I am putting a 4 way switch for lighting a stairwell and 3 entrances. Hard? should I sub this out? jeffysan
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new or old work???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
top and bottom of the stairwel tool????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
http://www.electrical-online.com/4-wayswitch.htm
You will need 3 wire between all your switches.
Depends on your level of skill. The actual wiring isn't that tricky. I have seen some good diagrams that lay out the options. That web link has the most basic.
I'm certainly no master electrician, but was able to figure out a 4-way for my stairs. But all of my walls were open. Putting one into old work wouldn't be harder once you got the wires to the boxes, but would involve fishing a lot of wire through a lot of walls, and might be worth subbing out.
I recall some good 4-way descriptions in the Taunton book ("Wiring a House"?, I think that is what it was called).
-Rich
Not terribly hard if you have 3 conductor cable existing between all the switch locations in old work. OR have easy access to run the required cable.
Old work, no cable in place - it gets harder.
The issue will then become getting the wire where you need it, rather than figuring out the switch wiring.
jet's link in post yyyyy.4 is good guide for the switch wiring.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
The basic wiring is not too bad, but there are many options and it can get confusing.
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/
I suggest that you either wire it with power and light connected at the first switch or power connected to the first switch and the light at the third one.
That above link as detailed drawings for all of the options.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
that almost reads like you are telling the OP to do the wiring hot...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I tend to think of it this way (simplified, obviously).
Power (black) comes into the first 3-way switch (to the common terminal). Power goes out either the red or black wire of the 3-conductor, depending on the switch position.
3-way switch at the other end connects either the hot or not-hot red and black to ITS black wire output on its common terminal, depending on switch position.
Now, a 4-way in the center (or many 4-ways) simply has a red and black coming in, and a red and black coming out. Basically, the switch position either reverses them, or doesn't -
like = or X
Of course, it's different depending on where the power comes in, and the load comes out, but that's the simplified version.
Forrest - not NEARLY an electrimatrician
If you can wire a three way the four way is simple, its just another break in the variable hots.
Once you have the three way circuit you can literally install thousands of four way switchces in the circuit. They are just another place to flip the variable hots.
new work. just bones. jeffysan
This becomes duck soup with open access - just lots of wire, boxes and switches.
I assume this is your first experience with 4 way switching.
Suggest you do the rough wiring (3 conductor cable between all switch boxes) and interior finish. Install your light (or lights); install the 3 way switches.
Rather than installing all of the 4 way switches at this point - just wire nut the wires together at the 4 way locations. Energize the circuit and confirm proper operation - on / off from both 3 way switches.
Then add one 4 way switch at a time and test for proper operation after the installation of each 4 way switch.
Will involve a lot of trips to the breaker box, but if there is a problem with your installation - you will know exactly which switch is the cause. Might be better than connecting all and then trying to figure out which one you goofed up!
Enjoy!
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.