Connect the two travelers from one 3 way switch to the bottom two screws on the 4 way switch. Two light switches are 3 ways and one is a 4 way switch.
3 Way Multi Switch Installation 4 Wire Switches Amp Dimmers
2 3 way switches and 1 4 way switch. A 4 way switch has five terminals. In the first position the contacts are connected straight through so that the switch has no effect. The 4 way has 2 black and 2 purple wires while the 3 ways are all black because it is 1950s wiring. 3 way switch troubleshooting diagrams. You can have an indefinite number of 4 way switches in a circuit. This is a basic explanation of how to turn lights on and off from more than one location.
The attached video shows a configuration in which power is fed to one 3 way switch through the other switches and finally to the light at the far end. A four switch configuration will have two 3 way switches one on each end and two 4 way switches in the middle. If you are trying to troubleshoot a 3 way switch operation then you will need to identify the function of each wire. In position two the switch cross connects the contacts on the left with the contacts on the right in an x. It doesnt matter which traveler wire goes on which bottom screw. Wires consisting of a line a load a neutral a pair of travelers and two 3 way switches.
A 4 way switch is always placed in between two 3 way switches. Since a 2 switch system has 3 wires to be connected to 3 terminals at each box it works out that only 1 out of 9 possibilities will work. This article describes the configuration for feeding the fixture with power and having the 3 way and 4 way switches lined up beyond the fixture. Watch the 4 way switch video below and pay attention. They all must be between the two 3 way switches. If you understand how to wire a 3 way switch youll have no issues with a 4 way switch.
How complicated can 3 way switch troubleshooting be. A 4 way switch has two positions. The first switch 3 way travelers brass color connect to one pair of the second switch 4 way travelers black or brass color. All three way switch and 2 way switch wiring diagrams have the same basic components. Then connect the two travelers from the other 3 way switch to the top screws on the 4 way switch. I messed something up because the 4 way has to be in the on position in order for the 2 other switches to work.
Another key point is it doesnt matter which traveler wire you attach to which screw. How 3 way and 4 way switch circuits work. A 4 way switch must be wired between two 3 way switches as shown in the diagrams on this page. One ground and 4 circuit terminals divided into two matching pairs called travelers. Each pair of traveler terminals should be wired to the traveler wires from one of the 3 way switches in the circuit. This one minute animated tutorial is my clearest presentation of 3 and 4 way switches in action.
4 way switches an animation. For more than two switches one or more 4 way switches are added between the 3 way switches. Each 4 way switch in between would worsen the odds by a factor of 3. In the diagrams below the first switch 3 way common terminal connects to line voltage.
Gallery of 2 3 Way Switches And 1 4 Way Switch
