How to Wire a Two Way Light Switch | 2 Way Switching For Beginners

In this beginners DIY electrical guide i will be showing you how to wire up two way light switches. I will show you step by step how to install a two way light switch circuit. I also cover ceiling rose wiring in this video. If you like the content leave a like and please subscribe for more content like this as I've got a lot more to come and there will be something that will help you out.
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If you are not confident undertaking electrical work then you should have this work undertaken by a qualified electrician.

[@user-ys9xn8xg9l]

Having watched various tutorials on fitting a 2 way switch this video is absolutely miles ahead of the others on every level. Big thanks mate

[@wrayxphoto]

Thank you so much for posting this. I was helping my neighbor who was moving out go back to his original lights. I neglected to make a note of how the wiring was presuming that all the live and all the neutral where together. On a 2 switch 1 gangway hallway bulb. The result was the light being on regardless of the switch position. But when you turned one switch off the breaker would trip. I tested it with my voltmeter and found one neutral made the voltage 240 here in the UK the other 2 nothing. after watching your post. I placed the live neutral on the 2 post with the bulb live and the other 2 neutral with the bulb neutral it still tripped the breaker. I swapped the switch set up so that the 240 voltage was with one of the neutrals I found the bulb was on but lower in brightness, when one of the switches was turned off it went brighter when the other was turned off nothing. So I swapped the non load carrying neutrals for the switches and it worked perfect. So thank you without your vid I would not have tried to wire the switch as part of the circuit. It makes perfect sense when it works. But I was so confused before it did...Ray

[@DaBiggerDaddy]

Your videos are an absolute lifesaver, our lounge was clearly wired up for two way lighting (two points of entry) but for whatever reason the old owner only had one switch. There are guides on Google images that show the live wires going into COM which i tried first and no surprise, nothing happened. Came back to your video which I also watched when changing a ceiling light and voila - two working switches.

[@honorkemp]

Got to admit your explanation has saved my brain from a lot of stress wiring old 50 plus conduit thanks for your time and making it easy

[@paulmillington4987]

Your videos are very educational for apprentices and DIY electrics that so many people need educational videos on because I've seen some really bad DIY jobs! I started off in the deep end of electrics at a dodgy factory doing 3 phase well mad to do 3 phase has a kid but I'm lucky because for some reason I understand electrics and love how advanced electronics and electrical equipment has advanced today and lucky no one died from any of my DIY jobs! I can see your passion for electrics, thank you 😊 love what you do!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks a lot 😁

[@Piietrek]

Literally a few days ago I was searching for a good guide on this. Wery well explained. Thanks.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your very welcome. It maybe a few days late but I hope it helped 🙂

[@justinetucker1389]

Absolutely fantastic videos. So clear, easy to understand. Love them all.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad you like them!

[@Fozzie68]

As an electrical engineer of 40 years experience, I am impressed with the way and the terminology used to explain how the 2 way lighting system works. Only one criticism, is that you forgot to mention the “ strappers form the switching link between the 2 switches . But apart from that 👏👏👏WELL DONE

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 😊

[@GrahamOrm]

Superb. Thanks mate. Need another switch at the front of my garage. You’ve answered a lot of questions.

[@johnoirie]

Absolutely brilliant tutorial 👏 Thank you so much. Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing more of the tutorials.

[@giancribsbitz1614]

For me as a DiYer and biginner,You are the most simple and easy to understand the explanation on how to..Great! Sir.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

That's what this channel is all about

[@brrymcgolly]

I know one thing was watching all your videos and your good advice I've replaced every single light in my house with LED I never had the confidence once but I do now. Thank 😊 🙏

[@TheDIYGuy1]

That is awesome!

[@richardgriffiths6823]

Great - finally I understand..! You’ve just saved me thousands…

[@brianflower5490]

I’m making a list of your videos as like others have said they are very clear and instructive! Thanks .

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad you like my vids

[@nocode1603]

Yeah good vid a tip from a spark when wiring a loop in loop out system mark your feed&neutral on the grey insulation with an x your switch wire with a line across your switch so your feeds are x your switch are marked- then when stripping your switch wire whether it's blue or black bed your switch wire in to a s shape so u know that's your switch wire be fore putting your brown sleeving just how I was taught as a lad👍

[@maheshtailor1792]

Excellent Video. Thank you for sharing so beautifully explained step by step practically.

[@chrisf5475]

Always been able to figure this out somehow but without REALLY understanding it… kinda just ‘getting’ it haha… but now I actually understand it!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

👍 perfect

[@faridmiah77]

Love all your uploads mate, very informative for us DIYers 👍🏼

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad you like the channel!

[@timmzey_1985]

Thank you so much. Gave me the confidence to remove all wires and start again as I'd previously mixed the and couldn't get it going properly. Old house with a mix of colors for wires! Figured it a out do VERY much appreciated

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it helped!

[@GeorgeI996]

Great video again. Might me worth mentioning that you can get double brown twin and earth cable for the cable between rose and switch, this saves the sleeving bit. If you were say rewiring all lighting circuits might be better. 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks

[@shawnmolver1640]

Great video, really helpful and well explained. Thank you!

[@jamieosh70]

This is a really excellent explanation and showing the right things, by far the best video of 2 way switches I've seen, thank you.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it helped!

[@TheSnowwraith]

Thank you for the wiring breakdown. I'm soon to be tackling breaking down a twin switch at the bottom of my stairway; it has a 3 way and a 2 way switch (3 way for the stairwell and 2 way for the hallway). I'm wanting to split off the 3 way to its own switch and the 2 way to be converted to a single 1 way switch so I can put a smart switch in its place, then disable the 2nd 2 way switch for the hallway since it's never used.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your welcome. Good luck with the work 👍

[@johntarrant3525]

Thank you very much. You're a great teacher!

[@user-xj5ty4ut5v]

Thank you so much

[@TheDIYGuy1]

You're most welcome

[@craigomalley112]

Excellent. Well explained for the DIY ENTHUSIASTS for Home Use of Wiring a Lighting Circuit with 2 Way Switches! (with TOGGLE SWITCH)

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@morthwyrtha]

Great to hear a local boy on the toob! Reckon this channel's going to be a treasure trove.

[@SeanE1978]

Excellent video, so clear and understandable, thank you 🤟🏻

[@rupertmiller4718]

congratulations, these just might be the best DIY vodeos I have seen on KZbin, really helpful and really easy to follow. Now I need to find a UK DIY solar panel and inverter installation video thats as easy to follow

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Wow, thanks!

[@johndawe449]

Simply brilliant,easy to follow and understand.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad you found value in the content 👍

[@jimmccabe5760]

Very well explained

[@RB-xg2vz]

Amazing - very simple to follow. I’ve been waiting to do this job in our house and now it’s done 🎉

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Wonderful!

[@helloworld5638]

Fantastic! Thanks for all your videos they are very helpful.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad they are a help 🙂

[@chrisholt2474]

Great film, well presented/explained, thank you. 👍👍👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks very much. Glad it was useful

[@cuebj]

Superb video. I never use ceiling roses - wagon connectors in Wago box with just flexible cord to light fitting. One problem with 2-way switch guides is books show different methods (both correct). Well done for stressing need for sleeving to show switched live

[@TheDIYGuy1]

👍

[@darrenmackenzie1892]

Appreciate your time to make this this video

[@johnharris2558]

Your videos are so ease to follow keep up the good work thank you

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Will do, thanks

[@badfaceday7509]

I've seen many explanations of how to do this - yours is by far the best/easiest. Thanks!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

That's the name of the game for my channel thanks

[@masterham4640]

Brilliant, just what I was looking for.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it helps 👍

[@Gattancha]

Excellent video - made understanding this a whole lot easier.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Great 👍

[@patburke5740]

Great tutorial, everything very well explained.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@colinwilson933]

Excellent video,simple,well explained.👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Cheers 🙂

[@dylanmckibbin8822]

as apprentice I do mostly industrial commercial love watching ur videos for domestic so good man keep it up please for my learning 😂

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks, will do!

[@jamesmeader2261]

Great videos mate really enjoy learning from them

[@jazzbansal8097]

And a Brilliant video .. easy to follow , explained well And no heavy rock music or drum and base lol 😂

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 👍

[@Mister_H]

Well said, so many channels insist on heavy rock music playing whilst trying to give instructions…. I just don’t get that 🤔. Your videos are simply superb 👍

[@papillonbougie7080]

washing ur videos is better than going to college, verry good explanation, God bless u for ur time

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your welcome 👍

[@sikandermahmood8308]

Do lot of time but Very nice and easy way you explan us every one can do it , thanks

[@johnsonn9517]

Excellent explanation. Best video on this subject. Thanks.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wowerman]

Thanks for good video.Well explained.There is a flaw with looping supply in ceiling roses to chain all lights.Imagine there is a fault and lights are flickering in some rooms.You'd have do go through all roses to check all connections not knowing how place has been wired up. For me every room should have individual cable supplying lights.Obviously this would involve opening consumer unit and checking connections there.Which for me would be faster. Also if someone without electrical knowledge opens up light switches or roses and by mistake removes sleeves while disconnecting some cores it will consuse everyboidy after trying to fix whole wiring. For me cables labeling is something should be as standard.

[@falconjanu9538]

U must be a professor lovely way u explained soo easy

[@Topman-26]

Love the mock up building.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

😆 thanks.

[@maninavan.2043]

Had to watch it a few times, but got there in the end. SO a big THANK YOU 😊 for this video. ( New subscriber)

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks for subscribing

[@ryanwood2011]

Fantastic guide buddy, well done 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks a lot 👍

[@danielteyehuago1633]

Wow! This is very informative, thanks for sharing it with us. It worth it

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Brynben1]

Great tutorioal once again, the best how to guides I have found on You Tube, thanks mate

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it helped

[@kapadyakkabikersuk9037]

Ive subscribed to your channel..amazing..thanks for the knowledge

[@BrodaPaul]

Top stuff mate. Very handy.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 👍

[@MrJokerh61]

The best DIY guy on KZbin 100 % thank you

[@MrJokerh61]

Would really like to know how to use wire stripper I keep cutting the copper off making a terrible job...cheers

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Brilliant thanks

[@ariftanoli9768]

You explain so clearly.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks a lot

[@asempafie]

Wow I really love it

[@SteveDurr]

Brilliant video. Easy to follow well explained

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-fq4qk9wz5k]

It would have been nice if u explained via maybe a switch diagram how the current flows through the switches and is subsequent turned on or off by each switch it would give people a better grasp of what exactly is happening in two way switching that said it was still a great tutorial

[@mohammadkhan-gl2yw]

Nice one ❤❤❤

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 🔥

[@ITSMEAGAIN1]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO. WE HAVE A DOUBLE TOGGLE LIGHT SWITCH SAME COLOUR AS THE ONE YOU'RE USING HERE. (2 SWITCHES ON THE SAME LIGHT SWITCH IF YOU UNDERSTAND ME). ONE OF THE SWITCHES HAS BROKEN & WON'T TURN OFF. I HAD TO LEAVE IT ON ALL NIGHT UNTIL I BOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT TODAY. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT ON INSPECTION WE HAVE OLD WIRING WHICH WE DIDN'T REALISE WE HAD. (BLACK & RED) THIS VIDEO WILL HELP US. THANK YOU.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Anytime 👍

[@samirmanir3188]

absolute legend mate! brilliant video

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad you enjoyed

[@georgeshepherd694]

Really appreciate your expertise thanks

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your very welcome

[@tommyknightly1659]

Great videos and minute details

[@joemaguire5575]

great video it worked a treat

[@Traumahawk007]

Really helpful and simple

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 👍

[@MrChirish1]

Your better than my electrical installations tutors at breaking this down 👏

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 👍

[@PattyMoj]

finally ... thanks

[@smithaluk]

Great video, cheers

[@jamescutting5589]

Very informative 👏 👌 great video mate 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks a lot 👍

[@james-iw8ky]

This guy is the number 1 on u tube , excellent video and big effort goes into all the videos, well done its a pleasure to subscribe 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks for subscribing

[@johncunningham1498]

Great video, video clear, all the best for 2023

[@TheDIYGuy1]

All the best to you too. Glad you like the video

[@vijaybansal6583]

Thankyou, very informative.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

You are welcome!

[@paul_my_plumbs_uk]

👍👍👍👍 I'm ready for the 2 way intermediate vidv

[@TheDIYGuy1]

😃

[@MichalLis100]

That's brilliant easy to understand.thanks

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your welcome 👍

[@darrenbanton8929]

Thank you mate.

[@markhannan5167]

Excellent as usual

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks

[@martintaylor3393]

Great Video, really helped me out thanks very much 👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your welcome 👍

[@masa4936]

Brilliantly easy to follow thanks

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Glad it helped

[@Superbgalatasaray]

Mate you are the best thank a lot.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your welcome 👍

[@sushilkumarunitedkingdom.662]

Really good video sir.

[@dlaptop3375]

We live and learn!! Many Thanks

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks very much 🙌

[@mcgravelgravel5675]

you this video very good it help me alot was looking 3 years now this wireing typ

[@TheDIYGuy1]

thanks

[@ricksivyer7427]

A great tutorial thanks

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 👍

[@mfielding007]

Another great video

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks 👍

[@billywatcheseverything4108]

Brilliant 👍

[@glenbraithwaite7767]

your the best D.I.Y man!!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Haha thanks 🙂

[@yutpx]

Excellent presentation!

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thank you kindly!

[@dar9886]

Thanks for YOUR help ive been true so many videos and you explain things very good you really have agift😎tanx again mate🛠🤗

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your welcome 👍

[@stefanthomas4868]

Great video this, really clear and easy to follow. Would it be possible to show (do a video) how the wiring from the configuration in this video would apply to a 1 gang, 2 way smart switch (not wifi, no neutral) such as the CNBINGO switches at all?

[@simiyutube]

Awesome! Thanks 🎉

[@TheDIYGuy1]

You are so welcome!

[@pianoman6639]

Brilliant thank you as always

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Very welcome

[@dad1foxwood3]

great channel thank you

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Your very welcome 👍

[@chrislow123]

Another great video. You make electrics seem so easy! One request...could we have a quick wiring diagram at the end that we could screenshot and refer back to? 😉

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks for the feedback :)

[@psdaengr911]

Run hot to the pole of one switch, hot from the pole of the second switch to the load. Connect the other side oif the load to neutral. Connect one leg of each switch to one leg of the other. Connect the remaining switch legs. How you route the conductors depends on the conduit or cable routing. If there is power and neutral at the load, you could run a 3-conductor from it to each switch and spice everything at the load.

[@singhgarry2358]

Thanks very good explanation

[@TheDIYGuy1]

You are welcome

[@Oldhogleg]

Been a licensed electrical contractor here in the US since the 80's, I wish our outlets were designed with the splicing terminal blocks like you guys use. We're still stuck with wire nuts or other splicing connectors that take up much more box space. I find it interesting you guys use the term "neutral" for the grounded phase conductor because there's no split phase power in your country, only single phase 240V. In the US we use split single phase power that actually has a neutral in the middle between the two 240V phase conductors to provide 120V power as well. To reduce the lethality of electrical shock, we in the US use 120V for general lighting, wall receptacles, and small appliances while reserving the 240V power for major appliances like stoves, water heater, air conditioning, and so on. When you ground one side of a single phase power(like you guys do), we in the US call that unbalanced grounding system. When you ground the middle conductor of a split single phase power (like we do here in the US), we call that a balanced grounding system. Noticed you guys incorporate switches with your receptacles. We don't do that here in the US because it's redundant since everything you'll be plugging in has it's own power switch.

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Pretty interesting to hear

[@Oldhogleg]

@@TheDIYGuy1 I forgot to mention that since it's the middle conductor of the split phase power that's grounded as used in the US, the voltage to ground from any of the two 240V phase conductors is cut in half (120V), again reducing the lethality by electrical shock from the 240V phase conductors.

[@AbelKashimbaya-lb2ub]

Nice one

[@user-wk6qs9rv7v]

Great Job !👍

[@TheDIYGuy1]

Thanks! 👍