I have to re-think how a three way switch works every time I go to wire one!  I created a Visio of the circuit to help me remember and thought it might be handy to someone else.  We will be building our house in the coming months and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like they are going to let me wire it!  Here comes the 14 gauge wire and “stab-in” connections on outlets and switches!  In my opinion 14 gauge wire and the stab-in connections are overused!  14 gauge wires are not recommended for runs longer than 100 feet.  Also, its capacity is roughly 15 amps which could easily be overloaded up with a vacuum cleaner, TV and light!  There is an outlet in my house in which if my wife uses her hair dryer the lights dim (a lot!).  There must be at least a 10 volt drop!  This is a circuit in which it’s more than 100 foot run, and overloaded (the entire upper story is feed by a single 14-2 wire!).

 

Maybe I am being too pedantic but I think that using 14-2 in conjunction with stab-in connections is a bad practice, in spite of its current safety record!  Residential wiring is still in its infancy; 40 years ago aluminum wires seemed like a great idea and the stab-in connections have already been banned with 12 gauge wire, and aluminum wire because of safety concerns!  If I had my way, there would be very little 14 gauge wire in my new home; unfortunately, I doubt I have a choice!