If we are using 3 of the four way switches in OUR install. Is it still called a “ Four Way application” or something else. Wonderful information. Clear and concise.
Thanks for the detail difference between the double pole and the four way switch. I have spent the better part of the day troubleshooting my 4way circuit only to discover after watching your video that I have a double pole switch. I was pretty confident in my wiring but did not understand the difference between the double pole switch and the four way. Im off to exchange the double pole for the four way. Thanks!!!!
I have been fighting this problem as well. My daughter asked it I could change the light tan colored outlets and switches to white. She had a box of switches, outlets and cover plates from Home Depot and am now convinced that they gave her double throw rather than 4 way. I've been looking for a schematic of the 4 way and double throw to see what the difference is and you aced it in spades. I'll sleep better tonight.
Great video. I have a question. I have an old 4 way switch that needs to be replaced. The switch is not marked with inputs and outputs. How can I tell which are the inputs and which are the outputs?
Just look at the cables that the wires are coming out of. The 'ins' and the 'outs' will be pairs within their respective cables. And no matter who gets labelled an 'ins' and who gets designated an 'outs'! Thanks for the nice comment, and thanks for watching!
This is the best 4 way switch explanation.....the important thing no one said was... the in and out...line behind switch.........i also learned that some 3 way switches dnt have a black screw so u have to look for where its labeled common.....n also its important for people to know...3 way switch n 4 way switch...the word common are not the same meaning.........usually when people say common it means neautral......in three way + 4 way switches common is the black screw on your switch where u connect your power coming in...and your last three way switch your common should be connected To your light source ....n of course your white neutral wiress ..
Not necessarily. It depends on how you mount the switch in the device box. (upside down or right side up if you will). It really doesn't matter, but I did hear a story of an electrical inspector that would 'flag' an issue and call out electricians if on a 3-way network, if the switches weren't in the same position (both up, or both down for the light to be on), he would make them change it. This is not a code rule, only a preference that this particular inspector liked to use to demonstrate his authority and impose his personal preference upon the Serfs that he ruled over. (in my humble opinion) Thanks for watching Ted!
Thank you Terry for this video!!! I spent hours putting in a 4-way configuration in our living room. Then spent more hours trying to find out why its not working. Checked my wiring & connections 3 times. Was about to give up when I came across your video. I have a stupid double pole switch instead of a proper 4 way. You're the first video that mentions that. Didn't even know there was such a thing for home electrical! Thanks again!
Awesome video! One time me and my uncle discovered a problem with the 4-way switch system on the staircase at his old house. Some of the “combinations” (like switch 1 up 1 down 1 up for example) worked and others did not (if that makes any sense). We turned the power off and took the switches apart. The first and third switches were 3 ways like they were supposed to be, but the second switch was also a 3 way switch instead of a 4 way. We replaced that switch with a 4 way switch and everything worked great and all of the “combinations” worked properly.
Hi Terry, to start from the beginning, how do find which 3 way switch is the number 1 and not number 3? In your demo, the 3 switches are on the same line, or circuit breaker, but in a home the 3 switches are all over. In my home, the upstairs is the 4 way switch. Downstairs, I have two 3 way switches, so can you tell me how to find which one is the first, and which is the third, the one goes to the light? Thank you so much. Without knowing that, I think there is no way to find the travelers wire in the 3 switch, I think.
You try to explained so much with up and down switch positions that you made it complicated. The best explanation so far I have heard on TH-cam is from Sparky Channel.
Your video was a great help in understanding how the switches work. A side note: My replacement 4 way switch had the in/out terminals in an X pattern - IN on top right and bottom left, etc. Plus, the old wiring was just blk/wht, no red. It took me a minute to figure it out, but I finally did. Thanks for the detailed explanation!!!
Couldn’t figure out how to connect my 4 way switch until I found your video. After watching your presentation, I discovered I had purchased a 4 way double pole instead of a 4 way light switch. Thanks so much. I will head back to the store tomorrow morning and grab the proper switch. Many thanks.
Terry, I have a four way but the wires are different. two red on the left side, one black and one white on the right. How to I connect these to the new switch with two black screws on the left and brass screws on the right side??
Excellent jobs , I like to know about wire use for everything in sub bracket to use in mobile home &residential. How to use less price on contractor also all weather tip wire , thank you
I’m trying to diagnose my 4 way switch issue. I have a rather long hallway where 4 switches operate 3 light fixtures. #1 is front entry, 2 Garage entry, 3 kitchen, front bedrooms, then 4 is back bedroom. They only seem to work right when #3 is in the up position. Is it a bad switch? Or maybe the wrong type?
Can I have a light after the first 3 way (or in the middle of the circuit ) instead of at the end of the circuit? I Need info if that is possible and how to accomplish it. Thanks, great explanations.
i have watched a lot of videos but this is the best one i have ever seen you broke it down step by srep so easy that i could copy it down on paper thank you so much
Brilliant, thanks! This was actually helpful for my use case, which was actually to convert my upstairs hallway lights to use Hue (for some fancy dimming from all 3 switches). But, since it has 3 separate switches (with 5 recessed lights, but all the same load circuit), I realized it was a 4 way switch. In that case, you just want to go permanently on and then use those Lutron Auroras to control the lights, but before doing *that* you gotta figure out what the heck 3 way and 4 way switches are before you can wire them from their currently switched state so they're permanently on! 😅
If we are using 3 of the four way switches in OUR install. Is it still called a “ Four Way application” or something else. Wonderful information. Clear and concise.
It would still be called a 4-way switch “network” or something like that. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the detail difference between the double pole and the four way switch. I have spent the better part of the day troubleshooting my 4way circuit only to discover after watching your video that I have a double pole switch. I was pretty confident in my wiring but did not understand the difference between the double pole switch and the four way. Im off to exchange the double pole for the four way.
Thanks!!!!
Take heart! You are not alone my friend. That mistake has been repeated many times, self included! Thanks for watching!
I have been fighting this problem as well. My daughter asked it I could change the light tan colored outlets and switches to white. She had a box of switches, outlets and cover plates from Home Depot and am now convinced that they gave her double throw rather than 4 way.
I've been looking for a schematic of the 4 way and double throw to see what the difference is and you aced it in spades. I'll sleep better tonight.
Great video. I have a question. I have an old 4 way switch that needs to be replaced. The switch is not marked with inputs and outputs. How can I tell which are the inputs and which are the outputs?
Just look at the cables that the wires are coming out of. The 'ins' and the 'outs' will be pairs within their respective cables. And no matter who gets labelled an 'ins' and who gets designated an 'outs'! Thanks for the nice comment, and thanks for watching!
This is the best 4 way switch explanation.....the important thing no one said was... the in and out...line behind switch.........i also learned that some 3 way switches dnt have a black screw so u have to look for where its labeled common.....n also its important for people to know...3 way switch n 4 way switch...the word common are not the same meaning.........usually when people say common it means neautral......in three way + 4 way switches common is the black screw on your switch where u connect your power coming in...and your last three way switch your common should be connected To your light source ....n of course your white neutral wiress ..
Thanks for watching, and for the comment! Appreciated!
so on a 4 way one switch will always be in a different position than the other two?
Not necessarily. It depends on how you mount the switch in the device box. (upside down or right side up if you will). It really doesn't matter, but I did hear a story of an electrical inspector that would 'flag' an issue and call out electricians if on a 3-way network, if the switches weren't in the same position (both up, or both down for the light to be on), he would make them change it. This is not a code rule, only a preference that this particular inspector liked to use to demonstrate his authority and impose his personal preference upon the Serfs that he ruled over. (in my humble opinion) Thanks for watching Ted!
Thank you Terry for this video!!! I spent hours putting in a 4-way configuration in our living room. Then spent more hours trying to find out why its not working. Checked my wiring & connections 3 times. Was about to give up when I came across your video. I have a stupid double pole switch instead of a proper 4 way. You're the first video that mentions that. Didn't even know there was such a thing for home electrical! Thanks again!
A common mistake! Thanks for watching, and for the comment!
Awesome video! One time me and my uncle discovered a problem with the 4-way switch system on the staircase at his old house. Some of the “combinations” (like switch 1 up 1 down 1 up for example) worked and others did not (if that makes any sense). We turned the power off and took the switches apart. The first and third switches were 3 ways like they were supposed to be, but the second switch was also a 3 way switch instead of a 4 way. We replaced that switch with a 4 way switch and everything worked great and all of the “combinations” worked properly.
Glad you got it all sorted out! Thanks for watching!
Your explanation really made this clear. All the 4 way switch really changes is that there are 2 travelers.
Thanks for watching! I hope that you gave it a ‘like’? And I would appreciate you subscribing if you haven’t already.
@@theinternetelectrician I always give likes and have been subscribed for a long time.
Show switches and terminals in the actual position of the device..... Your 3-ways are turned.....terminal colors?? Please
Hi Terry, to start from the beginning, how do find which 3 way switch is the number 1 and not number 3?
In your demo, the 3 switches are on the same line, or circuit breaker, but in a home the 3 switches are all over.
In my home, the upstairs is the 4 way switch. Downstairs, I have two 3 way switches, so can you tell me how to find which one is the first, and which is the third, the one goes to the light? Thank you so much. Without knowing that, I think there is no way to find the travelers wire in the 3 switch, I think.
3 hrs of banging my head. I had a 2 pole and not a 4 way. Much appreciated!
That was interesting but should be called 4Way Vs Double Pole difference. In no way is this best in terms of showcasing wiring, pretty average.
Excellent video tutorials
You try to explained so much with up and down switch positions that you made it complicated. The best explanation so far I have heard on TH-cam is from Sparky Channel.
Sorry. I feel shame now. 🙂
Can I change out my 4way switch and install a motion sensor to run the lights. so they will go off and back on when I enter and leave the room??
Bruhh 😂😂😂real shame on me 💀
Well now you know better! Thanks for watching!
I would like to see 4Ft Florescent light fixtures changed out in a drop ceiling for the newer LED Round compact can lights.
I have a pretty good video of that right here. Thanks for watching! th-cam.com/video/k3ika_cyLRo/w-d-xo.html
Thank you. Long time no see you. Keep them coming.
I’m still here! Thanks for watching!
I wouldn't think the average person considered a switch being in the "down" position as being "on."
The thinks that make you say hmmmm?
You my friend, are a great communicator.
Thanks so much for the compliment! I hope you left a ‘like’ and that you’ve subscribed?
well that fixed it got the wrong switch. thanks
Your video was a great help in understanding how the switches work. A side note: My replacement 4 way switch had the in/out terminals in an X pattern - IN on top right and bottom left, etc. Plus, the old wiring was just blk/wht, no red. It took me a minute to figure it out, but I finally did. Thanks for the detailed explanation!!!
Great video, particularly because it explains how the 4 way switch functions, instead of just explaining how it's wired.
Shame on me😢
It’s ok. But you came back to watch this one, so thanks!
Couldn’t figure out how to connect my 4 way switch until I found your video. After watching your presentation, I discovered I had purchased a 4 way double pole instead of a 4 way light switch. Thanks so much. I will head back to the store tomorrow morning and grab the proper switch. Many thanks.
A 3 way switch would work as a 4 way switch but not very well.
Terry, I have a four way but the wires are different. two red on the left side, one black and one white on the right. How to I connect these to the new switch with two black screws on the left and brass screws on the right side??
...very good explanation of both the concepts and the implementation...
Really helpful. People don’t forget 3-way on both ends
excellent explanation between a double pole and 4way- thanks...
Thanks, very well explained 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Excellent jobs , I like to know about wire use for everything in sub bracket to use in mobile home &residential. How to use less price on contractor also all weather tip wire , thank you
Is it okay if an electrician wear regular tennis shoes and clothes?
I’m trying to diagnose my 4 way switch issue. I have a rather long hallway where 4 switches operate 3 light fixtures.
#1 is front entry, 2 Garage entry, 3 kitchen, front bedrooms, then 4 is back bedroom.
They only seem to work right when #3 is in the up position. Is it a bad switch? Or maybe the wrong type?
Probably wires crossed up
Your explanation is very thorough.
Terry, well done videos, simple easy to understand. Thanks
Can I have a light after the first 3 way (or in the middle of the circuit ) instead of at the end of the circuit? I Need info if that is possible and how to accomplish it. Thanks, great explanations.
No it has to be on one end with the power being on the other end. The travelers have to be in the middle of the circuit
i have watched a lot of videos but this is the best one i have ever seen you broke it down step by srep so easy that i could copy it down on paper thank you so much
Awesome video. Many thanks for explaining this in terms that are easy to understand..
Love it
Looking well and healthy Terry.
I finally understand just a bit.
great information
Great explanation
Great job!
Great video
Nice job!
EXCELLENT !
Very good
Brilliant, thanks! This was actually helpful for my use case, which was actually to convert my upstairs hallway lights to use Hue (for some fancy dimming from all 3 switches). But, since it has 3 separate switches (with 5 recessed lights, but all the same load circuit), I realized it was a 4 way switch. In that case, you just want to go permanently on and then use those Lutron Auroras to control the lights, but before doing *that* you gotta figure out what the heck 3 way and 4 way switches are before you can wire them from their currently switched state so they're permanently on! 😅