How To Wire A 4 Way Light Switch

The new switch has 4 terminals two on either side top and bottom.

How to wire a 4 way light switch. A 4 way switch wiring diagram is the clearest and easiest way to wire that pesky 4 way switch. To replace a four way switch follow these steps. More about wiring a 4way switch. If the switch doesn t have the words on and off embossed on its body and it s the center switch of three switches that control a single light or receptacle it s a four way switch.

Bare or green ground wires are spliced together with a pigtail or two and then connected to the metal switch box with a 10 32 machine screw and to the green screw on the switch. This allows you to control a load from other locations in addition to the 2 locations that a 3 way circuit provides. The source neutral wire is connected directly to the light fixture and the hot is. This diagram illustrates wiring for a 4 way circuit with the electrical source at the light fixture and the switches coming after.

Turn off the. Two terminal poles are labeled in and two are labeled out pairs of wires called travelers will connect to each side. And adding a four way switch to the mix can make an already difficult job even more confusing. The two wiring diagrams above are of a 3 way switch setup and the same basic setup with a 4 way light switch added.

Wiring a three way switch circuit is one of the more complex electrical jobs that a homeowner can attempt. Sometimes the switch wiring connection diagram is printed on the inside of the 4 way switch packaging box see example below. My old 4 way light switch broke. A 4 way switch has 4 terminals or poles.

The key to 4 way switch wiring. I have a few of the most common ways in wiring a 4 way switch to help you with your basic home wiring projects. How to wire four way and three way switches with helpful wiring diagrams. Do you need a 3 way switch wiring diagram.

Power from light fixture to light switch. If a light switch fails to function you should replace it. Two wire cable is run from the light to sw1 and 3 wire cable runs between the three switches. Wiring a 4 way switch is simply adding a switch to an already existing 3 way switch circuit.

Study the 4 way switch and the manufacturer s directions. Wiring four way and three way switches. When the switch is operated current will either travel straight through or crisscross. How to wire a 4 way switch.

First of all we need to go over a little basic terminology on switches. While the physical location of the 4 way switch may be anywhere the electrical location of the switch is always between the two 3 way switches. I bought a new switch.