How can I eliminate one 3 way switch to leave just one switch on the lighting circuit it’s on?

3 Answers

  1. replace that switch with a single-pole switch.
  2. connect either of the “traveler” wires to the load side.
  3. remove the other (unwanted) switch and connect the traveler wire used in step-2 to the “switched hot” wire that goes to the lights.
  4. the unused “traveler” wire is abandoned.





Can I disconnect a light switch?

To disable a light switch, remove the two wires from the switch and tie them together with a wire nut. With the power off, of course. You only need simple tools and materials to do this. You need a slotted screwdriver, two wire nuts, a blank light switch insert or blank wall plate, and possibly some electrical tape.

How do I remove a single pole switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You're going to have two screw terminals. Plus a green grounding screw always turn off the electric to any circuit you're working on a shock under the right conditions can be deadly.

How do you make a single switch into a double?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So what i did here is put some tape on the wall i take an old work double gang. Box. And i flip it upside down and basically i want to trace the remaining. Space on the wall. So i cover the hole.

Can you use a 3-way switch as a single?





Yes it can work. 3-way switches are spdt (single pole double throw) with 3 screw terminals, and regular switches are spst (single pole single throw) with 2 screw terminals.

Do both switches need to be 3-way?

The key ingredient is a special type of switch called a “three-way” switch. You’ll need two of them, one to replace the existing switch and another for the new switch location. With these, you’ll have the convenience of turning a light on and off from two spots.

How do you disable a switch?

Turn off Switch Access

  1. Open your Android device’s Settings app .
  2. Select Accessibility. Switch Access.
  3. At the top, select the On/Off switch.


What do you do with unused light switches?



You have a few options…

  1. Cap the extra wires in the ceiling box and do nothing else.
  2. Cap the unused wires in both boxes and install a single-sided cover plate.
  3. Remove the switch box, install a deep single-gang box, cap the wires in both boxes, and repair the drywall.


How do you lock a light switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So that you can either take a padlock or a bolt. And a nut whichever is easiest. You position the switch in the on or the off position. And secure your power.

Can you use a one-way switch for a two-way?



One-way switches only have two terminals while two-way switches have three. 2. A two-way switch can be used to control a light from two locations while a one-way switch cannot.

Can I change a single light switch to a double UK?

It is quite acceptable to change the single switch to a twin switch to control the new outside light. You will have to add some additional wiring, as it is most likely the existing garage light control switch will just have a permenant live supply and a return switch line back to the light fitting.

How do I add a second light switch without wiring?

How to Add a Second Light Switch Without Wiring

  1. Unscrew the wall plate.
  2. Unscrew the existing switch.
  3. Mark the wires before you remove them.
  4. Disconnect the wires from the current switch.
  5. Connect wires to the corresponding parts of the Lutron switch.


What is the difference between 2 way and 3-way switch?



A two-way switch turns lights on or off from one location only. Light can be turned on or off from 2 locations with a three-way switch.

What is a single pole switch?

A single pole switch is used to control the light in a small closet or bathroom. It’s called a single pole switch because there are two wires connected or separated by the switch mechanism. There’s also a ground wire to protect against electrical faults.

What is the difference between single pole and 3-way switch?

The most common household switch, a single-pole, has two terminals and simply turns power on or off. A three-way switch has three terminals; a four-way has four.

Can a single pole switch control two lights?

The answer is yes; one switch can turn on multiple lights. You can use two ways to make your switch control multiple lights. The most common way is to daisy-chain the light fixtures through connecting them with each other and hooking the first fixture to the switch.

When should you use a 3 pole switch?



Three-way switches are commonly used to control a light fixture from two different locations. For example, a long hallway or stairway might use a pair of three-way switches at each end so that lights can be turned on when approaching one end of the hall or stairway, then shut off from the other end.

How do you wire a single pole switch to a 3-way switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So when we connect this together these two pigtails are hot all the time we run one of these hot wires to the common terminal the black common terminal of the three-way switch.

What happens if you wire a light switch wrong?

But here’s the catch: If you connect the circuit wires to the wrong terminals on an outlet, the outlet will still work, but the polarity will be backward. When this happens, a lamp, for example, will have its bulb socket sleeve energized rather than the little tab inside the socket.

Is one wire always hot on a 3-way switch?

Wiring for a 3-Way Switch



The most important wire to get right is the one connected to each switch’s common screw terminal. This is the “hot” wire (usually colored black, but not always), and it brings the power from the source and delivers it to the first switch and then from the second switch to the light fixture.