How many terminals does a standard three-way switch have (excluding ground)?

How many terminals does a standard three-way switch have (excluding ground)?

• A. 4
• B. 5
• C. 2
• D. 3

Answer: (D)

A three-way switch has three connection points for conductors, plus a separate ground. The three terminals are one common and two traveler terminals. The common terminal carries either the hot feed or the switched leg to the light, while the traveler terminals connect to the two traveler wires that run to the other switch. Ground is not counted among the terminals. That’s why the standard three-way switch has three terminals. The other counts (two or more than three) don’t match this configuration: two terminals is a simple single-pole switch, and four or five would belong to other, nonstandard or multi-gang arrangements.

A three-way switch has three connection points for conductors, plus a separate ground. The three terminals are one common and two traveler terminals. The common terminal carries either the hot feed or the switched leg to the light, while the traveler terminals connect to the two traveler wires that run to the other switch. Ground is not counted among the terminals. That’s why the standard three-way switch has three terminals. The other counts (two or more than three) don’t match this configuration: two terminals is a simple single-pole switch, and four or five would belong to other, nonstandard or multi-gang arrangements.