wire in the 3-wire with ground cable. Secure the connection by twisting on a wire nut. Do the same with the ground-wire connection. Bend the metal at the end of the red and black wires from the 3-wire cable. Hook the red wire to the right, brass screw and the black wire to the left brass screw.
- 5
  Mount the first switch in the junction box and cover it with a switch plate.
- 6
  Connect the red wire to the right brass screw of the second switch. Connect the black wire from the 3-wire cable to the left brass screw.
- 7
  Cut a length of 2-wire plus ground cable to go from the second switch to the first motor. Strip the ends of the wire and separate out 6 inches of the constituent wires.
- 8
  Connect the black wire from the 2-wire cable to the dark screw on the second switch. Twist the white wire from the 3-wire cable to the white wire in the 2-wire cable and secure it with a wire nut. Do the same for the ground wires. Mount the switch and cover it with a switch plate.
- 9
  Cut a length of 2-wire cable to go from the first motor to the second motor. Cut a 6-inch length of 2-wire cable. Strip the last half-inch of insulation from all the wires. Separate out the last 6 inches of the long section of wire. Remove the outer casing for the 6-inch section of wire.
- 10
  Twist the three black wires together and secure with a wire nut. One is coming from the second switch, one is going to the second motor and the other is the short, separate piece of wire. Do the same for the three white wires. If the motor has a ground connection, do the same for the ground wires.
- 11
  Connect the short, black wire to the hot terminal on the first motor. Connect the short white wire to the common terminal on the motor. Connect the short ground wire to the ground terminal on the motor.
- 12
  Connect the black wire to the hot terminal on the second motor. Connect the white wire to the common terminal on the second motor and the ground wire to the ground terminal on the motor. Cover any bare connections with electrical tape.

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