Adding an Outlet to a 3-Way Switch – Electrical Guide

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I'd like to add an outlet near a 3-way-switch as it's the closest potential source.

My issue is that there is no constant load at this location; when I toggle the other switch the red and black wires at this switch alternate being "hot" (I tested using an a non contact voltage tester).

This is how my switch is currently wired:


                                  |------|
                    Black --------|Switch|
                    Red   --------|------|
                |-- White             |
                |   Ground            |
                |      |              |
                |      |              |
                |      |             Black
                |      |-----X-------Ground=====> to light fixture?
                |------------X-------White

Do I have a reasonable way of adding an 'always on' outlet 3 feet away from this switch without sacrificing the 3-way functionality?

Leviton sells this device which would appear to do what I want except the outlet is located on the switch itself. Do any of the terminals on this switch provide a hot/neutral sources that I can run a 14/2 wire from?

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-5645-W-Combination-Commercial-Grounding/dp/B000U3BULU/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=leviton+combination+switch+and+outlet+3-way&qid=1554754009&s=hi&sr=1-5

** Update **

I replaced the two switches with a Leviton WiFi Smart Switch and (3-way) Remote. This setup gives me a constant hot at the location I wanted and the outlet works without issue.

Best Answer

The solution is to replace the traditional 3-way switches with smart switches. Traditional switches need 2 travelers. There are smart switches that need only one wire for switched hot and somehow signal on that wire, freeing up a wire to use as constant hot. However you will need neutral.

If your configuration is:

  • Panel -> switch -> switch -> light

then you turn a traveler into hot.

If it is:

  • Panel -> light -> switch -> switch

then you turn a traveler into neutral. Except you have to be careful with colors so that neutral ends up with the white wire.

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