Four-way Switches & How They Work

Four-way switches are used any time when more than two switches are needed to control a light. This presentation shows the internal workings of the four-way switch and how it works with three-way switches, allowing a light to be controlled from three different locations.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• 4way
• 4-way
• Four-way
• 3way
• 3-way
• Three-way
• switches
• electrical
• light
• travelers
• conductor
• electricity

[nsaminder]

@Ongytenes wrote: "Four ways & three ways are not interchangeable".

Leaving the dimming question aside...

For a FACT a 4 way 'switch' can be used as a 3 way 'switch'.

And on top of that your own video proves it.

You simply don't attach at one terminal. A 3 way is an 'either' 'or' connection. And a 4 way, by not using one terminal is exactly the same.

End of discussion.

[Ongytenes]

@nsaminder True, it is possible to make a four way function as a three way but you can't make a three way replace a four way.

[elijah5791]

Others seeking to create informative videos could definitely learn a thing or two by watching yours! Just awesome! I got it immediately, but with other videos I was left confused. Thanks, man!

[Ongytenes]

@elijah5791

I saw everyone was trying to tell how to hook them up. I know some electricians that wire them up by rote. They memorized which wire to connect to what terminal and they do not even know why. So I decided to show how they work instead. Then the connections others are trying to explain becomes clear.

[Ongytenes]

@elijah5791 Years ago I installed 3ways in a house trailer. I couldn't access the attic but I could the underside. I replaced the regular switch with a 3way, ran 12-3 from it, under the floor, across the room to add a new switch (3way) at the new entrance to a deck. An elec. contractor refuse the job, said it couldn't be done. He said the 12-3 wire HAD to go through the ceiling box. His way wasn't wrong, just didn't fit the situation. I decided to show the WHY instead of the HOW.

[MegaHowtoMan]

Im trying to install a dimmer to this setup. Can a 3 way dimmer switch replace the 4 way?

[Ongytenes]

@MegaHowtoMan

No, Four ways and Three ways are not interchangeable. You can replace a Tthree way switch with a Three way dimmer.

[LuvDaCountry]

Good and helpful video. Well done.

[dougspair]

@sebasamy13 Sounds like you might have a double pole on-off switch, does it say 'load' at the two bottom screws, and 'line' at the top 2? If so, it won't be very usefull in this 3-4 way set-up.

[MrSlick1280]

What the defination of a way? Those are Three terminal and four terminal swich not including the ground terminal.

[lucho1211]

@sebasamy13 mm you probably solved ur problem but if not... why dont u just use two 3 way switches... one gets the power the other gets the switch leg to the positive terminal on the light.. 4 way switches are mainly used when you have 3 or more switches controlling one light.. and they must always go between two 3 way switches

[guomth33]

this video was great.thank you.Please do more of this videos with other electrical themes.

[a1skyline]

The travelers on the left 3 way and the top of th 4 way are inverted.

[ironslayer666]

The schematic, presentation, and explanation couldn't be any clearer. Good stuff.

[sebasamy13]

I used two switches with four side screws on the switches.The two switches on the back with arrows it says load line on the top.I connected the load coming from the switch box on switch#1 and on switch#2 I connected the black cable from the light.The neutral to the light.And the two travelers.But when I turn on the light from switch#1,I can turn it off from switch#2.But if switch#1 is off I can't turn on the light from switch#2.Try switching the travelers than I get not power.Please help.

[IndependentMinds2011]

No, use more 4 ways. 

[tousisat1]

is a five way exist?

[GanzuGinisu]

WOW thanks for the vid! so hard to find a vid about a 4way switch >>,<<!