Return to location you plan to wire to verify that there is no electric flow to that device. Four way switches are used to control lighting from three or more locations.
Three Way Lights How Three Way Switches Work Howstuffworks
Inside a 4 way switch. If more than three switches are needed simply place more 4 way switches between the three way switches. 4 way switches have four terminals each with two pairs of travelers one set usually black and one set usually brass color. Turn on the light or device being controlled by the 3 way switches if you already have them. To find out which. How a 4 way switch works switches to control lighting. My 4 way switches dont work.
Turn off electric power. In the diagrams below the first switch 3 way common terminal connects to line voltage. If the switch is flipped into a different position current will take a separate path. A 4 way switch has two positions. A four way switch has the effect of reconnecting the two wires running between two thee way switches. Another widely used switch is the three way switch.
In position two the switch cross connects the contacts on the left with the contacts on the right in an x connection. A 4 way switch wiring diagram is the clearest and easiest way to wire that pesky 4 way switch. My 3 way switches dont work. Four way switches accomplish the same thing as if someone ran to one of the three way switches and flipped it. 4way switches operate virtually the same way by offering 2 paths for current to travel however a 4way switch. These are used in combinations of two.
A four switch configuration will have two 3 way switches one on each end and two 4 way switches in the middle. 4 way switches provide switching from three or more locations. Start here for practical circuits with different arrangments of switches and lights including proper color codes. In the first position the contacts are connected straight through so that the switch has no effect. As you will see most 4 way switch wiring is placed between the wiring of two 3 way switches therefore a 4way switch is installed with two 3way switches. Conventional 4 way switch wiring.
Starting with safety and understanding 1. I have a few of the most common ways in wiring a 4 way switch to help you with your basic home wiring projects. If the device is still. Four way switches are used. Back to 3 way and 4 way light switches. A similar page for 3 way switch circuits.
Use this if you began repairing and replacing a 4 way switch circuit and ran into problems.