Comments on: 4-Way Light Switch http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:11:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: TIM LUNA http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-51096 TIM LUNA Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:37:10 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-51096 you need 2 3-way swiches. the 4-way switch is the middle switch. take out the SPST SWITCHES. NOW YOU ARE HEALED. GO IN PEACE. you need 2 3-way swiches. the 4-way switch is the middle switch. take out the SPST SWITCHES. NOW YOU ARE HEALED. GO IN PEACE.

]]> By: mark gough http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-39719 mark gough Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:13:09 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-39719 Erik J. Barzeski You figured it out and that is the way I had to wire my 4 way also. Thanks for posting the 'sideways' cure. Missy Hill: I am no electrician, but as mine is wired (3 switches powering 1 ceiling fan light), there are 2 single pole switches and a third 4 way switch all wired in line to the ceiling fan light (for a total of 3 switches) which will independently turn on the light. Erik pointed out that the new 4 way wired with the common (black wire) wires on the side posts of the 4 way made the switches work independently. My old 4 way had the common wires (black wire) on the opposite posts, (side by side) with the switch in the vertical position. The new 4 way had to be wired with the commons on the same side posts (top and bottom) with the switch in the vertical position. I hope this helps. It confused me for a couple of wiring attempts. I probably should have paid an electrician, but it works perfectly. Erik J. Barzeski

You figured it out and that is the way I had to wire my 4 way also. Thanks for posting the 'sideways' cure.

Missy Hill:
I am no electrician, but as mine is wired (3 switches powering 1 ceiling fan light), there are 2 single pole switches and a third 4 way switch all wired in line to the ceiling fan light (for a total of 3 switches) which will independently turn on the light. Erik pointed out that the new 4 way wired with the common (black wire) wires on the side posts of the 4 way made the switches work independently. My old 4 way had the common wires (black wire) on the opposite posts, (side by side) with the switch in the vertical position. The new 4 way had to be wired with the commons on the same side posts (top and bottom) with the switch in the vertical position. I hope this helps. It confused me for a couple of wiring attempts. I probably should have paid an electrician, but it works perfectly.

]]> By: missy hill http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-35891 missy hill Mon, 01 Jan 2007 14:51:43 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-35891 Hello my Father and I are trying to connect 1 light to four switches. Could you please help with any suggestions to how to connect this contraption???? Hello my Father and I are trying to connect 1 light to four switches. Could you please help with any suggestions to how to connect this contraption????

]]> By: adrien http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-26105 adrien Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:00:04 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-26105 encountered this situation today, what you did, and the way you described it fixed my situation too. thanks a bunch encountered this situation today, what you did, and the way you described it fixed my situation too. thanks a bunch

]]> By: Bud Landry http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-18630 Bud Landry Sun, 16 Apr 2006 19:26:43 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-18630 I tend to not think of a single light controlled by two switches, as is common on stairways, as ON and OFF, but rather "either/or". That is as long as flipping the current state of the closest switch, flips the state of the light. all is hunky dory. Either switch can be up or down, but flipping the switch will turn the light on or off. Whether the switch is UP or DOWN, or pointing to or displaying ON or OFF is moot; whether the light is on or off, and can be changed by the switch reliably, is what matters. Not that you are saying you are concerned with the UP or DOWN aspects of the switch, or whether needless labels of ON or OFF, if they exist on the switch, are being displayed incongruently, but it could possibly be read that way. I think you are more concerned with the circuit effectively reacting to a switch flip action because the included wiring instructions are assuming too much or are too particular about installation in a way that is confounding the actual circuit. I have met people that get upset if the wall switch does not equal off, if the switch is flipped down, and there may even be electrical legal code to that effect. I tend to not think of a single light controlled by two switches, as is common on stairways, as ON and OFF, but rather "either/or". That is as long as flipping the current state of the closest switch, flips the state of the light. all is hunky dory. Either switch can be up or down, but flipping the switch will turn the light on or off. Whether the switch is UP or DOWN, or pointing to or displaying ON or OFF is moot; whether the light is on or off, and can be changed by the switch reliably, is what matters.

Not that you are saying you are concerned with the UP or DOWN aspects of the switch, or whether needless labels of ON or OFF, if they exist on the switch, are being displayed incongruently, but it could possibly be read that way. I think you are more concerned with the circuit effectively reacting to a switch flip action because the included wiring instructions are assuming too much or are too particular about installation in a way that is confounding the actual circuit.

I have met people that get upset if the wall switch does not equal off, if the switch is flipped down, and there may even be electrical legal code to that effect.

]]> By: Jon Evans http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-18629 Jon Evans Sun, 16 Apr 2006 08:52:55 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-18629 You've sorted it now, but basically a light circuit with 2 switches looks like this: /o----o\ live-o< >[light bulb]- o----o Those are single pole, double throw switches. A circuit with more than 2 switches has changeover or crossover switches in between the single pole switches. These look like this: -a-o\ /o-c-- x -b-o/ \o-d-- In one position they connect a to d and b to c. In the other they connect a to c and b to d. Circuit with 4 switches: /o--o\ /o---o\ /o----o\ live-o< x x >--[light bulb] o--o/ \o---o/ \o----o You've sorted it now, but basically a light circuit with 2 switches looks like this:

/o----o\

live-o< >[light bulb]-

o----o

Those are single pole, double throw switches.

A circuit with more than 2 switches has changeover or crossover switches in between the single pole switches. These look like this:

-a-o\ /o-c--

x

-b-o/ \o-d--

In one position they connect a to d and b to c. In the other they connect a to c and b to d.

Circuit with 4 switches:

/o--o\ /o---o\ /o----o\

live-o< x x >--[light bulb]

o--o/ \o---o/ \o----o

]]> By: Erik J. Barzeski http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4way_light_switch#comment-18628 Erik J. Barzeski Sun, 16 Apr 2006 01:09:29 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/15/4-way_light_switch/#comment-18628 I've figured it out. I basically had to install the new switch <em>sideways</em> and then twist it into place (install it horizontally, then twist it to vertical). <a href="http://www.lightingfacts.com/Four%20way%20switches.html">These diagrams</a> gave me that clue. Thanks Aaron. I've figured it out. I basically had to install the new switch sideways and then twist it into place (install it horizontally, then twist it to vertical). These diagrams gave me that clue. Thanks Aaron.

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