How to Wire a 4 Way Switch System with Diagram Included
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
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Perfect. The best 4 way switch wiring video on the internet by far.
Thanks Dave!
I'm taking class for to be an electrician and Sparky explain me this wiring better than my teacher. The diagram is the KEY , for me the dislike (6) has no sense ...at all. Thank you Mr. Sparky (Bill) Your effort is well appreciated.
Best wishes with your classes and with your upcoming career!
I really appreciate your excellent & informative videos. Question: on a 60's house, what color typically was used for the traveler wires? Also I enjoyed the 60"s prior video's since most people only show the "newer" wiring (Romex). The question of what to do when a 60's component needs to be replaced was explained by your prior video's. I look forward to more. I also like your showing what is up to code. I love the Wago nuts!
Red and Black. No grounds. Perhaps no neutrals. In that case the white wires are serving as red so the black and white would be travelers. Testing is essential to see what wires are serving as what. All in all though it's quite simple once you've identified the wires. More videos to come, thanks!
I'm so thankful people like you are out there. Thank you for your service good Sir.
Thanks so much!
I love these videos. Bill goes slowly and goes over every thing. I never have questions after watching these videos.
Thanks Abdul!
Your videos are very clear and instructive. One minor suggestion for possible re-editing. In your 3 way switch video you showed crimping the pig tail at the green bolt and going in a clockwise loop, in this one I only saw a little flash of the pliers edited out. You might include it, especially for neophytes like myself repeating looping clockwise is useful. Repetition is good especially with electrical which can be inherently dangerous and intimidating. Thanks, I'll watch more in your series. I've subsequently put your 3 way video to use putting in dimmer switches and led fixtures for my elderly auntie. Was able to work with confidence. Thanks
What I like about this instructor is that he makes this so simple.
I would love to do a crash course with him.
Thanks so much Vanessa!
Love the Leviton products where you don't have to make a loop in the wiring process ... Great educational vid Wild Bill ... You make it so easy to learn ... Thnx ...
Yes, I'm a spec grade guy. I've never had a problem telling a customer that I'm going to charge a little more because I'm going to use better quality devises. Communication is key when you're a contractor selling a job. That's what I tell guys coming up in the trade now. Thanks Eddy!
Superb bill maybe worth pointing out that there are several ways of wiring a 4-way. The question which is the best depends on the layout of the house and wiring runs to address voltage drop issues as one criteria there are of course multiple criteria to consider.
Thanks Math Man! Yes, you are correct. Good idea for a future video, thanks!
Hi Bill, in the UK we would call this a two way with intermediate switch. Very interesting to see different countries wiring terminology and regulations. Thanks.
Cheers from San Diego Colin! Yes it is interesting. Sometimes we have the same basic thing with different names. Have a great day!
Have I told you how much I appreciate you?
You just did, thanks! :)
Can I use 14/3 NMC romex throughout and only 12/2 for the line voltage since it is likely that interior lighting won't exceed 15 amps?
14/3 is fine for lighting circuits.
I am finding with the Wago wire nuts that the levers will pop up, or loosen, or the edge gets snagged on a wire that can loosen it. So I am finding that it might behoove everyone that uses the lever nuts to wrap tape around them, just like we sometimes would wrap the old type of wire nuts. I still maintain the position that they are better, because there is no need to twist and put extra strain on the wires, and about three wraps of electrical tape around the wire nuts after all connections are made is just a little bit better than not.
Excellent instructional video! Thank you
You are welcome! Thanks Wilson!
Are you related to Scotty Kilmer? You two can be voice twins
LOL! No. But "Rev up your Receptacles!!!" :)
Hey, you're right!
@@SparkyChannel Lol! this just made my day!
The way the switches operate is also of interest. The 3-way are connecting the black common with one of the brass terminals for the travellers, which one depends on the switch setting. The 4-way got two switching elements inside, actually two 3-way switches in one single housing. To explain how this works I use the colours Bill has shown us:
switch setting 1: The two blacks are connected straight through, and the two reds are connected straight through.
switch setting 2: The wires are crossed over, meaning the left black is connected to the right red and the left red with the black on the right side.
That's the reason this switch is called (literally translated) a "cross switch" in Germany, because it's either making a straight through connection or crossing the connections.
so why are 4-way switches so dang expensive!?
@@AidanSkoyles Because they are technically two 3-way switches combined in one housing.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Light_Switch_Chain2.svg
Excellant video Sparky! Do you have a video somewhere showing how you connect the line coming from your "breaker"? It looks like you set up a small practice wall here. I'd like to make something like that, but just plug a cable into an existing wall socket, and unplug the cable when I need to disconnect power.
Excellent Video
Thank you very much!
Good simple diagram, but it doesn't show the switch contact configuration.
Thanks Frank! Yes, you are correct. Good idea for a future video, thanks!
Great presentation. 👏Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
remember B=black B= bottom lol
Thanks Richard!
Thanks for the very informative videos Bill!!!
No problem, thanks Ted!
Damn good demonstration and explanation.
Thanks Matthew!
Why a thumbs down ????
I'm with you! If you're going to give a thumbs down, then be be man enough to state a reason. Safety issue or code violation or it's too long. I've down voted videos that had camera shake or volume problems and certainly safety issues, but I always state why.
This is the best video I have seen for wiring a 4 way switch and just in general. Very well done!
Great job learning so much from you now a 5way???
For a 5, or 6 or 7way etc. you’d just add additional 4way switches in between the two 3ways in the loop
Good job explanation Mr. Bill. 👍🏾👌🏼
Thanks!
Ur the best teacher on 4-way switch I like it 👍👍👍 thank you ...we need more
Thanks so much!
Very nice and detail explanation of a 4 way switch for people who don't know how to connect a 4 way switch. You made it simple by putting the feed on one end of the circuit and the light on the other end, but in reality that is not always the case sometime the feed come in on the light fixture box, or in some cases on the middle circuit and you will see lots of wires in that one box.
Yes, that's true. Thanks!
Thanks Bill
My pleasure!
I used this excellent video to make the four way system Alexa enabled by using only one Fiet smart dimmer switch. The trick is to find the three way switch where power comes in as explained by Sparky here. Replace the first switch on the left with a smart switch. I permanently locked the middle switch and the load switch locked in a permanent position by using a heavy duty scotch. Makes sense?
Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge 👌
My pleasure!
Thanks
Welcome!
I just saved $600 by watching this 20min video. I work in the field for the union but I'm new. My journeyman has only had me doing outlets so far. It's my first week lol. Now can that be done with 14/2 and 14/3 rather than 12?
Hello, if you see my message, I hope you can help me. The live wire of my newly bought house seems to be connected from the light link. The second dual control switch only has one wire, which has black, white, red and bare wires. I tried it. It's been a day, but still no success
Hello, I understand everything you have stated. My question, using the same many swatches but the power source and the Light line, starts in the same box. How do I wire this and what switches would I use??
Thanks for this video. It’s going to help a lot. My house was built in the late 50’s. In one room there are 3 ceiling lights controlled by two 3-way switches. In one box there are black and white wires spliced together. This is confusing me. Why would it be this way? The wiring is newer in the switch box, (12/3), which is really confusing me. What are your thoughts on this?
Literally had a revelation watching this lol
That's great!
Excellent job, thank you.👍🌞👍
Thank you! Cheers!
Hello I am wondering if it is possible to install a 3 motion sensors or occupational switches in this 4way system if so could you show us how. Thank you I love your videos are very instructive
This was incredibly helpful! Thanks for passing along your knowledge.
Black on top in my electrical world 🌍
ALWAYS
What if the line feed comes from the light first?
You will need to run a 12/3 or 14/3 from the light to the first switch, then do everything he did and pretend that you do not have the original cable in the light box, just ignore it like if it was not there
Great video, just like all the others, question: Would you say that the Fluke 1AC is the best NCVT or is just a personal preference?
It's the best for what I used it for. It's not low voltage and it doesn't have a flashlight so if you need those features others would be better.
How can you set up a light and fan that are controlled separate on a 4 way switch?
Excellent explanation very well done thank you very much
who else think the wire nut that he use make it look easy to connect them and ik their not called wire nut
What about when the power and light is in the same box?
@Sparky Channel. Thanks Bill for the detailed lesson on wiring a 4 way switch system and including your wiring diagram. It's a good thing I watched the whole video because you answered a question I had. It's easy when the boxes are next to each other in your video and I can see what wires are coming into a box and which are going to the next box. So when I come up to a box with two 12/3s coming into the box, I really don't need to worry about which one comes in and which one goes to the next box. The 4 way switch doesn't matter so long as I follow your suggested way of always keeping which color wire goes onto which terminal.
Hope you and your family stay safe and well.
Excellent! Sounds good to me. You guys stay safe too!
Do you know of a source for a wet location rated remodel box for use above the shower? Octagon or 2x4 box would work. Best if it attaches to the side of the bottom chord of the rafter truss. Can't seem to find one with my sources. LED light will screw up to it as the junction box for power connection. Thanks. Doug
home depot.
Very well explained to understand, Bill. Thank you. I've learned very much from you. Have a Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. 🎅🎄
Thanks John! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones as well!
Technically when you have a metal box, and you ground to the box, you're switch does not need to be grounded because as soon as you connect that switch to the box, it's grounded.
Please check out my video: Will a Metal Box Alone Provide a Ground for Electrical Wiring?: th-cam.com/video/hu5be04dDGs/w-d-xo.html
Thanks bill! New subscriber here ... do you think you can show a video installing a new main breaker panel in a house that has currently old fuse panel?
I'd love to, but they are getting pretty rare now. I did that job a while back but wasn't able to video it. If I get another job like that I'll video it.
Thorough job! How about a lesson on which switches & outlets to buy? Esp. the ones with the inserts in the back, 15a - 20a etc. Thanks!!
15A for residential, 20A for commerical.
Thank you, this was exactly what I was looking for, explanation with hands on wiring demonstration!!!
Glad it was helpful!
I found using 5/8 “mud rings with 1/2”drywall is right on the money as the drywall gaps on top of the box screws not the ring plate .
Interesting! Thanks for the tip.
You always do an excellent job explaining how to do things. It's easy to see that You enjoy teaching. Thank You
My pleasure!
Excelente maestro, gracias amigo. 👍
¡Gracias!
Thank you for your well explained also, please recommend NEC book for me. Thank you.
Buy it off Amazon they’re pretty cheap 2020 nec code book
Great video - one question: In the diagram how would you show the green ground wire pigtails connected to the metal box?
It would be one more green line coming from the box to the green wire nut. My diagram is for plastic boxes.
Great presentation, I have to troubleshoot a bad install. I hope they ran the 4 wire traveler, since if one switch turns it on, the other switch can turn it off but the 1st switch cannot turn it on again,
Let me know how it goes.
Sparky, I may not be seeing it correctly in the video, but I could have sworn that I saw you take the red and black wires coming out from box#2 into box#3 and plug them into the "out" ports of switch#3 in box#3, and then you are connecting the black load wire into the common port of the 3-way switch.
Did I get that correctly? Why is it that way? I thought the common/black-screw port was for the black (INbound). That's confusing to me.
The switch #3 a 3way switch doesn't really have what is called "out ports". 3 way switches have a common screw which is black in color and marked common on the switch. The other 2 screws which are brass colored are the traveler screws. When hooking up 3 way switches of course it takes 2 switches. At one switch you will connect power to the black screw and traveler wires to the other two brass screws, while the other switch will have your switch leg (wiring going to the light) and the other end of the 3 wire cable. The black screw on that screw will connect to the black wire going to your light while the other two brass screws will connect to the black and red wire coming from the first switch. The 4 way switch just put one set of wires out of the same cable (black, red) on the same colored screws (black) and the other black and red wires out of the 2nd cable to the screws (brass).
Y
Muy buena espricasion
¡Gracias!
Is the wiring exactly the same if three switches control one outlet instead of a light?
Yes.
Hi how to install 220 for 8 motors?
Very detailed and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing. I
Glad it was helpful!
NICE VIDEO SPARKY. THANKS FOR SHARING IT. KEEP IT UP 💯.
Thanks Josian, will do!
Why do you use 12/2 & 12/3 wires and not 14 gauge wires, could 14 gauge be used?.
Yes you can as long as you don0t exceed the maximum distances and/or load as per the NEC 2020. Bill, likes to use #12 wire for convenience, and if you ever need to upgrade to 20V for any reason the wiring is capable, I agree with his choice even though #12 is more expensive.
14 gauge could be used but some electricians only use 12 gauge. It also future proofs the wiring a little.
Wuhuu! Ur using the best connectors on the planet!
Thanks!
Great video well explained and easy to follow❤ 21:55
Glad it was helpful!
The best video on a 4 way switch system. 👍👍
Thanks so much!
can u add a dimmer
Good question
What about it Sparky
Hi, Sparky. My instructor is asking me to wire a gfci receptable in the first box, a gfci "protected" receptacle in a 2nd downstream box, and finally, an unprotected receptacle in the final 3rd box. Is this even possible with 14/3 wire?
Pretty sure it’s possible, just need to wire that last outlet in parallel so it avoids gfci protection from the upstream device
The 3rd box will always be on then? even tho the gfci is tripped it will protect the second receptacle. in order to do that go to the power source to the 3rd receptacle
And it is possible with 14/3 wire you’re just gonna have an extra hot so you’re gonna use 14/2 wire.
I suggest you use 12/2 wire for receptacle. If you are using 14/2 wire make suke your breaker is 15A.
nice
Cand you do two other lights from same lights
Yes, you can daisy-chain the lights together. Remember no more than 8 lights on 14-2 Romex and 10 lights on 12-2 Romex.
So, why don’t the switches require a neutral?
Switches never did require a neutral until we got more complicated switches like timer switches and now switches controlled by Alexa.
bc a basic switch doesn't consume power, hence no need for neutral.
Great job Sparky.
Thanks Gary!
That’s great for me sir.
Excellent!
Thank you for educating your trade... We need more like you. But you are the best I've seen so far. I have been a contractor doing all trade's for 40+ yrs... And I am not as patient as you are explaining any trade. LOL .
You are the best!
Thanks Tom!
Very very helpful
Great to hear, thanks!
Where’s the diagram?
20:09
Great job
Thanks Charlie!
Thanks
Welcome!
Thanks sir
Welcome, thanks!
Not all four-way switches get wired like that some get wired from the top to the bottom without reading my switches instructions it cost me quite a bit of time some are wired from the top to the bottom it comes in at the bottom and goes out at the top instead of coming in on the left and going out on the right very painful quite surprised they don't mention that not all switches are wired the same very poor judgment on their professional part although I did originally enjoy his explanation.
Thanks
Welcome!
@@SparkyChannel
Question: Can the 12-2 load wire going to the light's work box ... can that same wire instead go out from 4-way switch box?
Ok Mr sparky respect from a Jamaican boy because of u I'm electric work like a professional , because of u I'm wiring whole house u make me into whiz kid ,i love u i adore u , u r my role model , people i know call me sparky ,i watched your channel almost every day I'm addicted to your in tutorials, respect again n thank to the time out of your busy schedule to do what u do . I'm all the way sparky . I'd love to meet u someday , I'm a Jamaican n I'm in living in Haines City Florida .i sure do hope the Almighty God bless n keep u for your good work . one love n peace from the Jamaican boy.
Hi Sparky! Cheers from San Diego! I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago for the IDEAL National Championships for apprentice electricians. Great to hear your enthusiasm for the trade. Best wishes!
Thank you ,
the first try , it worked 😊
Red up top 🫡
Great! 👍