The black (line) wire connects to the common terminal of the first 3-way switch. Do not nick or skin the wires anywhere other than at the ends being connected. If you have an old or new switch you believe was wired correctly and the circuit still doesn't work, the switch may be defective. This circuit diagram shows wiring for a 4 way circuit with the power source at the light fixture and the switches following. I have a few of the most common ways in wiring a 4 way switch to help you with your basic home wiring projects. 4. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 124,099 times. If using metal boxes and plastic-sheathed cables or metallic-sheathed cables, proper clamps must be used where each cable enters or exits the box. Leave the lead on a post that does not have continuity with your initial post. This is intended to reduce the risk of accidentally shorting things to the terminals. Some 4-way switches may have the "in" and "out" pairs opposite each other, rather than top and bottom. Pick the diagram that is most like the scenario you are in and see if you can wire your switch! Other bottom wire from 3 way going to top of 4 way switch. [1] X Research source Turn on the light or device being controlled by the 3-way switches, if you already have them installed. After you have turned off the circuit breaker, cover the switch with a strip of electric tape, so no one in the household is tempted to turn the breaker back on without your permission. 4 Way Switch Wiring 4 Way Switch Wiring Fully explained 4 way switch diagrams. Complete the connection by screwing a properly sized wire nut onto the joint tightly. Do not assume you understand the existing fixture or switch wiring unless you have studied it carefully and can document the function of each wire. Just make sure your black "hot" wire goes to the "common" terminal. Turn on the light or device being controlled by the 3-way switches, if you already have them installed. After you restore power to the circuit, click a switch up or down to turn on the light. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Then, connect the black wire coming from the fixture to the black wire going to the first 3-way switch. By code, the number of conductors allowed in a box are limited depending on box size and wire gauge. You may also use a current/voltage detector, to be on the safe side. Verify the circuit is wired correctly using the following guidelines. When wiring a 3-way switch circuit, we will be using a 3-wire cable known as romex coming from the source (such as the breaker box). % of people told us that this article helped them. Currently loaded videos are 1 through 15 of 36 total videos. Each pair of traveler terminals should be wired to the traveler wires from one of the 3 way switches in the circuit. Double-check that all connections are proper before carefully packing the wiring and switches back into each switch box. Other installers prefer to use two-wire cables from each switch to the next, purely for the travelers, and to run the hot or switched hot a different route to and from the fixture. SHOP ALL DIMMERS & SWITCHES Share: categories. The source hot is spliced to the black wire running between the lights and at the last light it is spliced to the black wire running through to the common on SW1, it does not connect to the light fixtures. They should all function properly. Remove about 0.25 inches (0.635 cm) of rubber/plastic insulation. Figure 5 - 4-Way Switch Wiring Diagram: Power enters at 3-way switch box, proceeds to a 4-way switch, proceeds to a 3-way switch, proceeds to light fixture at end of circuit. More lights can be added to this circuit by duplicating the wiring shown here for each additional fixture. Click the next switch to turn off the light. If the user is unable to perform electrical work themselves, a qualified electrician should be consulted. When wiring a 3-way switch, first screw the terminal screws of the new switch until they are difficult to turn. IMPORTANT: 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. Back at the lights the source neutral is connected to the neutral terminal on L1 and spliced with the white wire running to the next fixture. Watch the 4-Way Switch video below and pay attention. The electrical theory is the same, although the selection of colors for the travelers and the switched "hot" is different. You can test the switches using the procedure described below. References. Here the source is at the first switch, SW1, and 3-wire cable runs from there to the first light, L1. To avoid confusion and to conform to code, use a black marker to mark any "hot" white wire feeding a switch. One note about this procedure, if you are dealing with a smart electronic switch or timer, the internal circuitry can not be tested in this way. If the connections are made with clamps instead of screws, tug firmly on the wires to be sure they are all still tight. Locate the circuit breaker box. First page loaded, no previous page available. A 4-way switch is always placed in between two 3-way switches. If you are upgrading two 3-way switches, be sure to test for voltage at each switch and each switched fixture before touching anything. This switch … A 4 way switch will only be connected to traveler wires, never to a hot source or load wire and never to a neutral wire. 4-Way Switch Wring Diagram. After that, connect the black wire from the fixture to a red or white wire leading out of the box to the first 3-way switch. The white/neutral connects directly to the light/device. Yes, certainly. Using your mouse pointer, follow along with me as we go through the circuit. This article has been viewed 124,099 times. With these diagrams below it will take the guess work out of wiring. Here 3-wire cable runs between L1 and L2, 2-wire cable runs from the last light to SW1, and more 3-wire cable runs from SW1 to the 4 way switch and then to SW2. The travelers from one 3 way can be wired to either terminal in a pair, but don't mix up the pairs on the 4 way or the circuit won't work properly. Now that’s sounds easy but you will most likely find that wire way to short to just cut it and install it in a new switch box. How do I connect two lights to one power source and 2 switches? 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. If more than three switches are needed, simply place more 4-way switches between the three way switches. Unscrew the switch from the electrical box and pull it out with the wires still attached. Then a 4-wire cable going between the two 3-way switches and then a 3-wire cable going from the switches to the load. To test a 4 way switch, connect one probe to one traveler terminal in a pair and the other probe to one traveler terminal in the other pair. Wiring a 4-Way Switch A 4-way switch is used when you need 3 or more switched to control the same fixture. In this video I will show you how to wire a three way switch the easy way. At SW1 this marked white wire is spliced to the marked white running to the 4 way switch and at the 4 way, it is spliced again to the marked white wire running directly to the common terminal on SW2. This article has been viewed 124,099 times. Right now the power source is at the first 3 way switch and 14/3 runs to the fixture then from fixture to second 3 way. Interested in a 4 Way Switch Wiring … At L2 this white wire connects directly to the neutral terminal on the light fixture. Just make sure the traveler wires are not connected to the common pole of the switch. The wiring connections on 4-way switches varies between manufacturers. Repeat this wire connection process at each wire connection. Some electricians use colors to identify travelers, because white may only be used for a neutral, unless it has been properly identified with another color (e.g., black, red, blue, yellow -- but NOT green). Some 3-way switches may have the "common" terminal on one side and the two "travelers" on the opposite side. The travelers are run between the lights using the second cable black and white wires and at the last light, they are spliced to continue on to the traveler terminals on SW2. 4-way switches do not start or end the series of switches. A 4 way switch has five terminals: one ground and 4 circuit terminals divided into two matching pairs called travelers. Connect the white wire on the iDevices Dimmer Switch to the neutral wire (usually white) in the gang box and cap with a wire nut. A 4 way switch has five terminals: one ground and 4 circuit terminals divided into two matching pairs called travelers. 1. When you want to switch electrical devices (lights or other outlets) on or off from two locations, you use a pair of 3-way switches. How do I make sure my 4-way switch actually controls everything correctly? Turn the Power Off at Circuit Breaker. The black and red wires running between the switches serve as the travelers for the circuit. Which wires are the travelers may vary if the 3-way switches are connected to each other by way of wiring within the fixture ("fixture between") or if they are connected directly to each other and then to a fixture (known as "fixture beyond"). Identify the circuit breaker that controls electricity in the area where you will be working. Use the existing 2-wire … Each 3-way switch in these examples are controlling the power source to the same load. In any case, as long as you realize that only the two "travelers" between 3-ways are switched by the 4-way, you should be able to figure out the rest. A green or bare wire is the grounding wire, and it should be attached to a ground pole of each switch, usually a green screw, and to each box when using a metal box. 1-15 of 36. Connect the ground wire to the green screw. How to Read These Diagrams. In the 1st diagram below, a 2-wire NM cable supplies power from the panel to the first switch box. At the lights the hot source is spliced to the black wire running between lights, it does not connect to the lights. With 4-way switches you must read the manufacturer’s instructions or wiring diagram. Turn the light/device on and off with one switch, then off and on with the next, then off and on with the last. Note that a 3-conductor cable is often used for connecting 3-way and 4-way switches to each other, containing black, white and red conductors. Then tie the 2 black wires along with the black "Line" wire on the iDevices Dimmer Switch together with a wire nut. Fully explained 3 way dimmer switch wiring diagram will take the mystery out of wiring a 3-way dimmer switch. With the power off and the device removed from the outlet box, check that all connections are still tight using a screwdriver. This drawing shows the wiring for multiple lights in a 4 way switch circuit with the source and fixtures coming before the switches. Put one lead of the multimeter on this post. Use pliers to twist the exposed ends of the two black wires together. 2. Check that the neutral from the source is only connected to the neutral terminal at the load. I am showing a situation where the existing 3-way switch box contains only a 3-wire cable. In these cases, you can test the internal functionality with a simple procedure. The first step in any electrical project is to make sure there is … Now the power source (black) is coming in from the left. Let us show you how. Load Next Page. Run a new 3-wire cable to the desired box location in the house. Copyright ©2006-2021 do-it-yourself-help.com, below for more details about these circuits, Repairing a Water Damaged Plaster Ceiling. Note that this black wire will always be "hot", regardless of the switch settings. Move the second probe to the other terminal in its pair and test both arrangements again. When wiring a 4 way switch circuit as shown below, you will use two 3-way switches and one 4-way switch. If you understand how to wire a 3-way switch, you'll have no issues with a 4-way switch. All you have to do is find the (3-wire) running from one 3-way switch to the other 3-way switch and install the 4-way switch between the two. The third wire (the red) will not be switched at the 4-way location, but passes to the final 3-way switch. A 3 wire cable has an "extra" wire when compared to 2 wire cables, and this wire is nearly always covered in red insulation. Use needle-nosed pliers to form a loop in the stripped wire. The 4-way switch may be placed anywhere in the system. Connect the last switch in the usual manner, looping the wire around the screw in a clockwise direction. This red wire is the one that will supply power to the light after traveling through all of the switches. For example, you may want to control a ceiling light in the basement from the top of the stairs, from the bottom of the stairs, and from a door leading to the outside. Each installation is different. of bare wire. When wiring this switch you can choose if you’d like to illuminate it because of the independent lamp attached to terminals 8 and 7. Do not overlap the wire with itself beneath the screw terminal. … If it lights up, you did not identify the correct circuit breaker and need to return to the circuit breaker box and start over. Note that a branch circuit may "supply" either the fixture or any of the switches and you must first determine which junction/device box is the source for the power to be switched as well as whether the fixture is between the switches or at one end or the other. So be sure that the common terminal on one of the 3 ways is wired to the hot source, and the common on the second 3 way is wired to the the hot terminal on the load. How To Wire A 3 Way Switch. If it does not light up, there is no voltage, and it is safe to proceed. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The white wire is marked with black tape and spliced to the black wire running to the common terminal on SW2. Connect another black wire from the light to the original switch location. A third conductor passing through the junction box with the 4-way switch, will not be connected to the 4-way switch. (Safety Note: Be sure to test it on the live wires before you use it to confirm they are no longer live.). Can these cwires be criss crossed top to top bottom to bottom? There are many ways to wire a 3-way switch. There are 8 possible combinations, when using three switches (on and off). wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. This white wire does not connect to the 4 way switch. When working with electricity, have first aid instructions and protocols handy. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. 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