Comments on: Wire How To: 4-Way Switch

By: Randy

Randy — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:07:21 +0000

Hi Gary,
No, unless you run an extra wire from the four way box to the three way switch to carry the switch leg through.

By: gary

gary — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:46:53 +0000

Hi Thanks for the information. Can I have the wires to the light coming off the four way switch? htat’s the switch nearest the light. Thanks Gary

By: Dan Nguyen

Dan Nguyen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:29:28 +0000

I just hooked up 4-way switch ceiling light using your diagram and everything is working great. Thanks so much !!!!

By: Randy

Randy — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:44:03 +0000

One detail I didn’t cover here (sorry) is that some 3-way and 4-way switches are put together a little differently than what I have pictured. The important thing to remember is to connect each pair of travelers to like colored screw terminals. For example, looking at the 3-way switch on the right in my diagram, I have the travelers connected to the 2 top screws which should be colored the same (usually dark). Some switch manufacturers put the dark screws on the side instead, which means you would have to move the travelers to the side and the switch leg to the single screw on the other side (usually brass colored). I hope this helps. Let me know.

By: anthony

anthony — Mon, 31 May 2010 02:48:24 +0000

ok so i placed all three switches and they all work but not to turn on the light. the first one initiates the second two but not the light itself unless one of the other two switches are on. Like its just a power feed to the other two. how do i change it to power the light too?????

By: Randy

Randy — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:51:18 +0000

It might be easier to fix it within your breaker/fuse box, unless you know for a fact that it’s wrong at the meter.

By: Phillip

Phillip — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:50:12 +0000

I have a 3 switch (2 x 3way + 1 x 4way) and 1 light set up here at home but it doesn’t work as it should so I started investigating using your diagram as a guide (thanks very much). The switches all tested ok and the wiring was as per your diagram and yet I couldn’t make sense of what my tester was telling me until I realised that some idiot who probably calls himself an electrician (I’m in Spain so that probably says it all) has hooked up the feeds (active and neutrals coming into the dwelling) back to front. The neutral feed cable (coloured blue here) is active (i.e. live!) and the active cable (brown here) is neutral. As a result all wiring in my house is back to front (i.e. blue is active and brown is neutral). I suppose the first thing is to get the feeds changed over (at the electricity meters at street level of the building) and then I’ll be able to go chasing further. Just thought I’d share this with you.

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:17:30 +0000

Yes.

By: Calvin

Calvin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:52:53 +0000

In a three or four way switch, shouldn’t any switch be capable of turing on or off the light(s)?

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:33:29 +0000

Hi Andy,

“the hot wire on the diagram is the live feed from the exsisting light switch?”

Yes, that is correct. Now if the switch leg (light wire) is in the same box as the live feed, you can look at this diagram and it will show how you can use the white wire of the cable to transfer the switch leg (light wire) to the other 3 way switch, then put 4-way switches in between the two 3-way switches as you need.

http://www.connecthowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/3-way-switch-branded-alternate.gif

I will note, however, to be VERY careful not to connect this white wire to the neutral white wire from the live feed cable or the white wire to the light fixture.

“wire from the first light to any others”

Yes, you can connect as many lights (or other devices) together as you want, provided you don’t exceed the rated current capacity for your wires and switches.

If you’re using 14 AWG copper wire, the max would be 15 amps. (or 1,650 watts at 110 volts).
If you’re using 12 AWG copper wire, the max would be 20 amps. (or 2,200 watts at 110 volts).