<P> 14 - 3, 12 - 3, etc. refer to sheathed cable with an additional insulated wire, typically red in color . This wire is required when multiway switches will be used such as two 3 way switches used to control one or more lights from 2 separate locations . Depending on the configuration, typically black represents hot / feed from the service panel and the other black to the load (light), with the white and red serving as the travelers . In some variations, the white wire recoded (retaped) black will be required as a traveler . There are many 3 way switch configurations such as powering the circuit through one or the other switch or the light fixture . </P> <P> Switching a load on or off from two locations (for instance, turning a light on or off from either end of a flight of stairs) requires two SPDT switches . There are several arrangements of wiring to achieve this . </P> <P> In the traveler system, also called the "common" system, the power line (hot, shown in red) is fed into the common terminal of one of the switches; the switches are then connected to each other by a pair of wires called "travelers" (or "strappers" in the UK), and the lamp is connected to the common line of the second switch, as shown . </P> <P> Using the traveler system, there are four possible permutations of switch positions: two with the light on and two with the light off . </P>

What is a traveler in a 3 way switch
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